Achieving future prosperity for Caithness and Sutherland depends on working in partnership with others and a willingness to change depending on priorities and needs.

That is the message from Jack Watson, chairman of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise when the development agency published its ninth annual report.

He said: "Partnership is the key to future prosperity - everything we do is geared towards working alongside businesses, communities, individuals and other organisations like the local authority to help strengthen communities, develop peoples' skills and grow businesses throughout the area.

"Taking advantage of developing opportunities in e-commerce, decommissioning work at Dounreay and improving air and road transport links, will continue to be a high priority which will help the area realise its full future potential."

CASE invested nearly £1.1 million (pounds) in 42 business development projects which helped create or retain 199 jobs. These ranged from £150,000 towards the new £1.4 (million) pounds cinema complex in Thurso, to a grant of £155,000 which helped upgrade and expand the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch.

Upgrading work to the slipway at Wick harbour was also assisted with a £117,400 (grant, which levered a further £150,000 from the European funded PESCA programme. This work helped secure the future of the local fishing industry as well as ensuring the viability of a number of other businesses in the harbour area.

The report also features some of the 16 local entrepreneurs who started their own businesses during the year. 'Cards by Georgina' - a John O'Groats-based enterprise which makes hand-made cards and Ken Gibson from Brora who manufactures a range of fine art clocks were both assisted. The CASE business counselling service provided advice and guidance to a wide range of new and established businesses and the Business Information Source answered 787 enquiries using on-line databases, a comprehensive reference library and CD ROM's.

Another 21 organisations were recognised as Investors in People - the national initiative which encourages companies and organisations to make the most of their key resource, their people, bringing the total number of recognitions in Caithness and Sutherland to 65.

Skillseekers - the national training initiative for young people saw 91 per cent of all trainees with employed status - being trained while in a job. The programme also saw 99 vocational qualifications achieved during the year. Darren Munro - a Wick-based Skillseeker is one of nine people who was working towards a vocational qualification during the year using 'Learning Space' - an innovative new way to learn using integrated e-mail and software which enables communication between students and tutors.

Chief executive of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise Neil Money said: "Our key priority is to halt and eventually reverse the current population trends which have seen a continuing decline and ageing of the population.

"To achieve this, we strive to provide opportunities for young people by helping existing businesses expand as well as attracting new ones. Providing access to a wide range of skills development opportunities and helping provide better facilities for communities throughout the area is also a high priority as it increases community confidence and helps encourage people to stay in Caithness and Sutherland."

During the year, 51 community action grants worth a total of £196,500 were approved against a target of 40. These ranged in scale from £50,000 towards the new Latheron village hall to £162 which helped Kinlochbervie Community Council install a new village noticeboard.

The year also saw the European-funded LEADER II programme come to an end. During the last five years, 150 projects have benefitted from £400,000 of LEADER II funds which has been matched by over £1 million of other public and private funding. During 1999 'The Golspie Experience' - a community-led initiative to provide activity holidays in Golspie was one of the last projects to be assisted under the programme.

You can receive a copy of the Caithness and Sutherland annual report, by calling 01847 896115

Summary list of results for the year:

* 199 jobs created or retained against a target of 340;

* Cost per job of £2,289 against a target of £3,500;

* 21 organisations recognised as Investors in People against a target of 25;

* 98 per cent property occupancy rate against a target of 90 per cent;

* 16 business start-ups assisted against a target of 15;

* 91 per cent of Skillseekers with employed status against a target of 80 per cent;

* 99 vocational qualifications achieved against a target of 75;

* 89 Training for Work starts against a target of 108;

* 51 community action grants approved against a target of 40.