News Archive
2/3/2006
Highland And Islands Enterprise Network Organisational Review
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network is embarking on a programme of organisational change aimed at improving its service to customers and enhancing the agency's efficiency and effectiveness. The changes have been expected since HIE launched its new strategy for the area, A Smart, Successful Highlands and Islands, in June last year.28/2/2006
CASE Approvals - January 2006
The following are funds approved up to the last day of the month. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments.28/2/2006
Retail Counter Strategies
Retailers in Caithness and Sutherland are once again set to benefit from an innovative training programme aimed at helping them to make the most of their businesses and consider future development plans. Following on from the success of the pilot, Strategic Thinking for Retail Businesses, programme course tutor Iain Fraser will deliver the comprehensive eight-day programme, divided into four two-day sessions, which covers everything from marketing to systems, personnel to stock control, market know-how to beating the competition.27/2/2006
VisitScotland - coming to a place near you
Following on from the success of the December road shows, where Business Relationship Managers visited every location in the Highlands to speak directly to our tourism businesses, the format has now been extended. On one particular day of each month, barring July and August, a Business Relationship Manager (BRM) will spend an hour at each Tourist Information Centre or other location, specifically to meet anyone in the tourism industry and to offer help and guidance.22/2/2006
Careers Convention At Assembly Rooms, Wick
People living in Caithness are being offered expert advice and information on taking the next step in their careers. The Caithness Careers Convention will be held on Wednesday 8th March 2006 in The Assembly Rooms Wick and will offer people of all age's comprehensive information on careers, employment, training and education.
22/2/2006
Business Losing Money Due To Lack Of Attention To Disability?
A high percentage of the population is disabled in one way or another. It may be wheelchair access or just people with difficulty in walking such as the elderly or someone recovering from accident or illness.22/2/2006
Clock-Watching Campaign Fails to Tackle UK Long Hours
TUC's Clock-Watching Campaign Fails to Tackle Root Cause of UK Long Hours Encouraging employees to 'work their proper hours' tomorrow will only put a band aid over the UK's long hours problem, warns experts in workplace issues including employment and health & safety, Croner. Working long hours is a classic sign of stress, and reducing stress will be key to improving the nation's work/life balance.21/2/2006
New Brand For Highlands And Islands Renewable Energy Sector
A new brand to represent the renewable energy sector of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland was launched on Tuesday 21st Feb 2006 at an event organised by theHighland Renewable Energy Group (HiREG) in Inverness. The HI-energy brand identity has been designed for all those involved with the renewable energy sector to use in order to raise and reinforce awareness of the region and its aspiration to be a leading centre of excellence.
19/2/2006
Ross Tours - Taking Bikes, Golf Clubs And Much More
George Ross started out with Ross Taxis over two years ago. Being local and having a wide range of knowledge of Caithness and Sutherland more and more people started asking him to take them on tours and show them the local sites.
Photographer John Baikie Snaps Up New Techniques Overseas
Local photographer John Baikie has just returned from an intensive International photography training programme held on the beautiful sub-tropical island of Madeira. The course was aimed to improve technical skills, artistic awareness and creativity in photography.
11/2/2006
Listen Out For New Noise At Work Regulations
Up to 2.3 million employees potentially affected by introduction of new legislation SMEs are being warned that under new Noise at Work Regulations the noise levels that employees can be exposed to will be reduced by almost half. This legislation is due to come into effect April 2006 with a two year transitional period for the music and entertainment industry until April 2008.8/2/2006
S I D Building Services Delivering Roofing And Cladding Solutions
S I D Building Services have established themselves as a building firm able to deliver a range of building work. Two of their services in particular are gaining more attention due to the severe weather experienced in the Highlands.
Naver says goodbye to Bayview staff
During the recent refurbishment of the Bayview Nursing Home in Thurso,approximately 5 staff were temporarily housed in serviced office accommodation at the Naver Business Centre. Now that work has been completed, they are heading home.
6/2/2006
Trade Fair Opportunity For Industrial Technology Sector
TRADE FAIR OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPANIES FROM THE INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SECTOR TO BREAK INTO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS Companies throughout Europe from the industrial technology sector are being offered the opportunity to make business contacts and seal deals at Hannover Fair in Germany, the world's leading showcase for industrial technology. The Euro Info Centre in Inverness is inviting companies from Scotland to make the most of their visit to the trade fair by participating in the match-making event B2FAIR (businesses to fairs), a project sponsored by the European Commission.3/2/2006
Forss Business Park Moving Forward
Forss Business Park received planning approval on 18 November 2005. The Forss Business Park is owned by Abbey Properties Cambridgeshire Limited who are part of the Abbey Group.30/1/2006
CASE Approvals - December 2005
The following are funds approved up to the last day of the month. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments.30/1/2006
Latest Unemployment Statistics - December 2005
The methodology used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to calculate unemployment rates has been changed. The new method expresses the number of claimants as a percentage of the estimated population of working age residents in an area.[Health]
28/1/2006Enterprising Couple Rearing Buffalo In Caithness
Rebecca Winkle and Graham Maharg run a croft at Scarfskerry and have pooled their talents to operate a range of small enterprises under the name Lotions And Potions Beneath that title lies a varied list of small enterprises including animals most of which are often to be found in and around small farms and increasingly crofts in the Highlands. One animal, the buffalo is very unusual for Caithness and raised a few eyebrows but contrary to expectations is doing very well.
25/1/2006
Better Ships Could Save £10m on Northern Isles Route, Says Napier Report
A report by Napier University's Maritime Research Group has branded the ferries plying the sailing routes between Aberdeen and the Northern Isles as "two of the most inefficient and environmentally-unfriendly ships built in recent years". The criticism is contained in the report, Future Options for Northern Isles Ferry Services, commissioned by the Northern Maritime Corridor (NMC), to establish if improvements can be made to the existing service.24/1/2006
