Advisory / Counseling Services News
31/5/2014
HIE announces funding for the future management of the Carloway Estate
An estate on the Isle of Lewis will come into community ownership thanks to grants announced this week from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Land Fund (SLF). The Carloway Estate will purchase over 11,000 acres of land on the north-west coast of the Isle of Lewis that takes in over 200 crofts spread across seven townships including Callanish, Breasclete, Tolsta Chaolais, and a number of outlying islands.25/5/2014
Sir Richard Branson calls on Scottish Entrepreneurs to make the dreams for renewable energy a reality
Media and airline businessman Sir Richard Branson is calling on Scottish entrepreneurs to challenge what he describes as ‘the climate change sceptics’ with the facts about the changing environment. Sir Richard was speaking to delegates attending the 14th All Energy Conference and Exhibition in Aberdeen, Speaking live from his Caribbean island to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Director of Energy and Low Carbon, Calum Davidson, Sir Richard confirmed that he was once a sceptic on climate change but he was persuaded to think again by former American Vice President Al Gore and a range of scientists.
23/5/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 19th May 2014 Energy & Business Services: Two welcome pieces of news for the local economy this week. Firstly Subsea 7 has announced a major new £270 million contract to build a pipeline for Premier Oil to service its oil field east of Aberdeen.20/5/2014
Highlands and Islands businesses set to make waves at the All Energy Conference and Exhibition
Innovation, expertise and experience – all the characteristics commonplace amongst over 60 businesses from the Highlands and Islands set to converge on All Energy in Aberdeen tomorrow, the renewable sector’s key exhibition and conference in Scotland. In conjunction with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), these businesses will exhibit over the two day event in the HIenergy and Energy of Orkney pavilions, which once again, have the largest regional presence at the event.17/5/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 12 May 2014 Energy & Business Services: Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission held a “meet the buyer/ meet the employer” event in North Highland College’s ETEC this week, and I was delighted to be invited to have a presence at the event with partner staff from HIE, Highland Council, Caithness Chamber and JobCentre Plus. The event allowed SSE and supply-chain companies Balfour Beatty, ABB, Amec and Siemens to outline opportunities from the £1.3Bn programme to invest in the electricity transmission network in the north.10/5/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 5th May 2014 Energy & Business Services: Offshore wind developer Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd (MORL) held a “meet the buyer” event in Wick this week. The event, held in association with CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise, featured presentations from lead partner EDPR and Tier 1 supply chain company Global Energy Group, as well as offering businesses the opportunity for one-to-one discussions.9/5/2014
Go digital at goNORTH’s biggest festival in history
With the roll-out of superfast broadband set to transform the Highlands and Islands, Scotland’s largest and most ambitious creative industries event is offering its widest ever range of activity, with digital at its core. Leading industry figures from around the world, will be in Inverness for goNORTH 4-5 June to discuss and share experiences on how increased access to high speed broadband and mobile services have changed the way people watch film, listen to music and read.5/5/2014
Highlands and Islands businesses exhibit at world’s largest seafood fair
Companies from the Highlands and Islands are grasping the opportunity to give Europe and beyond a flavour of what they have to offer when they showcase their produce at the Seafood Expo Global 2014 in Brussels. This global annual event which takes place this week (Tuesday 6th May – Thursday 8th May 2014) attracts over 25,000 seafood buyers along with exhibitors from more than 70 countries.
1/5/2014
HIE performance delivers jobs and growth in 2013-14
Ambitious businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands are showing increased confidence and positive performance, according to figures compiled by development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The organisation’s year-end results show that it enjoyed another successful year in 2013-14, supporting more than 2,000 jobs and meeting or exceeding each of the performance measures it agrees annually with the Scottish Government.1/5/2014
Remote ultrasound scan could improve stroke outcomes
Specialists may be able to carry out a life-saving diagnosis on someone suffering a stroke hundreds of miles away, thanks to new technology being investigated in a research collaboration led by the University of Aberdeen and supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). An ultrasound scanner connected to a state-of-the-art communication system will transmit images of the patient’s brain in real time to centrally based specialists, aiming to increase survival rates and minimise resulting disability.27/4/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 21st april 2014 Energy & Business Services: The Department for Energy & Climate Change this week announced the eight renewables projects on its revised list of “Final Investment Decision Enabling for Renewables”. This list has been published following a final review of affordability, after an interim list was published in December 2013.
22/4/2014
Highlands And Islands Enterprise Invests In New Data Labs
A new £11.3 million innovation centre dedicated to helping Scotland capitalise on the growing market in analytics and ‘big data’ technology is set to open later this year. The investment is projected to return a minimum of 345 new jobs and an additional £155 million of value to the Scottish Economy.22/4/2014
Hydrasun announces major investment in its specialist manufacturing capabilities
Hydrasun, a leading specialist provider of integrated fluid transfer, power and control solutions to the global energy market, is looking to expand its operations with a £3M investment in its specialist manufacturing facility in Aviemore. This is also being supported by a £500,000 development grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).18/4/2014
Superfast fibre broadband to roll out on first Scottish Island
Homes and businesses in Lerwick on Shetland are set to be Scotland’s first island community to get fibre broadband as part of the £410 million Digital Scotland partnership. Lerwick joins Keith in Moray as the latest areas to be announced as part of the Digital Highlands and Islands project which will deliver fibre broadband to 84% of premises across the region by 2016.18/4/2014
Deadline approaching for Highlands & Islands Food and Drink Awards 2014
Food and drink businesses across the Highlands and Islands and within the Cairngorms National Park area have just days left before the deadline to enter the region’s largest and most prestigious food and drink industry awards. As the Wednesday, 23 April deadline approaches for entries for this year’s Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards, sponsored by Gordon & MacPhail and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), organisers are calling on the area’s food and drink businesses to make sure they don’t miss the closing date.11/4/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 7th April 2014 Energy & Business Services: Atlantis Resources Ltd has announced an extension to its partnership with Chinese company Dongfang Electrical Machinery which will enable testing of the Atlantis AK1000 tidal turbine in China. As previously reported, Atlantis now owns Meygen Ltd., and Atlantis tidal devices will be deployed at the Meygen tidal site in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth following Scottish Government consent last year, and Atlantis’ successful raising of project finance.8/4/2014
New operator and multi-million pound investment announced for Cairngorm Mountain
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is delighted to announce Natural Retreats, a specialist leisure and travel company, as the new operator of Cairngorm Mountain, taking effect in June 2014. Natural Retreats are renowned for offering customers and guests high quality tourism based experiences in some of the most dramatic natural locations around the world.4/4/2014
Two Caithness Food Businesses Head For Singapore
Highlands and Islands businesses are at the forefront of showcasing Scottish food and drink in Singapore as part of two international events. Eight companies from the region are part of an 18 strong Scottish delegation participating in a trade mission to Singapore on 6-10th April in a bid to crack one of the world’s wealthiest economies.4/4/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 31 March 2014 Energy & Business Services: SSE’s transmission business is consulting on the next phase of plans to enhance the electricity transmission grid in the north. The company this week held two days of public consultation in Thurso and Mey on plans to construct a new substation at Phillips Mains near Mey, which will connect to a new substation near Thurso via a new 132kV overhead line.4/4/2014
