10 apprentices employed in far north in 2023 thanks to Caithness Business Support Fund
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A total of 20 local apprentices have been hired in Caithness and north Sutherland thanks to the support of a fund which aims to boost employment opportunities in the far north.
The Caithness Business Fund has provided support for 10 apprenticeships in the Caithness and north Sutherland region in 2023. Caithness Chamber of Commerce, which manages the fund, says this is a significant milestone.
The 2023 grant awards have included support for apprenticeship opportunities in electrical installation, business administration, professional cookery, hospitality supervision and leadership, welding and fabrication and scaffolding.
Eligible SMEs in Caithness and north Sutherland can access grants of up to £5000 from the fund to help with employment and associated training costs for accredited apprenticeship opportunities within their business.
On behalf of Caithness Scaffolding Contractors Ltd, Mike Muir said: “During the latter part of 2022, Caithness Scaffolding had an opportunity to promote some of our long-serving employees into roles in our management team.
“The situation created the requirement for two new employees to be recruited to support our activities on the Dounreay site, and it was decided these posts would be best filled by offering the candidates a Modern Apprenticeship.
“The decision to recruit two apprentices was made easier by the availability of funding through the Caithness Business Fund. The grants received from the fund have been used to support both vocational and on-then-job training programmes for the apprentices.
“Managing director Bert Macleod expressed his appreciation of the Caithness Business Fund for their support in processing our applications and ensuring that the funding was made available shortly after the recruitment.”
The funding support for apprenticeships has been made possible by a 25-year commitment by Baillie Wind Farm Ltd to contribute £25,000 per annum to the fund along with additional annual social value contributions by Cavendish Nuclear.
Trudy Morris, chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said: “I appreciate that for many small businesses, employing an apprentice can seem quite a daunting investment, but the Caithness Business Fund is helping to ‘level up’ access to apprenticeships, ensuring businesses and organisations of all sizes are equipped with skills needed both now and in the future.
“But supporting an apprenticeship isn’t just a good business decision, it represents a sustained investment in the future of the north Highlands, and we must work together to nurture our homegrown talent and provide attractive employment opportunities for our young workforce.
“By enabling individuals to advance their employment, earning, and educational prospects locally, we can help to establish a more inclusive workforce and build resilience into our local economy and communities.”
The Caithness Business Fund is open for applications on a monthly basis and encourages enquiries from SMEs interested in apprenticeship opportunities to get in touch with the administration team.
The fund's mission is to promote the economic growth of Caithness and north Sutherland by supporting new and existing businesses and developing the skill base to meet new challenges. The fund is available to both established businesses and start-ups based in the Caithness and north Sutherland area.
