News Archive

Public Agencies Join To Assist New Residents Settle In To The Region

A range of new services for people who have recently moved into the Highlands from other countries has won support from the European Social Fund (ESF).   Highland Wellbeing Alliance, a partnership of public sector organisations in the area, has secured ESF funding worth £260,500 to back initiatives which will help the area's new residents with issues such as improving their English language skills, gaining employment and finding out how to access services and advice.  

New Test Programme At EMEC - Wave Energy Device Back For More Tests

The first wave energy device to generate electricity for the National Grid is back on site for a new test programme at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.   Developed by Edinburgh-based Ocean Power Delivery, Pelamis can meet the energy needs of more than 500 homes and is already feeding electricity into the grid once again.  

Public Has Spoken On Options For Dealing With Particles In Marine Environment

The second stage of consultation on the options for dealing with radioactive particles in the marine environment has come to a close.   The consultation focussed on the relative importance of the criteria used to assess the 11 combined options identified by a scoring panel as most likely to succeed following the first round of consultation.  

New Council Office For Caithness

The process for the development of a new Highland Council office in Wick took a step further forward this week when members of the Council's Resources Committee agreed to ask four developers to submit outline solutions for the development to the Council.   At the end of 2006 and early 2007 the Council advertised its requirements for a new office to provide accommodation for between 150 - 200 staff currently based in a number office buildings in Wick.  

Mey Selections Farmers Drive For Low Carbon

North Highland Products Ltd - which produces Mey Selections branded products - has received funds from the London-based Carbon Trust to investigate how farmers in the North Highland can reduce their carbon emissions.   John Strak, Managing Director of North Highland Products, commented, "SAOS, (The Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society), asked us to join its project with several other partners in a project being financed by The Carbon Trust.  

BBC SHOWCASES NORTH HIGHLAND PRODUCTS

The prestigious BBC Radio 4 Food Programme paid a visit recently to Caithness, resulting in a 30 minute broadcast last weekend (March11) applauding the success of the Mey Selections brand and its parent company, North Highland Products.   Sheila Dillon, the presenter of the programme, spent some time in the area visiting, amongst others, Mey Selections beef and lamb producers.  

CYCLOPS Takes You Where No Man Has Gone - Inside The Reactor Core - Watch The Video

Another ground-breaking device is leading the way with decommissioning Dounreay's Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR).   The innovative purpose built device, nicknamed Cyclops, was designed in-house by UKAEA's specialist design team.  

PATH IS CLEARED THROUGH FOOD SAFETY CONFUSION

A BRAND new easy-to-access system for small and medium sized food manufacturers to introduce a food safety quality assurance scheme will be launched on Monday (March 19) at the International Food Exhibition in London.   It has come about after four food-chain organisations recognised that although smaller food providers are being courted more and more by retailers and food service companies, their ability to meet the demands of a range of different buyers is often blighted by confusion over exactly what quality assurance level they are required to aspire to.  

Another Tesco Store Rejected For Inverness

Superstore rejected on Ness-side, Inverness Members of The Highland Council's City of Inverness Planning Applications Committee today (13 March) unanimously refused an application for a district shopping centre, including a Tesco superstore, unit shops, petrol filling station and sites for hotel and doctors~ surgery on land at Ness-side, Dores Road, Inverness.   The application was for the development of a district centre comprising a 4,447sqm superstore, additional commercial units, land for hotel and medical centre, car parking and landscaping on land to the west of Dores Road at the western most end of the Inverness Trunk Road Link formerly known as the Inverness Southern Distributor Road.  

CAITHNESS COMPANIES URGED TO ENTER NATIONAL AWARDS

The National Business Awards for Scotland recognises and rewards excellence, innovation and success.  Uniquely open to organisations of all sizes and from any industry sector - public or private, companies from around the Caithness area are now being invited to take part in this year's competition.