Training fund from EDF Renewables could help businesses and individuals in Contin, Garve, Lochbroom, Marybank, Scatwell, Strathconon and Strathpeffer access new educational opportunities
People and businesses in the Garve area could boost their skills thanks to a power company’s education and training fund.
Money from the EDF Renewables’ Corriemoillie education and training fund – named after its 17 turbine, 47.5 megawatt wind farm near Garve – is open to applications from individuals, small businesses, voluntary and third sector organisations in community council areas covering Contin, Garve and District, Lochbroom, Marybank, Scatwell and Strathconon, and Strathpeffer.
Grants cover financial assistance for education, training or apprenticeship opportunities as well as travel costs, fees, equipment, accommodation costs or childcare.
Fund co-ordinator Marion McDonald said: “Decisions will be made in mid-March after this January deadline.
“It is a great opportunity for people to think about their training needs and what might help them improve their employment prospects, particularly after this really difficult year.”
The fund supports a wide range of training from short courses to degree level courses – and any others that helps people enrich their skills and employability.
Another aim is to retain jobs in the area.
Garve’s Jemima Kirkwood previously received a grant that enabled her to learn kilt-making.
She said: “The pressures of life and work can often take over our passions, but the grant helped me revisit what I love, and has hopefully opened doors to a future in keeping this heritage skill alive.
“I plan to continue my learning and master the art, which I’ve heard takes a great deal of work, but now I have learnt the basic skills I can only go forward from here.”
Merlin Planterose from Ullapool was also supported with costs for an HNC qualification in childhood practice.
“As a mother who has not been working for most of the past five years, it has been fantastic to have the support from the EDF Fund to follow a new career path,” she said.
She set up Kinder Croft outdoor nursery in Ullapool last year.
Also open to local companies looking for support to provide training, apprenticeships or business mentoring previous funding recipients include Strathpeffer Golf Club which received an award for essential staff training in manual handling and first aid.
Information on how to apply is available here or by calling 0131 524 0300.
The deadline for applications is January 11.
