Alness based charity and social enterprise, ILM Highland, is encouraging local businesses to clear their WEEE from the Highlands. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment – known as WEEE, is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Europe. In the UK alone, we throw away around 2 million tonnes of WEEE every year; much of which ends up in landfill. The European WEEE Directive came into force in 2007, which made it illegal for businesses to dispose of their electrical waste into landfill.
 
ILM already deals with over 2,000 tonnes of domestic electrical waste each year from across the Highlands. Where possible, these items are refurbished and sold at very reasonable prices in ILM’s shop so that they may be reused. All profits made by ILM Highland are ploughed back into the organisation to provide vital services to often vulnerable and disadvantaged Highland residents. As a fully authorised treatment facility, ILM Highland has almost 10 years experience in the recycling and processing of electrical waste. ILM can provide local businesses with a professional, confidential and legitimate route to deal with all types of WEEE; whilst providing the necessary compliance certification and paperwork.
 
In addition to helping the environment and complying with the WEEE Directive which is law; local businesses will also be directly supporting local jobs and local enterprise in the Scottish Highlands. There are also positive benefits for the local businesses themselves, as clearing away their electrical waste may help businesses increase their revenue by expanding their operations through hiring more staff, or renting out office space previously clogged with old equipment; or by staff becoming more productive as the office is cleared bringing increased morale and better working environments.
 
Kenny Horsfield, the WEEE Manager for ILM Highland, says: “There really isn’t any need for businesses to hold onto their old waste electrical equipment. ILM can offer businesses a fast and easy solution, which takes away all the worry and stress about what to do with their computers for example that may contain sensitive data, etc. We are fully authorised to provide confidential data wiping or destruction services. We can also collect any WEEE directly from businesses, or they can drop their waste items off at our Designated Collection Facility in Alness…which ever is easiest. Dealing directly with ILM Highland cuts out the middleman which will save companies money”.
 
Businesses across the Highlands now have a secure, legal and simple solution to get rid of their electrical waste once and for all – helping not only their staff and their business, but also supporting local enterprise, local jobs and the wider environment of the Scottish Highlands and their communities.
For more information on ILM HIghland head to www.ilmhighland.co.uk
 

Who are we?
We are a local support service enabling highland businesses to network on a European level.  Here in the Highlands, the Enterprise Europe Network is delivered by its partners, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (Fiona Paton and Karen Gray) and Highland Opportunity Ltd (Michelle Hardie, Ilona Warburton, Michelle Wemyss and Ross Thomson). We operate in over 51 countries, with 600 partners and around 4000 colleagues. This enables us to access European suppliers, customers, contacts & information in Europe from a local perspective. 

What can we do for you? 
By contacting the Enterprise Europe Network, any company immediately has access to all our free services, including the identification of potential business partners and support on a range of EU matters.
Do you need market information?
We can provide information on market opportunities relevant to a company or sector and support international networking. 
Are you looking for European partners?
By using our business and technology cooperation database we can help SMEs to find suitable business partners. This could be companies seeking or offering innovative technology which could help solve a production problem or develop a new or improved product, process or service. We also organise match-making events at large International events e.g. The European Seafood Exposition.
Are you planning a Business trip to Europe? 
We can help you make best use of your time by undertaking market research, contacting our local Enterprise Europe Network office in the country & region you are visiting to arrange additional meetings and provide relevant contacts.
Are you interested in winning public sector contracts?
By using our public procurement support service, we can help you find relevant tender opportunities and give support on the tender writing process. 
Are you in need of funding?
We can supply information on European funding and other sources of funding

Graduate Placements.......
Events Co-ordinator, Calman Trust, salary £17,000
Calman Trust in Inverness is recruiting for a recent graduate for an Events Co-ordinator role. The 12 month project will involve working with the Business Development Manager and current catering staff to implement processes and protocols for staff attending off-site catering in developing Front of House processes and procedures which can also be implemented in future young peoples training for work. The applicant will also work in researching potential outside catering opportunities.

Closing date for applications 28th May 2012.
For more information please visit theTalentScotland website

Business Development Officer, West Harris Trust, salary £17,000
West Harris Trust is recruiting for a recent graduate for a Business Development role. This 12 month placement in intended to improve revenue generation opportunities from the area's world-class landscape assets by improving capacity and quality of campsite provision, enhancing marine access through pontoons and providing marquee accommodation for social events (including beach weddings).

