Advisory / Counseling Services News
8/2/2008
Louise Smith Joins Project To Promote Pentland Firth Energy
Louise Smith has been appointed to progress an important marine project set to play a crucial role in revitalising the economy of Caithness following the de-commissioning of Dounreay. Civil engineer Louise Smith takes up the two-year post of project manager with the Pentland Firth Tidal Energy Project next Tuesday (12 February 2008).
22/1/2008
APPROVALS LIST - HIE CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND - December 2007
The approvals list for HIE Caithness and Sutherland is in two sections. The first details assistance given to businesses, community groups and other public sector authorities to deliver specific projects.23/12/2007
Could Bog Myrtle Be A New Cash Crop In The North?
Plans for one of the UK's biggest cosmetic makers to turn bog myrtle into an income-earning crop have moved a step closer with approved funding of £201,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Boots Company PLC has developed products using the essential oil extracted from bog myrtle, a native plant of the Highlands and Islands.
23/12/2007
E-TOURISM COURSES GOING DOWN A STORM
Businesses across the Highlands and Islands are full of praise for a series of e-tourism workshops that reveal the secrets of how to run a successful online marketing campaign. Organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in partnership with the Scottish Tourism Forum and VisitScotland, the workshops show tourism businesses how to use e-marketing and e-commerce to compete more effectively in a busy marketplace.29/10/2007
MARKETING FOR THE SMALLER, NIMBLE BUSINESS
Dr Paul Fifield, a world renowned marketing strategist, is to deliver a talk on marketing for smaller businesses in Inverness on November 15 at the invitation of The Chartered Institute of Marketing in Scotland (CIM). Dr Fifield has over 30 years' experience in marketing and was a member of the CIM International Board of Trustees 2002-2004.27/10/2007
Unemployment Rates In Highland and Islands To September 2007
The September 2007 unemployment figures were released on 17th October 2007. During the month, August 2007 to September 2007, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain fell 3.4%, from 832,294 to 804,078 (28,216).This figure is lower than September last year, where the number of claimants stood at 924,489, a decrease of 13% (120,411claimants).
27/10/2007
Wick Records Biggest Fall In Unemployment
Over the month, August 2007 to September 2007, the claimant count rose in 1 TTWA, fell in 15, and was static in the remaining 4. Wick saw the greatest decrease over the month, falling by 0.5%.
22/10/2007
Firms Urged To Embrace Diversity To Improve Business Performance
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands are being urged to embrace diversity to improve performance and productivity. A new initiative, Equality Matters in Business, (EMB) has been jointly set up by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise to highlight the positive benefits of employing a diverse workforce and considering diversity in service delivery across all equality strands - gender, race, age, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation.21/10/2007
HIE CASE Approvals September 2007
SEPTEMBER 2007 The approvals list for HIE Caithness and Sutherland is in two sections. The first details assistance given to businesses, community groups and other public sector authorities to deliver specific projects.14/10/2007
Northern Periphery Programme Funding For 2007-2013
A pioneering trans-national partnership programme is calling for project ideas in the Highlands and Islands which might be eligible for funding before the deadline of October 31. The Northern Periphery Programme (NPP) 2007-2013 is one of several European Union funded programmes aimed at encouraging trans-national co-operation between the regions of Europe.14/10/2007
HIE HELPS FIRMS TO LOOK FOR MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD
Helping companies to get into the international marketplace is the focus of a series of workshops being organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The next event on Thursday, October 25 at Horizon Scotland, Forres Enterprise Park, in entitled 'Identifying and Evaluating Overseas Markets' and aims to help Highlands and Islands businesses identify key export markets for their products.13/10/2007
Youth Challenge 2008
The hunt has begun to find the best young innovators in the Highlands and Islands. The ICT Youth Challenge 2008 is looking for young people with bright ideas.23/9/2007
National Skills Academy for Nuclear Approved by Government
An employer-led proposal has won government approval from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) for the creation of a National Skills Academy for Nuclear. The announcement made by the Skills Minister David Lammy, 24th September 2007, follows the evaluation of a detailed business plan which was submitted to the DIUS in May 2007.TWO MINISTERS TO ATTEND CAITHNESS CONFERENCE
Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks and David Cairns, MP, Minister of State at the Scotland Office will travel north to attend the Caithness Conference. The conference to be held on 14th September 2007 will identify the actions needed to grow existing or attract new business to the area to offset the impact of the reduction of jobs at Dounreay as the decommissioning progresses.
22/8/2007
Looking forward - Sandy Cumming, Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise
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.
22/8/2007
Highlands and Islands Enterprise network 2007
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.
22/8/2007
Regeneration for the north
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.
21/8/2007
Jim Mather, Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Minister Met Local Business People
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.
19/8/2007
Calling All Entrepreneurs - Win a Two Day Trip To An Event In Glasgow
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 2007.9/8/2007
