News Archive
19/11/2018
Over £300,000 FLAG funding still available in Highland & Moray fishing communities
Businesses and organisations are being encouraged to apply for funding through the Highland & Moray Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) as part of the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund. Funding can be used to support a wide range of projects that will boost the local economy and create jobs within the fishing, aquaculture and maritime industries including tourism and seafood sectors.17/11/2018
Trade Union's Urge Derek Mackay To Talks To Avert Strike Action In Local Government
UNISON, Unite and the GMB have urged Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, the Economy & Fair Work to attend talks to avert strike action across local government, in a letter sent today. The three trade unions representing local government workers have called for a tripartite meeting, involving Derek Mackay, COSLA and trade union representatives, to discuss local government finance and the urgent need to allocate additional funds to COSLA to fund a proper pay rise for local government workers and avert strike action across the local government workforce.14/11/2018
Scottish Government Launches ‘people, Not Profit' Campaign
Scottish Government Launches ‘people, Not Profit' Campaign To Support The Scottish Credit Unions Sector. The ‘People, Not Profit' credit unions campaign has been launched by Aileen Campbell, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government today (Wednesday 14 November 2018), as results of a new survey reveal that one in five (20%) people in Scotland have not heard of a credit union.
13/11/2018
Retiring Highland Council Chief Steve Barron pays tribute to staff
At his last official function The Highland Council's retiring CEX Steve Barron has paid tribute to two members of staff for their outstanding work. During The Highland Council's Quality Awards event, held last Thursday in Inverness Town House, he took the opportunity to present a special commendation award to the Council's Project Co-ordinator for War Memorials Alf Leslie.
12/11/2018
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Energy & Business Services: I met up this week with Stephen Sutherland, Chair of Caithness Chamber of Commerce and director at JGC Engineering & Technical Services, at a tourism-related session hosted by the Chamber Board (see below for more). Stephen told me about the fantastic news that JGC has been awarded a contract by Siemens Transmission and Distribution relating to the Triton Knoll offshore windfarm project of the east coast of England.10/11/2018
Melness Crofters In Sutherland Are Go For Spaceport
Plans to establish the UK's first spaceport in north-west Sutherland have taken a major step forward. Melness Crofters Estate (MCE), who own the prospective launch site for small satellites, on the Moine near Tongue, have confirmed their intention to work with development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards agreeing heads of terms.
9/11/2018
"Plot to plate" School cook is Highland Council's Employee of the Year
A Cook at Broadford Primary School on the Isle of Skye has scooped the Highland Council's Employee of the Year 2018 Award for her commitment to promote healthy eating and for inspiring pupils to get involved from "plot to plate" Annette Burfooot, who has been at the school for 11 years, is described as a skilled and dedicated member of staff who is passionate about promoting healthy eating and regularly goes into classrooms to chat to the children about nutrition and developing healthy eating habits. She also encourages them to proactively get involved in the planning of menus for school meals making the most of fresh herbs and vegetables grown in the school garden.
9/11/2018
David Stewart MSP Wants The Late John Macleod, Inventor Of Insulin To Be Face Of New £50 Bank Of England Note
Highlands & Islands Regional MSP and Parliamentary Diabetes Champion, David Stewart, is to nominate forgotten Scottish hero as the scientist who should feature on the new Bank of England £50 note after The Bank of England announced that the new £50 note will feature a prominent British scientist, with the public being asked for nominations. In addition to the Queen, the note will include the portrait of an eminent late scientist from fields such as biology, astronomy and medical research.
9/11/2018
Unison Overwhelmingly Reject Pay Offer And Vote To Move Towards Strike Action
UNISON will start to take steps towards strike action. The local government joint trade unions - who have also run consultative ballots of their members - will be meet with CoSLA to inform them of the results of their ballots, tomorrow Friday 9th November.
9/11/2018
Dounreay Takes Top Safety Award
Dounreay's industry leading safety performance has taken one of the top prizes at Babcock International Group's Health and Safety Excellence Awards. The team responsible for decommissioning the former fast reactor research site in Caithness lifted the trophy for best safety programme at an event in London last week.
9/11/2018
Concern Expressed Over Proposed Land Register
Much of Scotland's land will remain outside the proposed Register of Controlled Interests in Land, whose purpose is to make land ownership more transparent, according to a report by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee. Much of Scotland's land will remain outside the proposed Register of Controlled Interests in Land, whose purpose is to make land ownership more transparent, according to a report by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.
9/11/2018
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 8 November 2018
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 8th) sold 2,868 store sheep. Lambs (1,592) averaged £46.06 and sold to £310 gross for a Cheviot tup lamb from Middleton of Brims, Thurso.9/11/2018
Scottish Government Confirms Nursing And Midwifery Actions
Student nursing and midwifery places will increase for the seventh consecutive year, reaching record levels, with the intake rising by 7.6% to more than 4,000. As announced by the First Minister in October, all eligible nursing and midwifery students across Scotland will benefit from an increased bursary in 2019/20, rising to £10,000 a year in 2020/21.9/11/2018
Threat to seed potato exports
Scotland's world renowned seed potato industry risks losing its 13.5% EU market share in a no deal Brexit scenario, Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon has warned. In a letter to Secretary of State Michael Gove, she highlights that in this scenario Scotland would become a third country and would therefore be unable to export seed potatoes to the EU.
9/11/2018
1 Day Leadership Workshop - Caithness - Social Enterprise Academy
All are welcome, age 16 plus with an interest / role in the third sector. It's designed as a ‘starting point' for people new to leadership roles, or new to leadership learning.
9/11/2018
Scottish Government Anounces Michelin Action Group
Members of the group tasked with exploring all options to secure a sustainable future for the Michelin site and its workforce have been announced by Economy Secretary Derek Mackay. The Michelin Action Group will meet for the first time in Dundee on Monday (12 November).
9/11/2018
Proposed changes to Christmas and New Year extended opening at licensed premises
The Highland Licensing Board is consulting on proposed changes to extended opening hours at pubs, restaurants and clubs in Highland over the Christmas and New Year period from 2019 onwards. If the proposed changes are adopted, they will restrict extended opening for alcohol sales to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Hogmanay and New Year's Day if these fall on other days of the week.8/11/2018
Highland Council approves new strategy to reduce single use plastics
Highland Council has become the first local authority in Scotland to develop a holistic strategy and action plan to reduce the consumption of single use plastics from its sites and schools, and the wider community. The strategy and action plan was approved at a meeting of the Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee today (8 November 2018).
8/11/2018
Strategic Housing Investment Plan approved
The Council remains on track to provide much-needed affordable homes. Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee today (Thursday 8 November 2018) have approved the Council's Strategic Housing Investment Plan for 2019-2024 that will see a minimum of 500 units being built each year of which 70% will be for affordable rent and 30% for low cost home ownership.
8/11/2018
