News Archive
24/3/2017
Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership Update
Week Commencing 20th March 2017 Energy & business services: Last week Swedish company Hexicon was given consent from Scottish Government for its Dounreay Tri floating offshore wind project. As previously highlighted here, the company has announced commitments to work with Scrabster Harbour Trust to establish an Operations & Maintenance base for the project, and with North Highland College UHI to establish apprenticeship training, should it reach financial closure.24/3/2017
Accessible childcare - improvements announced
FM announces fund to improve access to free ELC entitlement. Children with additional support needs will have improved access to nursery education thanks to £2 million announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today.
24/3/2017
Guidance For Land Owners - Consultation On Best Way To Engage Local Communities
Good relations between land owners and communities are at the heart of planned new guidance on engagement when making decisions that affect local people. Draft guidance being consulted on contains best practices for land owners and land managers when they take decisions that impact on their local community - covering the ‘why, where, when, who and how' of effective engagement with local people and groups.24/3/2017
Future Of Childcare Provision
Minister confirms quality and choice at heart of new funding model for ELC expansion. Parents will have more choice than ever before when accessing their child's funded nursery provision the Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald has announced.24/3/2017
Deputy First Minister Sets Out Agenda for Scottish Education
The status quo in education is ‘not an option' if Scotland is to close the attainment gap and raise the bar for all, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said. In a major speech setting out his agenda for Scottish education, Mr Swinney highlighted its strengths - including the achievements of young people and teachers - and acknowledged the challenges being faced.
24/3/2017
Support For Scotland's Food And Drink Industry
New funding to further support Scotland's "phenomenal" food and drink industry has been announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The Scottish Government, its enterprise agencies, and the food and drink industry are supporting delivery of the new food and drink strategy - ‘Ambition 2030’ – through a new £10 million funding package.22/3/2017
Independent Panel Established For £3m Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm Fund
An independent panel has been established to review applications and determine which projects will receive funding from the £3 million Beatrice Partnership Fund. The Beatrice Partnership Fund, which was launched in December 2016 and is associated with the Beatrice offshore wind farm currently under construction in the Moray Firth, is part of a wider package of benefits being offered by Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited (BOWL), the joint venture partnership behind the wind farm.
22/3/2017
Caithness To Moray Energy Link On Target
Energy firm Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has announced an "important milestone" in its £1.1billion Caithness-Moray undersea link project. The company said new equipment installed at its Dounreay substation had been "successfully energised" as part of reinforcement work on power connections in the area.
22/3/2017
Food And Drink Figures Mostly Up Except Dairy
Seafood and whisky exports increase but Dairy down Food and drink exports from Scotland grew by £421 million in 2016, to a record £5.5 billion. The latest figures show an 8% increase in the value of exports to Scotland's successful food and drink sector over the past year.
22/3/2017
Brexit and Indyref2 will act as brake on growth, report finds
Scotland's economy continues to recover - but political uncertainty over Brexit and Indyref2 will act as brake on growth, report finds. Recovery in the Scottish economy is forecast to continue this year but will remain weak with little hope of a sharp increase in growth, according to a new report published today by Scotland's leading independent economic research institute.
22/3/2017
8,000 childcare staff to earn the living wage
Scotland's early learning and childcare (ELC) expansion plans will be built on a foundation of fairness and equality, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed this week. Currently, around 80% of practitioners and half of supervisors in the private and third sector providers that deliver the Scottish Government's 600 hours of free ELC are not paid the Living Wage.22/3/2017
Increased Funding For Digital Skills
£36 million available to Scottish business. A new digital growth fund will be announced by the First Minister this week.
22/3/2017
Record year for food and drink exports
Food and drink exports from Scotland grew by £421 million in 2016, to a record £5.5 billion. The latest figures show an 8% increase in the value of exports to Scotland's successful food and drink sector over the past year.
21/3/2017
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 21 March 2017
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 21st) sold 28 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (14) averaged 209.8p (-0.2p) and sold to 224.0p per kg and £1,403.35 gross.21/3/2017
SRUC Vets' Advice on Schmallenberg Virus in Scotland
During the past two week SAC Consulting Veterinary Services (part of Scotland's Rural College) has confirmed two diagnoses of Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) infection in malformed lambs in two Scottish flocks close to the border with England. This follows the increasing numbers of affected lambs identified in England and Wales throughout the winter of 2016/2017.21/3/2017
Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holder & Refresher course
If you would like to complete the course and exam required to apply for a Personal Licence Holder through the Scottish Licensing Board or require to complete the refresher training, then Aspire HLTC Ltd are holding a course at Helcat Training, Omlie Industrial Estate on 4th April 2017. £125 per person Personal licence holder course.20/3/2017
New 12 Sided Pounds - Is Your Business Ready?
The new UK £1 coin will enter circulation in March 2017, and The Royal Mint is producing 1.5 billion of the new coins. The final specification of the coin and method of introduction were decided after a ten-week public consultation which looked at the physical and material characteristics of the coin, as well as the parameters for the transition.
20/3/2017
Glass Half Full for Highland's Licensed Trade
People throughout the Scottish Highlands who have experience working in the licensed trade but have fallen on hard times are being encouraged to apply for one-off grants as part of an industry charity's ‘Glass Half Full' campaign. Over the years the Scottish Licensed Trade Benevolent Society, known as The BEN, has helped a host of beneficiaries from throughout the Highlands for everything from essential payments including council tax to household refurbishment including a stair lift.
19/3/2017
Caithness County Show 2017 - Trade Stand Application Forms Now Available
Trade Stands & Charity Stands Stand information is available NOW! Stand holders at the 2016 show will have been sent application forms by post or email (Please check your Junk Folder in case the email has gone directly into it. For anyone wishing to have a Trade Stand at this years show please feel free to download the relevant document.
18/3/2017
