ARGYLL & THE ISLANDS ENTERPRISE

The following are the funds approved in the month ended December 2003. Approval simply means that AIE funds have been made available, but does not guarantee that the project or activity will go ahead. The funds will not be released until the applicant produces evidence that the project has gone ahead.

GROWING BUSINESSES

CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME is the financial assistance provided, normally by way of grant, to stimulate new business projects or expansions. 8 businesses which expect to invest a total of £1,403,400 from their own resources in setting up or expanding their operation had assistance totalling £438,900 with the prospect of 19 jobs created or retained. The jobs created or retained figure is forecast, agreed between AIE and the business concerned, of the jobs created or retained as a result of the AIE investment.

Business development

Total cost

Assistance approved

Harbour Havens Ltd, Arran

£432,800

£90,900

Upgrade of Kildonan Hotel to 4 star rating (Ref 1577/1)

 

EU HIE Standards £60,600

The Old Bookshelf, Campbeltown

£1,700

£600

Purchase of trailer (Ref 1588/1)

   

North British Trust Hotels Ltd

£108,500

£25,000

Upgrade of Regent Hotel, Oban (Ref P2006/21)

   

Islay Ales Ltd, Port Charlotte

£44,900

£15,700

Establish a micro-brewery (Ref 1590/1)

   

Oban & Lorn Community Enterprise Ltd t/a Atlantis Leisure Ltd

£140,000

£49,000

All weather multisport pitch (Ref 463/7)

   

McFadyen Transport Ltd, Campbeltown

£89,700

£22,400

Purchase of specialised equipment (Ref 1591/1)

   

Kilchoman Distillery Co Ltd, Colintaive (Ref 1532/2)

£975,000

£150,000

Establish a distillery and visitor centre on Islay

   

John MacKinnon Builders Ltd, Isle of Tiree

£49,700

£24,700

Construction of manufacturing workshop (Ref 1589/1)

   

8 cases

Capital Investment programme approvals -

£4,38,900

 

Year to date

£2,435,122

 

Private monies raised

£4,614,987

 

Jobs created or retained

293.5

 

INNOVATION SUPPORT – assistance to businesses to develop new products and processes where there is an element of risk. This includes technical advice and/or assistance for development of new products / implementation of new processes and has ERDF match funding from Europe.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Fyne Conservation Services, St Cathrines

Production of art conservation materials (Ref 32267)

£66,500

£16,625

EU £16,625

 

HIE STARTS – Programme of assistance to eligible individuals starting a new business. Support is provided in a number of ways including business advice, business planning, business start-up workshops and financial support. In December 17 individuals were awarded fortnightly allowances amounting to a maximum of £3,000 paid over an average period of 48 weeks. Funding is also available to assist with fixed capital expenditure associated with business start-up, up to a maximum of £500. 60% of funding for this programme comes from the AIE budget and 40% from the European Regional Development Fund. Approval of assistance has been given but the business may not yet be in a position to start trading.

Applicant

Business

Total Allowance

Capital Grant

Gavin Speirs,Dalavich

Environmental protection and pest control

£1,800

£270

Nigel Walker, Brodick

Photographer

£2,100

-

Angus Brown, Campbeltown

Drumore Pine – Joiner

£2,400

£400

Emma Popplewell,Shiskine

Arran Corporate Business Entertainment Ltd – marketing consultants

£2,100

-

Jason Coogans, Tarbert

Diving for shellfish

£2,400

£500

Andrew Wilson,Tayvallich

Little Keills, bed and breakfast

£1,200

£500

Jilly Wilson, Tayvallich

Little Keills

£2,400

 

Iain Pentelow, Southend

Oven IMP, oven valeting service

£1,500

£500

Hugh Dominick, Dunoon

Painting and decorating

£2,100

-

Karen Holland, Dunoon

Cowal Chiropody

£2,100

-

Shona Sharp, Oban

Oban Candles

£1,800

£138

Joy Furness, Pirnmill, Arran

Tranquillity – hypnotherapy and stress management

£2,400

£300

Jill Fairweather, Campbeltown

MOKAC, reproduce and sell artwork

£1,200

£220

Irene Black, Mull

Design and produce cross stitch kits

£2,100

£500

Penny Dapp, Carradale

The Glen Bar and Restaurant

£2,400

-

Sue Stansfield, Carradale

The Glen Bar and Restaurant

£2,400

-

Dorothy McMurchy, Campeltown

Design and produce cross stitch kits

£1,200

£300

GROWING BUSINESS PROJECTS

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Kilmartin House Trust

Promotional material (Ref 32063)

