News Archive

Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Week Commencing 12th March 2018 Energy & Business services: Crown Estate Scotland has announced that following last September's Contracts for Difference auction, which demonstrated a sharp fall in the cost of offshore wind electricity, it will now consult industry and government on further leasing rounds for offshore wind.  Marine Scotland will lead a planning process to identify potential new sites, which will include both fixed and floating offshore wind.  

Study On Impacts Of Inverness Airport

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) have commissioned economic development consultants, ekosgen, to carry out the work.   Over the next few weeks the study team will be carrying out desk research and survey work, including interviewing principal stakeholders and a representative sample of businesses.  

Caithness Company Leads The Way To A 'Cyber Strong' Region

A Caithness engineering and design company has become the first to achieve national accreditation through the region's ‘Cyber Strong' initiative.   Thurso based Envision Engineering & Design has been awarded government backed Cyber Essentials certification.  

Haudagain Road Improvement Bidders Shortlist Named

Two bidders competing for £18 million road contract Transport Scotland has announced that two bidders will be competing to deliver the A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement project in Aberdeen.   The two shortlisted bidders are Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd and Farrans Construction.  

Births, Deaths & Other Vital Events, 2017 Q4

Provisional figures for vital events registered in Scotland during the fourth quarter of 2017 were published on 14th March 2018 by National Records of Scotland and show that 12,821 births, 15,198 deaths and 5,975 marriages were registered between October and December.   At 12,821, the number of births registered was 172 (1.3 per cent) fewer than in the same period of 2016 and the lowest quarter four total since 2000.  

New Build Housing Completions Up On Last Year

Key Points New Build Housing - All Sectors There were 4,018 new build homes completed between July and September 2017; a 9% increase (316 homes) on the same quarter in 2016.  This brings the total for the year to end September 2017 to 17,601, up 5% (908 homes) compared to the 16,693 completed in the previous year.  

Smugglers Inn - Ackergill Tower's New Onsite Pub - Opening Soon!

Ackergill Tower is delighted to announce a new addition to the Ackergill Tower Estate, ‘Smugglers Inn', their very own onsite pub! Opening on 30th March from Fridays to Sundays, the traditional Scottish pub is full of charm and ideal for lazy lunches or afternoons by a log fire; with a mixture of seating areas available and low level lighting, it is the perfect place to sit back and relax.   With a fully stocked bar, serving local favourites including Northern Light Ale and Orkney and Pulteney Whiskies, they'll be on hand to serve drinks between 12pm-3pm and 5pm-midnight.  

£95 Million For Local Full-fibre Broadband Projects

Autumn Budget 2017 launched a £190 million Challenge Fund to help roll out full-fibre to local areas - providing the fastest, most reliable broadband to more homes and businesses.  Today's Spring Statement 2018 has allocated the first wave of funding, providing over £95 million for 13 areas across the UK.  

Universal Service Obligation Will Deliver High Speed Broadband Across The Uk

The Government has confirmed that universal high speed broadband will be delivered by a regulatory Universal Service Obligation (USO), giving everyone in the UK access to speeds of at least 10 Mbps by 2020.   This is the speed that Ofcom, the independent regulator, says is needed to meet the requirements of an average family.  

£4.7m Boost For Highland Digital Connectivity in Inverness, Fort William, Wick and Thurso

The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have secured a major partnership bid to the UK Government's the Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) programme for £4.7m funding to provide full fibre networks in Inverness Fort William Wick and Thurso.   Local businesses will have the opportunity to benefit directly from the fund as a proportion of will include the provision of around 150 vouchers to the value of £3000 which will be aimed at encouraging businesses to adopt higher speed connectivity.