News
18/6/2025
Applications open for the 2025/26 Scottish Rural Leadership Programme
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands are invited to apply to the 2025/26 Scottish Rural Leadership Programme. The initiative is designed to empower rural business owners and senior leaders across Scotland with the skills, confidence and strategic insight needed to drive innovation and growth in their communities.18/6/2025
Look to See - a Refugee Week exhibition by young people
As part of the Highland Council's celebration of Refugee Week - 16 to 22 June - we are delighted to announce that a sharing of photographs, taken by separated young people seeking asylum living within the Highlands, is to be shown at Eden Court Arts Centre, Inverness. Look to See, which ties in with the theme for this year’s Refugee Week - Community as a Superpower - emerges out of a collaboration between multiple agencies working alongside separated young people seeking asylum, embodying the importance of community and connection, when looking to support all young people in the Highlands.18/6/2025
Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems join Culham fusion hub
UKAEA's Culham Campus welcomes Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems as its latest tenants. Two pioneering companies, Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems, have joined the growing cluster of fusion technology and AI organisations at United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA) Culham Campus.
17/6/2025
Dounreay helps Caithness retrieve its past
A Pictish stone believed to date back 1,700 years has been retrieved and preserved for future generations with financial help from Dounreay's operators. Dounreay isn't the only site in Caithness where relics of the past are being retrieved and made safe for the future.13/6/2025
Wick High Brings In New Policy Banning Mobile Phone from 19 August 2025
Our updated policy on mobile phones has been finalised after a period of consultation with our parents/carers, pupils and staff. This policy will begin with the start of the new academic year, on Tuesday 19th August, and will essentially mean that mobile devices will be prohibited in the school building and grounds during the school day.12/6/2025
New business venture benefits from HOIL support - Remotely Operated Vehicles - The Future Of Underwater Operations?
Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited, HOIL has recently provided Sgùrr Access and Marine Services Limited with loan assistance towards their start-up costs for a new business venture based in Kyle of Lochalsh. HOIL, The Highland Council's business loan company offers loan support to Highland based businesses and community organisations, who can benefit from straightforward loan conditions and a tailored offer to support their project.
12/6/2025
Freeze on cost of 2025/26 garden waste bin permits
Garden Waste Permits from Highland Council are now available for the 2025/26 season. To support continued garden waste recycling, the price for the upcoming 2025/26 permit will remain unchanged at £48.95 per permit, the same as last year.
12/6/2025
Recruitment under way for next Chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise
The Scottish Government has begun recruitment to appoint a new Chair for the Board of development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Applications are currently being invited through the government's public appointments website with a closing date of 7 July 2025.
12/6/2025
Highland Youth Parliament Future Youth Voice Conference
The annual Highland Youth Parliament (HYP) conference will take place at Inverness Leisure and Canal Park, Inverness on Friday (13th June 2025). Highland young people are focusing on future youth voices and what they would like a future Highland to look like.11/6/2025
Renewable energy training centre officially opened in Inverness
Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, has officially opened Aurora's pioneering Renewable Energy Training Centre in Inverness - the only facility of its kind serving the Highlands. The £1.2m training centre has already demonstrated its importance to Scotland's net-zero ambitions, training to more than 1,000 people in its first year and gearing up to train more than 2,000 workers annually who will be central to the country's renewable energy future.
8/6/2025
Applications open for Education Maintenance Allowance 2025/26 - £30 per week Apply now
All eligible young people are being encouraged to apply for a weekly, term time allowance of £30 per week from August 2025. The Highland Council administers Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in respect of eligible young people from across its 29 secondary schools.7/6/2025
Support secured for LGBT Veterans
Legislation has been amended to ensure veterans who receive a payment from the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme do not lose out on council tax support. More than 1,200 people in Scotland who served under and suffered from the ban on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) personnel serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000 have applied to the UK Government for compensation so far.5/6/2025
Dedicated road marking team mobilised throughout the Highlands
Highland Council's dedicated road marking team has been fully mobilised to carry out road marking across the Highland region. Finally after many years of depending on contractors from the south a Highland council team will be able to get on with the work regularly as weather allows.
5/6/2025
Integrated Children Services Planning Board - Annual Update
At the Education Committee of Highland Council on Wednesday 4 June, Members were presented with the Integrated Children Services Plan Annual Report 2024/25. The Integrated Children's Service’s work continues as it enters the 3rd year of the delivery of the Integrated Children’s Service Plan.5/6/2025
Education update and positive destinations for our school leavers
The Highland Council, Education Committee met today (Wednesday 4 June 2025) and received a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the Education and Learning Service. It included positive school leaver destinations and an update on the refreshed attainment strategy and the Education and Learning management restructure.5/6/2025
Expanding opportunities to learn Gaelic at school
Tha comhairlichean Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd air fàilte a chur air an obair ionmholta a thathar a' dèanamh gus cothroman a leudachadh do luchd-ionnsachaidh òga na Gàidhlig. Aig coinneamh Chomataidh na Gàidhlig an-diugh (Diciadain 4 Ògmhios) chaidh an obair leasachaidh a thathar a’ dèanamh aig Bun-Sgoil Bhaile an Fhraoich ann an Inbhir Nis a chomharrachadh mar dheagh eisimpleir de bhith a’ cruthachadh "spiorad mhath is ion-ghabhaltach airson na Gàidhlig thar na sgoile".4/6/2025
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest up to £24 million at Kishorn Port
A multi-million pound investment is being made in one of Scotland's most strategically important ports. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will invest up to £24 million at Kishorn Port in the west Highlands to enhance its capacity and capabilities, with an expanded dry dock and land reclamation enabling the manufacture of floating offshore wind foundations.4/6/2025
New Seasonal Access Rangers start across Highland
Last weekend saw the first patrols of The Highland Council's, new Seasonal Access Ranger team. The new rangers will seek to promote and advise on responsible access to the countryside through the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.3/6/2025
Applications Now Open for Highland Council's Strategic Events Grant
Applications Now Open for Highland Council's Strategic Events Grant. The Highland Council is pleased to announce the official launch of its new Strategic Events Grant Fund, a £75,000 initiative designed to support the region's dynamic events sector and strengthen the local economy during the quieter shoulder and off-season months.3/6/2025