£5,922

£2,961

Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage (Ref 32120)

Independent facilitation of strategic development

£5,000

£5,000

 

 

 

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – assistance to community based projects to develop community strengths, leadership and confidence, enhance the quality of the environment and culture, and promote investment in community services and assets.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Kintyre Juvenile Pipe Band

Purchase of uniforms (Ref 32078)

£22,930

£9,172

Tarbert Golf Club

Enhance facilities to re-establish ladies/junior section (Ref 32239)

£5,846

£2,338

Mull & Iona Community Enterprise

Mull Community Swimming Pool (Ref 32128)

£1,600,000

£206,000

EU HIE Activity £169,000

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - part funded by the European Union under the Highlands & Islands Special Transitional Programme - to enhance
community capacity through training and skills which will enable communities to develop and implement their own local priorities

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and the Islands Rural Business Ring

Preparation of business plan (Ref 32312)

£12,690

£3,172

EU CED £6,345

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

Sessional workers for targeted recruitment (Ref 32316)

£12,744

EU CED £6,244

Kames and District Recreational Club

Kames Hall lighting system (Ref 32126)

£10,155

EU CED £4,000

Loch Etive Shellfish Growers

Pre Marine Stewardship Council certification assessment (Ref 32332)

£2,780

£417

EU CED £695

Argyll and Bute Council

Change of fishing practices within the Firth of Lorn to improve sustainability (Ref 32337)

£15,000

EU CED £6,000

 

SKILLS & SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS TRAINING GRANTS - discretionary assistance towards training and
development of companies to enhance the skill levels of staff, linked to
their business objectives.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Marine Environmental Research Laboratory, Machrihanish

Development as per training plan

£2,420

£1,210

Outside Edge, Oban

Development as per training plan

£4,080

£1,632

Argyll Hotel, Iona

Development as per training plan

£32,000

£7,500

SKILLSEEKERS - School Leavers are issued with Skillseekers bond which they may use to pay for training leading to a recognised vocational qualification (VQs) either within employment or with a training provider. Delays in reporting result in us giving below details of qualifications achieved in November.

SKILLSEEKERS (Cont….)

Level

Applicant

Qualification

Level 3 MA

Iain MacKechnie, Oban

Plumbing

 

Raymond McCallum, Campbeltown

Domestic gas appliances installation

 

Neil Gillies, Campbeltown

Mechanical engineering maintenance

 

Joan MacDairmid, Dunoon

Care

 

Kate O’May, Campbeltown

Care

 

Sandra Shields, Dunoon

Care

 

Elizabeth McMillan, Campbeltown

Care

 

Margaret McLeish, Oban

Accommodation supervision

Level 2

Craig Ralston, Campbeltown

Mixed farming

TRAINING FOR WORK (TFW) - training for 18 –64 year olds who have been unemployed for more than 6 months. Delays in reporting result in us giving below details of outcomes achieved in November.

This month we are advised that three previous participants on the scheme have obtained jobs.

SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT – assistance for projects, principally in the Tourism, e-Business and Food & Drink sectors.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

£16,500

£16,500

Marine leisure tourism marketing development and research (Ref 32183)

   

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise

£45,000

£45,000

Programme of business and strategic development in relation to the National Park (Ref 31981)

   

HIE e-BUSINESS – programme designed to stimulate the adoption of e-commerce amongst SMEs by providing independent advice and grant assistance and raising the profile of successful e-business adopters in the area.

Project

Total cost

Assistance approved

Islay Natural History Trust

Web based information systems for 3 community organisations

£19,405

£4,851

 

..... ends

For further information contact:

Mari McFarlane

Argyll & the Islands Enterprise

Tel: 01546 602281

Email: m.mcfarlane@hient.co.uk

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