News Archive
7/8/2018
Highland SQA Results 2018
Young people across the Highlands are receiving their SQA exam results by text, e-mail or post today (7th August 2018). Schools across The Highland Council area offered candidates the full range of national qualifications from National 2 right through to Advanced Higher.3/8/2018
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 3 August 2018
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (August, 3rd) sold 3393 Lambs. Lambs (3393) averaged £55 and sold to £79.50 gross for a pen of Beltex crosses from Lower Geanies, Fearn.3/8/2018
Extending The Concessionary Travel Scheme
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson has announced that the National Concessionary Travel Scheme will be extended to companions of eligible disabled children aged under five, which could result in over 3000 families and children additionally benefitting from the bus pass. Additionally, Mr Matheson announced that the age of eligibility will not change for the National Concessionary Travel Scheme and that the options to provide free bus travel for Modern Apprentices will continue to be considered.2/8/2018
Scotland's Population 2017
Statistical News Release. Scotland's population is growing and ageing, according to a report published today by National Records of Scotland.
2/8/2018
Report Recommends A ‘whole System Response' To Rural Bank Closures
A study into the importance of local banking services in rural areas has recommended a ‘whole system response' to meeting the banking needs of communities and businesses. Share The study was commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) amid a growing trend of rural bank branch closures.2/8/2018
Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics
From when the Scottish Welfare Fund scheme began on 1 April 2013 until 31 March 2018, 296,520 individual households have received awards totalling £164.8 million. Scotland's Chief Statistician today released statistics on the Scottish Welfare Fund covering the period from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2018.2/8/2018
Scottish Retail Sales Grow By 0.3% In 2018 Quarter 2
A National Statistics Publication for Scotland In 2018 Quarter 2, the quantity of retail sales in Scotland grew by 0.3 per cent compared to the previous quarter, according to statistics announced today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. Over the year since 2017 Quarter 2, the quantity of retail sales has increased by 0.5%.30/7/2018
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 23 July 2018 UK Vertical Launch Sutherland: Following last week's major announcements concerning the vertical satellite launch facility proposed for North Sutherland, it is good to see interest and comment continue to appear in the press. I was particularly delighted to see the pieces in this week's local press with Caithness Chamber's Chief Executive Trudy Morris highlighting the work that has been put in from a number of CNSRP partners in attracting the opportunity to the north.29/7/2018
Planning Application Decision Times Published
Local Development decisions were quicker in 2017/18. The average decision time for Local Developments (26,220 applications) in 2017/18 was 9.0 weeks, over one day quicker than the average of 9.2 weeks in the previous year and the quickest annual figure since the start of this data collection in 2012/13.29/7/2018
Personal Insolvencies On The Rise In Scotland
The latest statistics from Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) for the first quarter of 2018-19 show total personal insolvencies, which include both bankruptcies and protected trust deeds (PTDs), rose by 11.8% relative to the first quarter of 2017-18. Bankruptcy awards are down 6.5% on the same period a year ago with 1,236 awarded for the first quarter of 2018-19, covering the period from 1 April to 30 June 2018.28/7/2018
Avoidable customer churn costs British businesses £25 billion
Electricity, insurance, gas and broadband suppliers top the CallMiner Index. Empathy in call centres is key to loyalty success.26/7/2018
Pathfinder Accelerator Taster Session - Thurso
Are you running a technology, engineering, IT or life sciences business that's looking to grow? Or do you have an exciting idea to explore? Our Pathfinder Accelerator programme puts you in a stimulating and challenging environment to help you develop and test your ideas for commercial viability. Join us for our taster session in Caithness where you can meet our expert coaches, find out more about the programme and discover how Pathfinder can fast track your business idea or launch your product.24/7/2018
Wick Champion calls on local businesses to enter 2018 Amazon Growing Business Awards
Wick Champion calls on local businesses to enter 2018 Amazon Growing Business Awards Call for entries now open until 14th September to recognise the best of UK business success KP Technology from Wick won Rural Business of the Year at the 2017 Awards A record 500+ businesses entered last year, and winners included Pip & Nut, Revolut, Innocent Drinks and other household names in British business 20th annual ceremony taking place on 28th November 2018 at The Brewery, London A local business that triumphed at a national awards ceremony in 2017 is calling on companies in Caithness to enter the 2018 Amazon Growing Business Awards. The Amazon Growing Business Awards opened registrations today, calling on Wick's best and brightest entrepreneurial talent to submit entries and get the recognition they deserve.22/7/2018
Heavy Offshore Construction Vessel Viking Neptun In Pentlnd Firth
Picture by Gills Harbour Ltd's Hon Sec Lyall Rennie, of Lower Warse, Canisbay KW1 4YB shows the busy Pentalina ferry in foreground approaching the harbour and passing by the heavy offshore construction vessel Viking Neptun. Deployed on Friday 20th July to recover two Andrtiz 1.5 MW turbines for warranty repairs from the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound from SIMEC Atlantis Energy plc's seabed lease, known as the MeyGen site, just off Gills Bay ( just over 1 NM) in NE Caithness.
22/7/2018
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 16 July 2018 UK Vertical Launch Sutherland: Around three years ago, Roy Kirk and colleagues from CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) began to investigate the potential economic benefits of developing a facility somewhere on the north coast from which to launch small scale satellites into polar and sun synchronous orbits. The market for small scale satellite applications continues to grow, with Glasgow already a centre for space industry businesses.22/7/2018
Increase in tourism spending
Visits and spending by overseas tourists in Scotland rose to its highest level on record in 2017. The ONS Travel Trends 2017 statistics showed the number of overseas tourists visiting Scotland rose by 16.9% to 3.2 million, while expenditure increased by 23% to £2.3 billion.19/7/2018
Ferry Passenger Numbers Rise By Ten Per Cent
Northern Isles ferry operator NorthLink Ferries has reported a 10 per cent increase in the volume of passengers who have travelled on the route network since the firm took over running the lifeline ferry service in July 2012. The passenger increase coincides with recent VisitScotland tourism figures which highlighted a rise in visitors to Orkney by 20 per cent since 2013, while the number of visitors to Shetland increased by 10 percent over the same period.
18/7/2018
Not For Profit Budding Engineers Takes Off In Caithness
Budding Engineers - Certificate of School Engagement for Inspiration by DYW North East Scotland. Budding Engineers are delighted to have received certification for Developing the Young Workforce, with a Certificate of School Engagement for Inspiration by DYW North East Scotland.
18/7/2018
Highland Council Allocates Extra £1.5m To Road Repairs
Works are to begin on an additional £1.5M worth of repair schemes on Highland Council roads this summer. Cllr Alister Mackinnon, Highland Council's Budget Leader said: "At the Council's meeting in March, Members agreed a revised 5 year Capital Plan and agreed to prioritise roads maintenance if there was any underspend in the Council's capital programme for 2018/19.18/7/2018