Closing date for applications 31st May 2012.
For more information please visit the TalentScotland website

......and summer placement vacancies...
Property Documentation Officer at Stornoway Port Authority; salary £7.70 per hour.
Stornoway Port Authority, are recruiting a student for 8 weeks to classify, determine ownership and collate an archive of historic legal documentation, including title deeds and property leases. This project will identify an appropriate storage and management system, in order to offer to preserve and develop the archive of historic legal documentation relating to assets and property in and around the Stornoway Harbour area.

Closing date for applications 24th May 2012. To apply for this placement click here.

Development Officer at Urachadh Uibhist; salary £6.20 per hour.
Urachadh Uibhist (UU) based in North Uist, are recruiting for a student for 8 weeks to carry out a Development Officer role.  The project would involve investigating methods of using social media and other web strategies as well as producing a draft marketing plan for food products and investigating training opportunities for Staff Development.

Closing date for applications 28th May 2012. To apply for this placement click here.

This opportunity is specifically for a Highlands & Islands based aspiring Editor, starting June 2012.

ScreenHI is delighted to be supporting a Traineeship for an Assistant Editor on a landmark BBC ALBA documentary this year.  It’s a fantastic chance for an ambitious and gifted individual who wants to progress in the industry as an Editor.  Gaelic language would be a real advantage, but not essential.

The Assistant Editor placement will be based in Glasgow, at the production company Media Co-op.  You will be working closely with a creative and award-winning Director and Editor, a fabulous chance to learn and to enhance your skills.  Most of your work will be on a single BBC Alba documentary, but you will also work as Assistant Editor on some other short-form productions going through the company in the same period, and help with archiving and the maintenance of smooth-running post-production systems.

There is a weekly fee for the Trainee which works out at an annual salary of c£18k pro rata.  Duration is 6 months continuous, from mid-June to mid-December 2012 and you will be an employee of Media Coop.

Requirements:

• Current base in Highlands and Islands
• Passion for editing and post-production
• Some knowledge of Final Cut Pro, and willingness to learn more
• Excellent organisational skills and systematic approach to logging rushes

Other Assistant Editor duties:

• Ability to transcribe interviews in English
  

Desirable:

• Gaelic

To apply, please email a motivational statement and CV to: Louise Scott, Producer, 0141 551 9813 
De
louise@mediaco-op.net

Broadford and Strath Community Company (BSCC) have appointed Shirley Grant and Adele Beck as project officers for the Community Woodland. Shirley will focus on planning and finance, Adele site development. The posts are until the end of the year and have been funded by the Enterprise Growth Fund, who gave funding of £68,000 to BSCC for project management and site clearance. Alison MacLennan, Chair of Broadford Environment Group welcomed the appointments saying “We’re delighted that Adele and Shirley are in post and will help us proceed with the development of the site.“

Diane Greenlees, Project Director, the Wise Group said: “The Enterprise Growth Fund received an overwhelming number of applications. Following a robust assessment process, BSCC is one of more than 60 third sector organisations in Scotland to receive funding. “The Enterprise Growth Fund team look forward to continuing to work with BSCC to help them use this investment to realise their plans. BSCC and the Broadford Community Woodland will contribute greatly to the Scottish economy and make a positive difference to the lives’ of the individuals and communities in the Highlands.”

The Community purchased 22.5ha of land, adjacent to Broadford Industrial Estate from the Forestry Commission Scotland in October 2011. It is planned to develop the land to create a community woodland with native trees, trails, a campsite and events area. The community woodland will give local people the opportunity to become involved in woodland activities and help to create new, sustainable businesses. An open evening is planned for 6 June 2012 to showcase what is possible with community woodlands and to share ideas on how Broadford Community Woodland should be developed. This will be
held in the village hall from 7pm.

Community run project Stromness Hometown has created a new oral history of the town, bringing together voices of the past and those of today. The entertaining soundscape told by the people of Stromness will accompany visitors on their walk from the pier head to the cannon beyond the Museum, taking in eight stops over the route. Stromness Museum are looking forward to the launch of the new audio experience on. 
You can find out more in Stromness Museum to launch new Hometown audio trail.

