Energy management measures are beginning to pay dividends for The Highland Council and further investments are proposed to meet targets set by the Council's Administration to reduce energy use and carbon emissions by 15% and increase renewable energy sources by a minimum of 4,000 kw by 2010.   The Highland Council's Resources Committee was told this week that at the end of the first year of the Council's energy management performance plan, an overall decrease in energy consumption of 16% was achieved and almost £1 million of costs avoided.   ... [more]

To help meet the increasing demand for building warrants and completion certificates, The Highland Council's Resources Committee has agreed to create three additional posts of building standards officer.   The new staff will be based in the Council's offices at Dingwall, Fort William and Kingussie.   ... [more]

This article is from the HIE network 2007 report To read the full report go to - HIE network 2007 This is a Pdf doc HIE has just come through a period of extensive internal change, reshaping its structures to deliver a new set of strategic priorities.   Yet Sandy is aware that serious challenges still need to be addressed by HIE and its partners.   ... [more]

A structure to deliver a regeneration strategy is being overseen by an executive board comprising the chief executives of HIE and Highland Council and the director of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Region 4.  Following a period of public consultation on the strategy for Caithness and north Sutherland, a detailed action plan is being developed with the input of partner organisations.   ... [more]

The HIE network has decided to publish a simple narrative account of its activities in 2006-07 in advance of publishing its formal annual report and accounts.  The report is perhaps a more readable account of what has happened over the preceding year.   ... [more]

The Fitness Industry Association (FIA)* has received funding from the Scottish Executive to pilot the Active at Work programme across 12 sites of official socio-economic deprivation in Scotland.  The FIA is currently recruiting businesses to participate.   ... [more]

The August 2007 site newspaper from Dounreay is available as Pdf - See: http://www.ukaea.org.uk/news/publications_dounreay_news.html .   ... [more]

officebroker.com launches campaign for sustainable workplaces Recycling is now a way of life for many of us - in the home at least.  It seems that the green message is finally filtering through as the Government encourages us to become more aware of, and take greater personal responsibility for, behaviours and actions which can have a negative impact on the environment.   ... [more]

Students receiving their Standard Grade results in Scotland today (Thursday 23 August 2007) have even more crucial choices to make than their Highers counterparts, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.   With current skills shortages biting deeply into certain sectors of the UK's labour market, the REC, the trade association for the UK's private recruitment industry, says it is vital that GCSE students take time out to identify potential educational or vocational routes which can lead them to jobs in these specific areas.   ... [more]

Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Jim Mather was in Caithness on 14 August 2007 to talk to local businesses and organisations about potential economic opportunities.   He visited marine electronics manufacturer Kongsberg Maritime Ltd and SubSea 7 who manufacture pipeline bundles and are seeking to diversify into the renewables sector.   ... [more]

A bountiful selection of the best of the North Highlands food and drink produce, brought together by HIE Caithness and Sutherland, was visited by HRH Prince Charles recently.  Producers from throughout Caithness and Sutherland gathered together at Ackergill Tower near Wick to welcome national and local buyers.   ... [more]

Tourism operators in the Highlands and Islands still have time to submit their entry for an award which could help to raise their profile and make an impact on their future development.   They are being urged to take part in the area's most prestigious hospitality and tourism awards event, the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) 2007, which will take place in the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness on Friday, 16 November.   ... [more]

Is your business a winner? Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is offering a two-day trip worth £1,000 to a high-profile event in Glasgow for Scotland's leading entrepreneurs.   If your business is based within the HIE geographical area, you've got at least one ready-for-market product or service and are actively seeking ways to expand your sales base beyond local boundaries, you are eligible to win a maximum of two delegate places at this prestigious event taking place on Friday 5th - Saturday 6th October 2007.   ... [more]

Latest British Crime Survey highlights importance of home security in run-up to National Home Security Week 25th August 2007 This bank holiday weekend do something to deter burglars - don't put it off 'Fit basic visible security deterrents' is the clear message from both the latest British Crime Survey and the National Home Security Week campaign.  With 726,000 domestic burglaries in the UK per year (2006-7), more than one home a minute in the UK is affected by this traumatic event.   ... [more]

Scottish Water's record-breaking programme of replacing old water mains is about to benefit the small Caithness community of Auckengill.   3.5 kilometres of cement pipes thought to date from the 50s is to be replaced with new pipes made from tough plastic in an investment worth £190,000.   ... [more]

A bid is to be made by The Highland Council to the Scottish Government for a further £1,668,000 of grant aid to fully fund the repairs to council properties/infrastructure and community assets caused by the storm damage of October last year.   In March, the Council has received a grant of £4 million towards the repair bill.   ... [more]

Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP David Stewart has called for action on the Caithness economy following a visit to Dounreay.   Mr Stewart said, "I had a useful and informative visit to Dounreay and met with trade union representatives and Dounreay Director Simon Middlemass.   ... [more]

Spring 2008 will bring the arrival of the fastest ferry over the Pentland Firth.   A new catamaran state of the art high speed ferry will whisk passengers from Gills terminal in Caithnes over to Orkney.   ... [more]

The Sunday Times Travel Magazine poll reveals noisy neighbours are the hotel extra you could most do without - London 10th August, 2007.  In a survey released today by The Sunday Times Travel Magazine noisy neighbours are most to blame for good getaways going bad.   ... [more]

A new section of website focusing on the regeneration efforts in Caithness and North Sutherland has been launched.  The importance of the work now going on cannot be underestimated and a look at the bottom of this page shows the bodies involved in this new process to find a new future for the far north post Dounreay.   ... [more]