Increased levels of business activity and the lowest unemployment rate in a generation are features which marked a busy 12 months of enterprise activity in Lochaber during the past year.

The upbeat message came as Lochaber Enterprise, part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network launched their tenth annual report in Fort William.

Chief executive of Lochaber Enterprise (LE) Jackie Wright said: "We had a record year in terms of the number of jobs created through our main business investment programme. It was also very satisfying to see that nearly four in every five business development applications came from businesses with less than ten employees. This shows our commitment to working alongside the kinds of businesses that are the backbone of our local economy."

These projects included an award of £16,600 to Doune Marine in Knoydart towards the £66,500 costs of building a new passenger boat, and another of £7,700 which helped William John Maclean meet the £30,500 cost of re-equipping the fishing boat Caralisa to improve catch handling.

Hotscot Netmarketing Ltd of Fort William were also assisted to establish the first macromedia-approved training centre in the Highlands with assistance of £4,700 towards set-up costs of £18,500.

During the year a landmark achievement was the securing of one of the area's biggest ever inward investments at Carn Mor House on the Glen Nevis Business Park when the new BT/Manpower helpdesk went online. With the potential to create up to 200 jobs, the centre provides round-the-clock support for customers of BT's Syncordia Solutions. A £500,000 extension to Carn Mor House is currently being undertaken by Lochaber Enterprise which will see the facility double in size by the end of this year.

Lochaber Enterprise also stressed the value of business advice and guidance alongside financial assistance. It delivered 368 business counselling sessions, and a further 23 organisations gained the Investors in People standard which focusses on improving business competitiveness through staff development.

Chairman of Lochaber Enterprise Andrew Rogers said: "The unemployment rate which is now one of the lowest we have ever experienced in the area is a credit to the local entrepreneurial spirit. Although this has obvious benefits for the local economy, our challenge is to combine business development, access to skills and support for community led projects to help increase the confidence and sense of ownership for people right across our area."

"One location which benefited from this kind of integrated development during the year was the Initiative at the Edge area of Ardnamurchan. Along with several other partner agencies and the local community itself, we made significant progress on key projects such as an economic evaluation of the Kilchoan to Tobermory ferry, to the completion of the first phase of the Millennium Wood at Acharacle."

The enterprise company also reported approval of 23 Community Action Grants (CAG's) worth £104,000 during the year which helped a variety of clubs and groups improve their facilities or purchase equipment, and drew in further investment of over £850,000. The LE awards included £1,500 to Lochaber Credit Union and £3,400 towards the refurbishment of the Spean Bridge Community Centre.

Lochaber Enterprise said that the Skillseekers programme - the government training initiative for young people saw 31 vocational qualifications achieved during the year with over nine out of ten trainees on the scheme now having employed status.

People in Lochaber also opened 704 Individual Learning Accounts (ILA's) during the year. ILA's are a new scheme which ensure everyone can access learning when, where and how they want it. The Highland Childminding Training project and Workers Educational Association were other projects which were assisted to develop skills in the area.

Jackie Wright added: "We are also looking at how we can attract more European Union (EU) funding into Lochaber, both with bids linked to the Highlands and Islands Transitional Programme and through other HIE co-ordinated schemes. As in everything we do, we are placing the future prosperity of Lochaber at the top of the agenda."

To receive a copy of the Lochaber Enterprise annual report contact Donna Beck on 01397 704326.

Other key outputs for Lochaber Enterprise during 2000-2001:

* 339 jobs created/retained against a target of 143;

* 13 new businesses assisted against a target of 5;

* 23 IiP recognitions against a target of 25;

* 27 company training grants awarded to local businesses.