Caberfeidh Horizons of Kingussie, a Social Enterprise with Charitable status, has launched Highland Books Online in partnership with Blythswood Care of Evanton and welcomes Simon Newbery as the new Project Officer to take this exciting new project forward.  Initial funding for the pilot project was provided by The Wider Role through Albyn Housing (£4,500) and has enabled us to fully equip our new premises in King Street, Kingussie and establish the necessary systems and procedures for online selling as well as individual and group training programmes for our clients. Interim funding has been provided by the Robertson Trust (£8,000) and the Henry Duncan Awards (£6,000) and future funding has been agreed with The Henry Smith Charity (£78,500) and the Robertson Trust 50th Anniversary Fund (£50,000) to enable this exciting new project to grow and develop over the next three years. Highland Books Online offers Training & Work Experience in the Community for adults and young people with a learning disability, mental health and/or addiction problems and the long term unemployed. Highland Books Online is an internet project which lists and sells books on “Amazon” and has a target to process at least 3,000 books per month over the next three years. Highland Books online also offers training in job search, CV writing, interview skills, confidence building and many skills necessary for pre-employment. Places are available now for anyone wishing to join us, either on a full time or part time basis. Project Officer, Simon Newbery said, “We welcome all visitors to our new premises in King Street to see how we run the project. We are very keen to work with anyone who is interested either as a trainee or as a volunteer”.

Highland Books Online would welcome donations of books from both the general public and organisations wishing to dispose of any excessive book stocks.  Carolyn Cornfield, Manager of Caberfeidh Horizons said “We are delighted to be able to welcome Simon to the Caberfeidh Horizons team and our grateful thanks go to all our sponsors for making this project possible. The financial success of this innovative new venture depends on volume sales and we would appeal to anyone with books to spare to donate them to our charity.  Any books that are not sold online will be sold either through our Bookshop on the High Street or the Blythswood Care network “

Highland Books Online is also a collection point for clothes and bric-a-brac for Blythswood Care.

Telephone conferencing is a well-established means of communication in the world of commerce and business. However, many third sector organisations overlook the full potential that telephone meetings can offer. Community Network are seeking to bring the full benefits of telephone conferencing to charities of all sizes.

Community Network uses the latest digital telephone conferencing technology to enable its clients to run their organisations more efficiently and cost-effectively, providing services to facilitate trustee meetings, regional management meetings, to support volunteers and staff in the field, and to deliver services to geographically isolated beneficiaries.

As a social enterprise the proceeds are then used to set up telephone friendship groups to help vulnerable people. Since it first adapted the idea of telephone conferencing to pioneer this innovative approach to tackle the serious problem of social isolation over twenty years’ ago, Community Network has helped thousands of people overcome the feeling of being excluded from their communities. By using their services clients are helping them to help those who suffer the devastating effects of feeling totally alone and therefore fulfilling a valuable social service.

Among those who have been able to re-engage with life after participating in a telephone friendship group are the disabled, one parent families, refugee groups, the long-term sick, carers, and older people. The telephone friendship groups have taken many different forms including book clubs, prayer groups, special interest groups linking people from similar working backgrounds, and social and support groups.

The impact telephone friendship groups have on those taking part cannot be underestimated. Time and again there are reports of how people have found that taking part in one of our groups has boosted their self-confidence, allowed them to make new friends and transformed their lives.

The success of Community Network’s telephone friendship groups has resulted in several local authorities setting up pilot projects using the telephone friendship group model, as they seek to find new ways of delivering social care effectively while reducing costs.       

But the benefits to be gained from using telephone conferencing are not only altruistic. A telephone conference can be set up at very short notice to enable people to discuss important matters wherever they are located nationally or even internationally. This prevents the need for people to travel to meetings, speeding up the decision-making process and saving organisations having to pay travel expenses – no small consideration in the current economic climate – as well as reducing their carbon footprint.

Organisations that use this telephone conferencing services improve efficiency and reduce costs; but just as importantly they allow Community Network to deliver a proven way of helping people overcome the debilitating physical and mental problems caused by social isolation. So why not pick up the telephone and give them a call?  www.community-network.org

Extracts for the HIE Newsletter, a great source of information:

HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS SKILLS REGISTER
A new register to demonstrate the skills and experience of workers interested in the financial and business services industry across the Highlands and Islands has been launched by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).  Due to a number of ongoing discussions with companies interested in investing and creating jobs in the area, the agency is now looking to demonstrate the range and diversity of skills and experience which are available across the Highlands and Islands.  HIE works with businesses and partners such as Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Job Centre Plus to provide information on the available workforce to potential inward investors to the region from across the world.  These potential investors are looking for people who have skills across a range of subjects and disciplines, including contact centre, IT, finance, customer care, legal and healthcare. The opportunities may include both desk based and home working roles.  The Skills Register will take no more than five minutes to complete and people who register will be kept up to date with the latest news and events, as well as any potential opportunities from new and growing businesses looking to develop their workforce either on site or via homeworking.  Filling in the form will not guarantee a job, but HIE will use the information provided as evidence to support inward investment enquiries, and will never share personal information with third parties.  The register is available HERE.

