Latest News
13/8/2022
Rachel Hunters Blog - Rewarding Fair Work And Innovation
A healthy, wealthy and inclusive society starts with a happy employee, writes Rachel Hunter, HIE's director of service delivery There's no doubt that people do a better job when they're happy in their work. They're more committed, more productive, and more innovative.
12/8/2022
DEATH FROM ABOVE: War declared between bin men and monster seagulls
Winged hooligans bring misery to the heroes who empty our bins A new front has opened in the war between mankind and vicious flying fury - the seagulls are after our refuse collectors, and they're bigger and angrier than before. Refuse collectors all over the country say that the avian criminals are bolder than ever in their attempts to get their beaks into tasty rubbish, to the point that they'll physically attack any poor human that stands in their way.
12/8/2022
Edinburgh Most Expensive City For Students
Cardiff tops the Royal Bank Student Living Index as most affordable Average student incomes have increased by 65% compared to 2021. Outgoing costs for students are 29% higher than last year Edinburgh is the only UK city where student spend outweighs their income.12/8/2022
UkK Trade: June 2022
Total imports of goods, excluding precious metals, decreased by £0.6 billion (1.1%) in June 2022 because of a £1.1 billion (4.1%) fall in imports from EU countries, while imports from non-EU countries increased by £0.6 billion (2.1%). Total exports of goods, excluding precious metals, fell by £2.7 billion (8.0%) in June 2022, driven by a £2.0 billion (11.9%) decrease in exports to non-EU countries, while exports to EU countries decreased by £0.7 billion (3.9%).12/8/2022
Government To Consider Further Relief For Energy Intensive Industries
High electricity using businesses like steel and paper mills could see further relief under new proposals to help subsidise their electricity costs. Consultation launched into support scheme for energy intensive industries including steel, paper, glass, ceramics, and cement targeted proposals could mean energy intensive industries receive even more relief on their electricity bills.
12/8/2022
Unison Announce Official NHS Strike Pay Ballot
NHS union UNISON has announced today (Friday 12 August 2022) that it will officially ballot its 50,000 NHS members in Scotland over pay. The ballot will open on 3 October.12/8/2022
Energy Bills Will Cost Two Months' Wages Next Year If Ministers Don't Act, Warns TUC
New analysis published by the TUC today (Friday 12 August 2022) shows that energy bills are now expected to cost more than two months of average take-home pay in 2023 - unless the government intervenes. Average take-home pay (after tax) will be £2,054 per month in 2023 based on Bank of England forecasts, so at £4,108, two months' pay will be less than the £4,200 predicted cost of energy bills per household in 2023.12/8/2022
Latest Council Pay Offer A ‘dire Response' To Cost-of-living Crisis, Warns Gmb
Responding this afternoon (Friday 12 August) to an updated offer tabled by COSLA chiefs, involving proposals equivalent to a 3.5 per cent increase for local government pay GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services Keir Greenaway said, "This is a dire response to the cost-of-living crisis facing our members. It will almost certainly lock-in more strikes but let's also be clear that many frontline workers will fall into working poverty this winter unless this pay offer is significantly increased.12/8/2022
Responding To The Cost-of-living Crisis: A Plan For Action
Families are facing a crisis this winter Millions of families face a crisis this winter, as energy and other bills soar. TUC analysis shows that if the energy price cap rises to its forecast level of £4266 a year 1 that will take up two months' worth of average wages.11/8/2022
New Research Reveals Unawareness Of Plans To Transform Recycling System - Deposit Return On Drinks Containers Coming
16 per cent of Brits admit they don't recycle. 58 per cent of consumers don't realise they'll be affected.
11/8/2022
Tenant Farmers Indicate Strong Desire To Buy Crown Estate Scotland Farms
A pilot initiative to increase diversity of land ownership in a planned and managed way has attracted strong interest from tenant farmers. Crown Estate Scotland offered farmers on secure tenancies across two pilot areas - on the Applegirth Estate in Dumfries & Galloway, and the area around Auchindoun in Moray - the opportunity to buy the holdings which they currently lease.
11/8/2022
Extra Support For Mental Health At Work
Businesses will have access to a free online platform offering practical ways to boost mental health in the workplace from today (Thursday 11 August). Face-to-face training opportunities, clear guidance on the legal duties of businesses, and specialist third-party contacts will be in one place for the first time - making it easier than ever for employers to access the means of creating a culture of support and wellbeing at work.11/8/2022
Covid Numbers in Scotland Declining But Still Around
As of 7th August 2022, there have been a total of 15,422 deaths registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate. In week 31 there were 57 deaths involving COVID-19 (34 fewer than the previous week).
11/8/2022
Learner Drivers Urged To Be Test-ready As Pass Rate Falls
Learner drivers are being urged to check they're ready to pass their driving test, as new statistics reveal pass rates have fallen since last year. The latest data released today (11 August 2022) by the Department for Transport reveals the car driving test pass rate for January to March 2022 was 47.1%.
11/8/2022
Underwater 3D Imaging Will Give Deeper Understanding Of Seabed
Experts in underwater imaging technology are trialling the use of a first-of-its-kind system that could see 3D digital models used by Scottish seafood producers to map out and monitor complex marine environments and habitats. Led by Oban-based Tritonia Scientific, with support from the Lyell Centre at Heriot-Watt University, seafood producer Mowi, and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), the company is testing the effectiveness of using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to create digital twins of the seabed.
11/8/2022
INTOG Offshore Wind Leasing Opens, Aiming To Encourage Innovation And Decarbonise North Sea
Crown Estate Scotland - the body which manages seabed leasing for offshore renewables - has today, 10 August, opened the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) offshore wind leasing process. A two-week registration window opens today, followed later this month by the opening of the application window.
11/8/2022
UKCS Decommissioning Cost Estimate Drops 25% To £44.5bn
Cost reduction estimate is equivalent to £15bn saving. Well decommissioning campaign approach gains traction New target will maintain industry focus on cost-efficiency The cost of decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure has been cut by 25% in the past five years, according to the latest estimates published today.
11/8/2022
Huge Increase In Lorry Driving Tests Following Government Action
Official statistics released today (11 August 2022) by the Department for Transport reveal that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carried out 74% more lorry driving tests between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels. 11,197 more lorry driving tests were carried out between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022 compared to the same period in 2020.11/8/2022
Taking Action On Cost Emergency In Scotland
Scottish Government Resilience Room convened. The First Minister has chaired the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (11 August 2022) to discuss urgent steps to mitigate the growing cost emergency which is affecting people and businesses.10/8/2022
