A new online business networking group in the Highlands and Islands is being launched by BNI Scotland North. Company owners and business leaders from the Black Isle, Ross and Cromarty, Caithness and Sutherland across to the isles of Skye, Lewis, Harris and up to the Orkney and Shetland Islands are being invited to join BNI.
Extra money for more than 14,000 disabled children. Families of disabled children will receive a new heating benefit by Christmas.
A Special Meeting of The Highland Council will take place tomorrow (Wednesday 28 October) to allow all Members to come together to formally consider and debate Scotland's Strategic Framework for Covid 19. Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban said: "Yesterday the Chief Executive and senior officials held on-line briefing sessions with elected members to review the planned 5 tier protection system.
Nightclubs and soft play centres that have been closed by law since March are to benefit from targeted funding. One-off grants of up to £50,000 will be available to businesses in both sectors through the COVID-19 Contingency Fund.
The new levels framework will increase the opportunity for hospitality businesses to operate during different levels of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. Under the new system set out by the Scottish Government, hospitality premises may sell alcohol indoors with a main meal up to 8pm at level two, enabling the service of an early evening meal.
A new, targeted inward investment plan has been launched that aims to further internationalise Scotland's economy. The plan represents a fundamental shift in approach and focuses efforts on nine areas of opportunity where Scotland has global strengths and which offer significant future prospects.
The amount paid out in crisis grants to people in need increased by more than three quarters in the early stages of lockdown, latest figures show. The Scottish Welfare Fund awarded £5.2 million in crisis grants between April and June 2020, up 77 per cent on the same period last year.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Homicide in Scotland, 2019-20. The publication provides information on crimes of homicide recorded by the police in Scotland in 2019-20.
Findings from Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI show the number of people with antibodies fell by 26.5% over 3 months. Over 365,000 participants across England have taken part in the largest antibody home surveillance study for COVID-19 Antibody response over time varies depending on a person's age and symptoms.
Geospatial Commission is working with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, to establish the new Scottish Geospatial Network Integrator. The UK Government Geospatial Commission, working with Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, is helping to establish the new Scottish Geospatial Network Integrator, with a £200,000 joint investment.
Highland Council Trading Standards are keen to raise awareness of the role of The Small Business Financial Ombudsman Service in resolving disputes between small and medium sized businesses (SME's) and financial service providers which include banks, insurance and money lending businesses. David MacKenzie, Highland Council Trading Standards Manager explains: "We realise the financial struggle that some SME's have had recently because of Covid 19 restrictions.
The UK Government has opened a new walk-through coronavirus testing centre in Inverness. Located in the Highland Council Headquarters car park, the site is easily accessible for people without a car.
The Leader and the Chief Executive of The Highland Council earlier today took part in a meeting of COSLA focussing on the Scottish Government's new five level protection system for Covid. The meeting gave council leaders the opportunity to examine in more detail the mechanism outlined by the Scottish Government along with the framework of how the tier system will be implemented.
The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on new proposals to offer free bus travel for young people resident in Scotland aged under 19. Over a third of people already benefit from free bus travel in Scotland.
Following its launch on Tuesday 20th October 2020, Highland Council has received and paid out the first Business Hardship Fund grants. As part of the Scottish Government's response to the COVID-19 Brake Restrictions which came into effect on 9 October, the Council has been asked to deliver this grant scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Scottish businesses claim £75,782 on average in 2017-18 UK average claims equal £84,548. A total of £230m claimed in R&D tax relief in Scotland, 2017-18, compared to £4.9bn in England.
Eligible school pupils in the Highland Council area are to receive vouchers for the October holiday period and for the coming Christmas break, February and Easter holidays in 2021 to help with food support. Councillor John Finlayson, Chair of The Highland Council's Education Committee said: "Highland welcomes the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley-Ann Somerville MSP which will provide much-needed support to our more vulnerable families in need during these difficult coronavirus times.
Families and children are being urged to avoid guising this Halloween to minimise the risk of spreading Coronavirus (COVID-19). Deputy First Minister John Swinney says the move is necessary to ensure people stay within the current restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Scottish businesses are set to benefit from the historic UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Tokyo today (Friday 23 October). The deal could increase UK trade with Japan by £15.7 billion, giving a £1.5 billion boost to the economy and increasing UK workers' wages by £800 million in the long run.
Mark Littlewood from the Insitute of Economic Affairs speaking to the Oxford PPE Society is a student society for the Modern Greats: Philosophy, Politics and Economics. This week, Mark spoke to students from the Oxford University PPE society about "Britain's Bounce back: The Economic Threats and Opportunities of 2021", which you can watch here.
