News Archive

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 13 March2018

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 13th) sold 9 prime cattle.   Prime bullocks (1) averaged 210.0p (-9.0p) and sold to 210.0p and £1,281.00 gross.  

Spring Statement 2018: what you need to know

The information put out by HM Treasury today but it changes very little since the autumn budget.   The Chancellor has presented his first Spring Statement to Parliament - here's a summary of what he said.  

£4.7m Boost For Highland Digital Connectivity in Inverness, Fort William, Wick and Thurso

The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have secured a major partnership bid to the UK Government's the Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) programme for £4.7m funding to provide full fibre networks in Inverness Fort William Wick and Thurso.   Local businesses will have the opportunity to benefit directly from the fund as a proportion of will include the provision of around 150 vouchers to the value of £3000 which will be aimed at encouraging businesses to adopt higher speed connectivity.  

Scotland's First Agricultural Shared Apprenticeship Scheme Announced

Students from Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) are set to benefit from the country's first agricultural shared apprenticeship scheme.   Launched to coincide with Scottish Apprenticeship Week (5-9 March), the collaboration between SRUC and Ringlink (Scotland) - the UK's largest business ring - will see more than 30 students take up placements at a number of host farms in Aberdeenshire.  

Scottish Farm Incomes Increase For First Time In Six Years

Incomes from commercial farms in Scotland have increased by around 94 per cent.  This reverses the decline from the previous year, with incomes recovering to 2014 levels.  

Farmers Advised To Take Steps To Combat Late Spring

Scottish farmers are being advised to take steps and plan fodder usage now, with experts predicting a late spring.   Using data from grass variety trials, specialists from SAC Consulting, part of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), predict that T-Sum 200 - which indicates when soils have warmed sufficiently for grass growth to begin - will be two-to-three weeks later than normal.  

Scottish Rural Businesses Who Go Digital Could Add £2.5bn To Scotland's Economy Says New Report

Annual business turnover in rural areas could grow by at least £1.44 billion across Scotland, with rural microbusiness and small-sized business seeing the greatest returns.   Unlocking the digital potential of rural areas in Scotland could add between £1.2bn and £2.5bn annually in Gross Value Added (GVA) to Scotland's rural economy and at least £1.44bn to rural business turnover, according to a new report commissioned by Amazon and published today by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) and Rural England.  

Caithness Community Council Election Results

Following a postal ballot seven new people have been elected to serve on Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council which has been in abeyance since membership dropped below the minimum number of councillors required.   As 8 nominations had been received, the 1349 electors in the community council area were sent postal ballot papers so they could cast their vote.  

Putting Great Business Ideas On The Fast Track

Are you an existing life science or technology business or a start-up that's looking to grow? Or do you have an exciting science or technology idea to explore? The Pathfinder Accelerator provides an exciting and challenging environment, comprising a 12-week intensive programme that tests your ideas, using proven Lean Start Up techniques.   During a further 3 months of coaching and mentoring support the Pathfinder will help you make valuable connections and give you access to information on potential sources of funding for future growth of your business.  

Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Week Commencing 5th March 2018.   Energy & Business services: An interesting update report in today's John O'Groat Journal, which highlights that Fraser Well Management has been appointed to carry out work on the "Wick well" oil field off the Caithness coast at Lybster.