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News Archive


1/4/2022
NHS staff are angry that their annual pay increase has not materialised, says UNISON
UNISON, Scotland's health union, will tell Scottish Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf NHS staff are angry and disappointed that the pay rise they were due on 1st April has not materialised - when the minister speaks at their national conference today (Friday) UNISON members say they are particularly angry as workers are facing unprecedented cost of living increases.   In an emergency motion the conference will also call on UNISON to mobilise a campaign to demand that health workers in Scotland secure a pay offer which meets their needs and is backdated to no later than 1st April 2022 UNISON submitted a pay claim in March 2022 along with other unions, which calls for the Scottish Government to make a significantly above inflation pay rise to address rising fuel and household costs; planned tax and national insurance increases; and to recover lost earnings due to years of real terms pay cuts.  
Robot Goes Underground At DounreayThumbnail for article : Robot Goes Underground At Dounreay
A robot has successfully surveyed an underground radioactive ventilation duct in Dounreay's redundant laboratories.   Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) and the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear (RAIN) Hub are working together to develop a robot capable of accessing areas that are inaccessible or unsafe for humans to work in.  
1/4/2022
New Health And Social Care Standards For Care Homes
Reinforcing the rights of residents to have visits and care from loved ones.   Changes to the national Health and Social Care Standards for Scotland's adult care homes will put Anne’s Law into practical effect while legislation is being prepared.  
1/4/2022
UK proposes anti-dumping measures on Cold Rolled Flat Steel from China and Russia be keptThumbnail for article : UK proposes anti-dumping measures on Cold Rolled Flat Steel from China and Russia be kept
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has proposed that existing measures on imports of Cold Rolled Flat Steel from China and Russia be maintained.   UK TRA proposes anti-dumping measures on Cold Rolled Flat Steel from China and Russia be kept for a further five years.  
1/4/2022
Household Support Fund Doubled To Help Most Vulnerable Tackle Cost Of Living
Pensioners and families are set to benefit from the £500m extension to the Household Support Fund, as the government takes further steps to help with the rising cost of living.   Household Support Fund doubled to £1 billion with £500 million of new funding, as government goes further to support families with cost of living.  
1/4/2022
Persistent Poverty Not Changed
Between 2016 and 2020, one tenth of people in Scotland were in persistent poverty after housing costs.  Persistent poverty identifies individuals who live in relative poverty (have a household income of less than 60% of the UK median) for at least three years out of the last four.  
1/4/2022
Council Tax Discounts Protected Under Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme
Legislation to prevent households paying more.   People who open up their homes under the Homes for Ukraine scheme will not be subject to an increase in Council Tax following changes to legislation.  
1/4/2022
Vision For Trade Annual Report
Work is underway to remove barriers to global trade as part of efforts to grow Scotland's international economic opportunities.   The Vision for Trade annual report sets out steps taken to increase progress towards net zero through trade, while making it easier for businesses to access international markets.  
1/4/2022
Embedding Entrepreneurialism
Industry roundtable to focus on delivering economic ambitions.   Economy Secretary Kate Forbes met with leading entrepreneurs and innovators in Glasgow to discuss working together to deliver the entrepreneurial ambitions of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.  
1/4/2022
Blue Economy Vision Launch
Move to make Scotland a global leader in marine management.   Scotland's ambition for a world-leading ‘Blue Economy' has been set out in a vision document.  
1/4/2022
Local government workers to be consulted on industrial action, says UNISON
UNISON, Scotland's largest union, will consult local government members on taking industrial action over pay.   The decision was made today (Friday) at UNISON's national local government conference after members rejected an initial pay offer from COSLA.  
1/4/2022
Coronavirus (covid-19): Daily Data For Scotland - 1 April 2022
6,935* new cases of COVID-19 reported 41 new reported deaths of people who have tested positive 22 people were in intensive care yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19.   2,383 people were in hospital yesterday with recently confirmed COVID-19.  
1/4/2022
Strengthening Bonds With USA And Canada
The enduring cultural, historical, educational and economic links between Scotland, Canada and the United States will be underlined by External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson when he visits North America to mark Tartan Day.   The Cabinet Secretary will engage with business leaders, political representatives, diaspora groups and cultural organisations in Ontario, New York and Washington DC.  
31/3/2022
Two Caithness Wards Have 6 Candidates In Each WardThumbnail for article : Two Caithness Wards Have 6 Candidates In Each Ward
Elections will be held in both Caithness wards with 6 candidates standing in each one.   Four councillors are to be elected for each ward.  
16,000 Articles on Caithness Business Index
This week the web site passed 16000 articles.   The first article went on in April 2001 and each year since then has seen an increasing number of articles.  
The NDA Group Sustainability Strategy 2022Thumbnail for article : The NDA Group Sustainability Strategy 2022
This strategy sets out the NDA group's five-year path to becoming a leader in sustainability.   Transforming nuclear legacies into sustainable opportunities is the focus of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group's new Sustainability Strategy 2022.  
Shetland Aquaculture To Benefit From ‘Game Changer' DeviceThumbnail for article : Shetland Aquaculture To Benefit From ‘Game Changer' Device
Shellfish and finfish businesses in Shetland are set to benefit from new technology designed to inform optimal and sustainable growth in the aquaculture sector.   UHI Shetland has secured £185,000 investment from HIE to purchase a high-tech piece of equipment known as an Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB).  
Search for business funding or advice - So much advice but how to find it?
There are so many places to look for funding but have you got time to find it all and read the rules for each on.   Just googling alone can take hours.  
31/3/2022
Take a Photo of Your Meter Readings Today - New charges Start Tomorrow
The charges for energy go up on 1st April.   A 54% rise in prices is huge.  
31/3/2022
Statement from Labour MSP Rhoda Grant following Health Secretary's statement to Scottish Parliament today on Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, said the Scottish Government's announcement threw money at the situation but didn't solve the underlying problem of the shortage of nurses, midwives and doctors as highlighted by NHS workers at Raigmore Hospital and by the unions.   In the Scottish Parliament today, Mrs Grant, said:"While I welcome the promise to reinstate consultant led maternity services in Dr Gray’s and the much-needed investment at Dr Gray’s and Raigmore, I cannot welcome this so called short term option.