FUNDING TO SUPPORT EVENTS
EventScotland has announced that The National Events Programme round 21 is open to applications.  The National Events Programme compliments the International Funding Programme and plays an integral role in developing domestic tourism across Scotland.  Funding is available to support events that showcase Scotland and help generate tourism.  Closing date for applications is 1st June 2012.  Find out more HERE.

SCOTTISH SEED FUND
Small and Medium sized companies can access equity finance through the Scottish Seed Fund (SSF).  SSF is managed by the Scottish Investment Bank (SIB) and is designed to improve the availability of finance for start-up and young growing companies in Scotland.  The SSF can invest between £20,000 and £250,000 on an equity basis in early stage businesses that meet the SSF criteria and are keen to grow.  Find out more HERE.

INVESTING IN IDEAS
Investing in Ideas awards grants of £500 to £10,000 to community groups, local authorities and social enterprises etc to test and develop ideas that could eventually become projects or lead to improved service delivery within Scotland’s communities.  Investing in Ideas could pay for the things that can turn basic ideas into a well-planned project, this can include market research, feasibility studies, business planning, exchange visits in the UK, community consultation etc.  Find out more HERE.
VOLUNTEERING DEVELOPMENT GRANT
The Volunteering Development grant offers a small grant of up to £10,000 to charities that want to improve and develop their capacity to involve volunteers.  The grant is available to registered charities who do not currently involve volunteers to any significant extent or already involve volunteers but want to improve and develop their capacity to deploy and support volunteers.  The grant could be used to increase the hours of an existing staff member or buy in support to help develop volunteering opportunities and practices.  It could also be used to pay for volunteer expenses and training for staff, committee and volunteers.  Deadline for applications is 8th June 2012.  Find out more HERE.

The HI~Arts Hit Team will be visiting Argyll in May to deliver a series of Crowdfunding Workshops and 1-2-1 sessions for professionals and individuals working in the cultural, creative, arts and heritage sectors.

Over three days the team will visit Oban, Dunoon and Arran to offer specialist advice and support in the areas of Crafts, Visual Arts, Heritage, Music, Writing, Marketing and Audience Development.

What is Crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a modern, online and interactive way to raise funds for your projects and activities directly from the public – or the Crowd. With the advent of Crowdfunding we can now turn our audiences into supporters and funders, by collecting multiple small donations online and offering unique incentives to encourage giving. Not only can you raise funds to get your project off the ground but you can also start to create a ‘buzz’ around it before you start.

The Crowdfunding workshop will cover all the aspects you will need to create, implement and market your project.

The workshop is suitable for all individuals, organisations and professionals who work within the cultural, creative, heritage and arts sector. Sian Jamieson, the Audience Development Manager, will lead this 3 hour workshop and provide opportunities for 1-2-1 consultations for Crowdfunding ideas in the afternoon.

1-2-1 Sessions
Come and join colleagues and fellow creative people, meet HI-Arts staff to discuss your professional development, your future plans and get advice on a wide range of topics – tea and coffee provided.

There is the opportunity to book a 1-2-1 meeting with Audience Development Manager, Sian Jamieson, Craft Development Coordinator, Pamela Conacher, Project Development Manager John Saich and Writing Development Coordinator, Peter Urpeth.

*Please note that anyone booking into the Crowdfunding workshop may also book a 1-2-1 session in the afternoon. For those not wishing to attend the Crowdfunding workshop 1-2-1 sessions are additionally available between 10.00 am – 12.00 noon.

Where will the Hit Team be?

Tuesday 29th  May 2012: Oban – Corran Halls

• 10am – 1pm Crowdfunding Worksho
  
• 10am – 1pm 1-2-1 sessions
  
• 1pm - 3.30pm HISEZ Networking Lunch (with Lindsay Dunbar) www.hisez.co.uk
  
• 2pm – 4pm 1-2-1 sessions
  

Wednesday 30th May 2012:  Dunoon – Dunoon Burgh Hall

• 10am – 1pm Crowdfunding Workshop
• 10am – 1pm 1-2-1 sessions
• 2pm – 4pm 1-2-1 sessions

Thursday 31st May 2012: Arran – Venue TBC

• 10am – 1pm Crowdfunding Workshop
• 10am – 1pm 1-2-1 sessions
• 2pm – 3pm 1-2-1 sessions

To Book your place with the Hit Team please click on the appropriate link to our event registration (you can book for both the Crowdfunding workshop and 1-2-1 sessions).
Book your place in Oban here (http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3422975211)
Book your place in Dunoon here (http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3423067487)
Book your place in Arran here (http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/3432487663)

If you have any queries regarding these events then please feel free to contact Avril at HI-Arts on avril@hi-arts.co.uk or call 01463 720886.