News Archive

Support For People With Neurological Conditions

£492,535million allocated to projects around the country.   A total of 17 projects which support people with neurological conditions are to benefit from the latest round of funding announced as part of a five-year action plan.  

£20.51 Million To Unlock Cairngorm's Potential

Cairngorm will benefit from more than £20 million to make it a year-round attraction, generating significant economic benefits for the local area and Scotland's tourism sector.   Funded by the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), more than £16 million of the investment will be used to support reinstatement of Scotland's only funicular railway and bring it back into service during winter 2021-22.  

Council highlights new requirements and provides advice and support following further Covid restrictions on the hospitality industry

The Scottish Government announced further temporary measures on the 7th October that will apply to many businesses within the hospitality (food and drink) sector.  As this sector is such an important sector within the Highlands, the Council considers it important to highlight the main requirements of the temporary measures.  

Group Formed To Help Scots Firms Benefit From Offshore Floating Wind Projects

A new group has been set up to make sure Scotland's energy supply chain companies benefit from new floating offshore wind projects in Scotland and the UK.   The group has been formed as a subgroup of DeepWind, Scotland's supply chain cluster.  

Loganair Suspends Flights To Glasgow And Inverness This Winter Amid Low Demand

LOGANAIR has axed Glasgow and Inverness flights from its Sumburgh schedule this winter as a result of continued low demand.   The flights to and from Glasgow and Inverness are due to be suspended later this month.  

Night Shelters To Be Phased Out - Renewed commitment to ending homelessness

Night shelters will be replaced with rapid rehousing welcome centres for people who would otherwise be sleeping rough this winter, in updated plans for tackling homelessness.   The centres will provide emergency accommodation for people who have no other options, encouraging them to move on to other services.  

Supporting Local Government Recovery

Additional spending powers and funding for councils.   A package of financial flexibilities and extra funding for councils which could be worth up to £750 million has been agreed by the Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA.  

Podcast | How Is Coronavirus Affecting Older Workers?

Older workers are one group of people who are at risk of suffering serious and persistent consequences from the economic turmoil arising from the coronavirus pandemic.   Previous research has shown that unemployment shocks have persistent effects on the employment and incomes of older workers.  

Budget deficit reaches £174 billion in just five months

Public sector borrowing to hit a peacetime record.   The coronavirus outbreak and the public health measures taken to contain it have delivered one of the largest ever shocks to the UK economy and public finances.  

Tough choices ahead as spending on working-age benefits set to hit record levels

In the wake of the pandemic, the government brought in a number of temporary increases to universal credit (UC) and other parts of the benefit system at a cost of £9 billion.  Combined with the effects of higher unemployment and lower earnings - which even under its optimistic scenario the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts would add £17 billion to the benefits bill this year - 2020-21 could see spending on working-age benefits rise by £26 billion, leaving it a quarter higher than it was in 2019-20.