Focusing on key sectors of IT, food and drink, tourism and marketing has helped provide new opportunities for local people, according to Ross and Cromarty Enterprise.,/p>

Launching their ninth annual report today (Tuesday, 24 October, 2000), chairman of RACE Sally Cartwright said the enterprise company had concentrated their efforts on these industries to help grow businesses throughout the area. The importance of initiatives to help those affected by the downturn in the oil fabrication industry were also stressed.

Sally Cartwright said: "Diversification in the manufacturing sector, adding value in the primary and food and drink sectors and helping deliver a quality tourism experience were and will continue to be high priorities for RACE. A diverse and sustainable economy which relies less on the ups and downs of the oil industry will help provide security and long-term prosperity for communities all over Ross and Cromarty.

Financial support of £436,000 (pounds) was provided to help local businesses create or retain 150 jobs during the year. This levered private sector investment of £3.45 million (pounds) and although these figures are lower than previous years, a lot of groundwork was done during 1999-2000 for projects that are now bearing fruit.

During the year, a £2.5 million (pounds) expansion at the Edinburgh Smoked Salmon Company in Dingwall created 58 new jobs. A funding package worth £150,000 (pounds) was provided by RACE which included a £47,000 (pounds) grant from the EU-funded HIE Waste initiative to help businesses invest in waste processing. Support for improving quality standards among meat producers was also approved.

A £425,000 (pounds) RACE-backed property development saw a 9,000 sq ft factory converted into high quality office accommodation on the Alness Industrial Estate. Recently, BT Scotland demonstrated its further commitment to the area by locating its helpdesk facility for its broadband product BTopenworld there - up to 300 jobs will be created within two years.

Infrastructure works totalling £1.5 million (pounds) were completed on the second phase of the Dingwall Business Park. The serviced sites now available have the potential to house several business development and expansion projects in the future. A £180,000 (pounds) project to restore the Upper Pump Room in Strathpeffer to provide an interactive visitor centre was also assisted with a £57,000 (pounds) grant from RACE.

This helped attract another £50,000 (pounds) from the EU-funded HIE Attractions programme.

The report highlights how HIE-MARKS - another european-backed marketing initiative, was used to help businesses secure more sales, expand into new markets and diversify their product ranges. Highland Theological College in Dingwall was helped to produce a fundraising brochure and prospectus and Scoraig-based instrument maker Alan Beavitt, secured new orders when assisted to attend a music festival.

Those affected by the oil sector downturn have adapted well by finding work further afield or re-training in order to get other jobs, however working towards reducing the impact of this downturn will remain a high priority for RACE.

During the year, free training in key areas such as information technology, self employment and job seeking skills were available from RACE for those who lost jobs in the oil sector. Individual training grants saw many ex-BARMAC workers take advantage of re-training opportunities identified by themselves, in a wide variety of skills from rope-access training to pest control.

Skillseekers and modern apprenticeships - the national training initiative for young people, saw 81 per cent of youngsters with employed status and 86 vocational qualifications achieved during the year. RACE also assisted developments at Strathcarron, Balintore and Ullapool High School to help improve access to training and skills development opportunities in rural communities.

Another 41 local businesses and organisations were recognised as Investors in People (IiP) - the national initiative which encourages companies and organisations to make the most of their key resource - their staff. During the year Kitale Craft from Dingwall became the 100th IiP recognition in Ross and Cromarty.

Chief executive of RACE, Gordon Cox said: "The past year has seen some important work completed across all sectors but our commitment to strengthening communities saw considerable progress being made in fragile areas like the Seaboard villages in Easter Ross and Applecross in South West Ross.

These areas were designated as a high priority by RACE four years ago and a number of projects have come to fruition which has improved the economic and social fabric for these local communities."

RACE assisted with a £45,000 (pounds) grant towards major environmental improvements to the Seaboard during the year, and assistance towards a new pier at Applecross will help increase marine tourism and improve facilities for local fishermen.

A total of 43 community action grants, worth £124,000 (pounds) were also awarded to a wide range of projects throughout the area - from the new community hall in Ardross which received a grant of £35,000 (pounds) to another for £1,400 (pounds) which helped establish the 'Dingwall 3 O'Clock Club' who provide affordable after-school childcare at Dingwall Primary School.

Key outputs during the year:

* 150 jobs created or retained against a target of 375;

* 41 IiP recognitions against a target of 40;

* 73 per cent property occupancy against a target of 75 per cent;

* 12 Business Start Ups against a target of 20;

* 329 Skillseeker Starts against a target of 348;

* 81 per cent of Skillseekers in employment against a target of 75 per cent;

* 86 vocational qualifications achieved against a target of 74;

* 119 Training for Work starts against a target of 84;

* 43 community action grants approved against a target of 35.