Orkney Enterprise has published its year-end results, following the release of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network's results this morning.

Orkney Enterprise performed well in all of the Network's themes of Strengthening Communities, Developing Skills, Making Global Connections and Growing Businesses.

Particular highlights included the conclusion of the funding package for the European Marine Energy Test Centre and being able to meet the needs of expanding businesses in Orkney with an advance office development available in Kirkwall - Kiln Corner.

During the year 2002-03, Orkney Enterprise helped create 22 new businesses through the HIE-Starts programme and supported the creation or retention of more than 147 jobs.  The development agency also assisted 26 businesses to develop their e-commerce activity and several Orkney businesses received support to engage in research and innovation projects.

The number of businesses on Orkney achieving Investors in People (IiP) status - a national standard designed to help improve business competitiveness by developing staff skills and motivation - rose this year with 31 organisations receiving the IiP plaque for the first time or achieving re-recognition.

During a year in which local unemployment levels remained consistently low
developing the skills of Orcadians continued to be a priority for Orkney Enterprise with Skillseekers and Modern Apprentices continuing to perform well.  A total of 35 Vocational Qualifications were achieved through Skillseekers and 152 people were working towards a Modern Apprenticeship, a significant rise on the previous year.

Orkney Enterprise achieved particular success in its Strengthening Communities remit.  The development agency supported the enhancement of 20 community facilities, almost doubling last year's efforts.  Orkney Enterprise also helped to create eight new jobs in community businesses and supported 10 cultural or arts events in the county.

Chief executive of Orkney Enterprise, Ken Grant said: "Orkney Enterprise has made steady progress over the past year and our good performance reflects not only the progressive outlook and attitude adopted by Orkney businesses but also the high level of co-operation that exists between businesses, communities, and public sector agencies.  

"However, the publication of the census results has shown a decrease in the amount of people living in our more remote rural and island areas.  The issue of population decline, ageing population and the longer term knock-on effects that arise from this will obviously be a focus for Orkney Enterprise in the coming year. 

"Looking to the year ahead other priorities include assisting the production of strategies for the local jewellery and archaeology sectors, delivery of a programme of e-business awareness events, and the successful completion and hand-over of the European Centre for Marine Energy to the operating company (EMEC Ltd), where we aim to have at least one developer on site by the autumn."