Advisory / Counseling Services News
2/7/2023
Hi-Scot Credit Union Keeps Interest Rates Low
At meeting of the board of the Hi-Scot Credit Union the directors agreed not to follow other institutions like banks to put up interest rates. Well worth checking what rates you can still get from a credit union.
23/6/2023
New Plug Seals Dounreay Reactor Clean-up
Upgrade work was required to the primary cold trap loop (PCTL) vessel before it could be used on the next stage of decommissioning. Dounreay's prototype fast reactor decommissioning team is in the process of connecting up the reactor vessel and pipework to water vapour nitrogen (WVN) treatment skids, which will destroy the residual sodium in the system, and enable it to be dismantled safely.
20/6/2023
Agencies Hail Scotland's Attractiveness For Foreign Investment
Scotland's enterprise and skills agencies have hailed the news that the country remains the most attractive location in the UK outside of London for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In EY's latest Scotland Attractiveness Survey published (Monday, 19 June 2023), the figures show that a record 126 inward investment projects were secured by Scotland in 2022, a 3.3% increase compared to 2021 when 122 FDI projects were attracted to the country.
16/6/2023
Dounreay Managing Director Experiences 'hands-on' Decommissioning
Mark Rouse recently had the opportunity to try his hand at being an airfed suit operator in the training simulator at Dounreay. "I think it was a few years ago when I was first at Dounreay, I expressed an interest in experiencing things that the workforce went through - and airfed suits was one that particularly interested me.
15/6/2023
First Innovation Hub And Portable Pop-up 5g Network For Businesses In The Highlands And Islands
First innovation hub and portable 'pop-up' 5G network for businesses in the Highlands and Islands. The Scotland 5G Centre (S5GC), funded by the Scottish Government, is the national centre for accelerating the deployment and adoption of 5G in Scotland.
11/6/2023
Dounreay Updates Information On Radio Active Particles Released To The Environment
An important part of the work to close down Dounreay is to address the legacy of radioactive particles in the marine environment around the site. Particles are fragments of irradiated nuclear fuel discharged to sea as a result of historic practices in reprocessing.
9/6/2023
£1.9m Moray Project To Create Jobs And Cut Waste
Grays Recycling Services Ltd (GRS) has been working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to secure a £500,000 contribution to the project from the Scottish Government's Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund. The fund is administered by HIE partner, Scottish Enterprise, to help companies involved in manufacturing to grow through developing low carbon products, processes, or services.
3/6/2023
£5.37m Investment Approved By HIE In Caithness And Sutherland In 2022-23
Figures collated by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) show that the agency approved more than £5.37m investment across Caithness and Sutherland in the financial year 2022-23. The funding is helping a wide range of projects to progress that will support economic growth and business diversification, community resilience and job creation.31/5/2023
Say Hi To Your Highland And Islands Credit Union for Saving and Borrowing
Hi-Scot credit union covers the Highland and Islands and is a not for profit organisation helping more and more people. Hi-Scot has been growing slowly over recent years and now holds significant savings.
27/5/2023
Young Entrepreneurs Welcomed Onto Innovation Project Board
Three young entrepreneurs have been appointed to the Board of a £16m Highland based innovation project. The Northern Innovation Hub was set up by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in 2017 with £11m UK Government funding from the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal.
27/5/2023
Thurso Based Company In Running For Region's Vibes Awards 2023
Region's businesses shortlisted for VIBES Awards 2023. Eight businesses from the Highlands have been shortlisted as champions of sustainability at the annual Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards.5/5/2023
Construction Begins At Sutherland, The UK Mainland's First Vertical Launch Spaceport
£14.6 Million Public Investment Package Confirmed for Carbon-Neutral Spaceport Project. Orbex has announced that construction has begun at Sutherland Spaceport (formerly known as Space Hub Sutherland) in Scotland, making this the first vertical launch spaceport to be built on the UK mainland.
1/5/2023
Confidence, Performance And Low Carbon Highlighted In Latest Business Survey For Highland But Problems Faced By Many Businesses
This latest release from Highland and Islands Enterprise perhaps needs careful reading as it does not mention some of the huge problems facing in the economy facing businesses. Of course it wants to emphasis the positive views but no reference to many empty shops in High Streets.28/4/2023
New Business Units To Be Developed In Wick- £2.7million Contract To Local Firm John Gunn & Sons 
Work is underway to create to create four new business units at Wick Business Park, following interest from local firms. Caithness company, John Gunn & Sons was appointed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the development, following a public tendering process.
28/4/2023
Levels Of Fuel Poverty Higher In Rural Scotland - Caithness and Sutherland Highlighted In The Report
Research published by Changeworks sets out the impact of far higher levels of fuel poverty on the physical and mental health of people living in rural areas of Scotland. ‘A Perfect Storm: Fuel Poverty in Rural Scotland' was commissioned by the Rural & Islands Housing Associations Forum (RIHAF), the Highlands & Islands Housing Associations Affordable Warmth group (HIHAAW) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
28/4/2023
HIE Launches A New NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Are you an established business with a new product or service that you want to bring to market? This programme will take you through every every stage needed to give your new product or service the best possible start. Over 12 weeks, you'll learn how to improve the likelihood of success and come away with a business-wide action plan.28/4/2023
Green Jobs Capital Fund To Assist Employers
The Green Jobs Capital Fund supports organisations to create and retain green jobs. These are jobs focusing on the production of goods or services that benefit the environment, or that help drive more environmentally friendly processes.[Taxis]
27/4/2023Can You Give Some Time To Drive With Caithness Rural Transport
Caithness Rural Transport members are growing daily and the service has expanded dramatically these past few months. The service relies on volunteers to cover any additional runs throughout the week that the main drivers/volunteers who have set days are unable to cover due to already having runs booked in.
23/4/2023
Study Reveals Potential Benefits Of Proposed New Walking Route On Shetland
The report on the potential Shetland Way also predicted that over a 10-year period the route could be used by 600,000 visitors and create 52 additional tourism-related jobs. Running over 100 miles from Hermaness in the north down to Sumburgh Head in the south, the Shetland Way links the archipelago's natural, cultural and community assets with the aim of bringing social, economic and environmental benefits to the islands.
19/4/2023
