In my previous article I suggested that Highland Council could perhaps take an Andy Burnham-style approach to the cost of living — looking at what it can do to reduce the everyday costs facing households rather than simply concentrating on balancing its own books. There is an obvious objection.
Andy Burnham has certainly been making his presence felt so I have ben giving some thought to how we could look at things more from a costof living view for residents of our region. Since becoming Prime Minister, his early approach has been to concentrate on the things that people notice in their everyday lives the cost of electricity, bus fares and some of the irritating practices that make household finances feel even tighter.
In this podcast, I am joined by my elder son, James, to ask a deceptively simple question: why do schools prepare young people for examinations but not for adult life? James describes arriving at university with a student loan and an overdraft, yet almost no understanding of budgeting, saving, rent, debt or credit. We discuss why this absence of financial education particularly disadvantages many young people.
For more than a century, aviation has been tied to one remarkable invention: the jet engine. It transformed the world, shrinking continents and making international travel commonplace.
The stories making the news in Caithness are not just isolated events. Taken together, they reveal a county dealing with change in transport, politics, energy, housing, fishing, tourism and community life.
Britain’s pubs can be busy, football grounds can be full, and airports can be crowded while millions of people are still struggling to pay for life’s essentials. The cost-of-living crisis has not disappeared simply because some people cannot see it.
Young people, particularly men, are spending more time alone today than a decade ago, driven by a shift to solo working as well as increased screen time, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Wednesday. All by myself – supported by the Economic and Social Research Council-funded (ESRC) Connecting Generations research programme explores how patterns of time spent alone have changed by age over the last ten years, and what explains these changes.
There is something slightly uncomfortable about the way Scotland talks about road investment. Billions are being committed to transforming the A9 between Perth and Inverness, yet once we look north of Inverness, the conversation seems to become much quieter.
A total of 10 charities will receive a share of a £20 million fund in 2026-27 to deliver wide ranging support to improve wellbeing, boost incomes, and help parents towards employment as part of the Scottish Government’s drive to eradicate child poverty. The charities involved estimate that up to 35,000 families could benefit from the Scottish Government’s package of whole family support, spanning almost all of Scotland.
More than 150 rural 4G mast upgrades are now live, boosting mobile coverage across remote UK areas and helping walkers, visitors and communities stay connected. More than 150 government-funded 4G mast upgrades are now live across the UK through the Shared Rural Network, bringing 4G coverage from EE, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone and ThreeUK to some of Britain’s hardest-to-reach rural areas.
Chair of HIE, Angus Campbell, explores how our islands are at the heart of a £100bn pipeline of investment opportunities, helping to drive economic growth, clean energy and community prosperity across the Highlands and Islands. The Highlands and Islands has long been recognised for outstanding natural assets, entrepreneurial spirit and resilient communities.
Millions of people will receive essential financial support before the August bank holiday weekend, as the Government has confirmed that benefit payments will be brought forward to Friday 28 August. Pension and benefit payments to be brought forward to Friday 28th August to account for bank holiday.
A vacancy has arisen for the election of a Councillor to represent Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness following the resignation of Willie Mackay. Ward 3 is a 4-member ward.
Britain's Energy Handicap: How Can We Compete With America When Our Electricity Costs Twice as Much? Britain likes to describe itself as an energy superpower. We have North Sea oil and gas, some of the world's best offshore wind resources, substantial nuclear expertise, hydroelectricity, tidal potential and an electricity grid increasingly supplied by renewable generation.
Britain is spending billions supporting a power station that burns enormous quantities of wood to produce electricity. Now Drax wants to add carbon capture to the process, potentially turning one of Britain's most controversial power stations into a giant carbon-removal project.
There is something increasingly strange about Scotland's position in Britain's emerging nuclear revival. Scotland has nuclear sites.
FSA National Food Crime Unit operation leads to one arrest and the seizure of suspected illegal food products across England, Wales and Scotland. The headline sounds alarming: more than 33 tonnes of suspected illegal frozen food has been seized in a major National Food Crime Unit investigation.
A scheme to help people on low incomes and in priority groups buy their first affordable home has opened for applications. The Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) is available for first-time buyers and priority access groups who can’t afford the full price of a home.
The Scottish Government has a simple and attractive message for first-time buyers: we will help you buy your first home. The newly launched First Homes Fund can provide up to £10,000 towards the purchase of a property worth up to £300,000.
Thermal cameras detect heat rather than light, making them invaluable in difficult battlefield conditions, like smoke and dust. They can spot targets at long distances and operate when traditional cameras fail.