News Archive
1/7/2014
Strengthening Sino-Scottish relations
FM welcomes potential for more than £5 billion Chinese investment. First Minister Alex Salmond has welcomed a cross-strait Chinese delegation to Edinburgh, as they explore investment opportunities in Scotland - including a £5 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Scottish company.1/7/2014
Scottish heritage in the spotlight - Three year fund to boost Scottish tourism
A £200,000 fund which will help attract international visitors to Scotland has been launched by Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing. The second round of the Scottish Clan Event Fund will support the delivery and planning of local clan events over the Year of Food and Drink in 2015, Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 and Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017.30/6/2014
Early Contracts for Renewable Electricity
The National Audit Office is not convinced that the Government sufficiently protected consumers' interests by awarding without competition £16.6 billion worth of early contracts to eight renewable generation projects at risk of investment delay. This decision may provide higher returns to contractors than needed to secure the investment and also limits the amount of remaining budget subject to competition in later rounds.30/6/2014
Ofgem Proposes Improvements to Green Tariffs to Improve Protection for Consumers
Suppliers will need to be clear about whether or not green tariffs provide environmental benefits Calls for suppliers to improve transparency about what these tariffs offer and provide better evidence that they are supplying renewable power Announcement is a further step forward following Ofgem's commitment to make the energy market simpler, clearer, fairer Ofgem is proposing changes to the green tariffs market to ensure that consumers are empowered in making the right decisions. These changes will ensure that suppliers clearly inform their customers and provide evidence of whether or not there will be environmental benefits from a particular tariff.30/6/2014
Dip in Pay Awards Confirmed
Pay deals across the whole economy have resulted in a median 2% increase in the three months to the end of May 2014, according to the latest analysis from pay specialists XpertHR. This marks a fall from the 2.5% median increase recorded in the first three months of the year.27/6/2014
Next budget forum to be held in Strathy, Sutherland
The next Highland Council budget forum will be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday 8 July in Strathy Village Hall, Strathy, Sutherland. It is the latest in a series of budget events being held to consult the public over spending priorities between 2015-2019, during which time the Council has to find savings of an estimated £63 million.27/6/2014
Council supports new Manager's post to progress Highland Science Academy
Highland Councillors have approved £20,000 funding towards the appointment of a Project Manager to spearhead the establishment of a Highland Science Academy on the new Inverness Campus at Beechwood. The new post will be responsible for taking forward an action plan to progress the Science Academy project over a 2 year period.27/6/2014
East Caithness Forests - Review of Land Management plan
Forestry Commission Scotland are currently reviewing the Land Management Plan for forest blocks situated between Wick, John o'Groats, Thurso, Halkirk & Lybster The Land Management Plan will set out the long term vision for management of these forests and details of felling and replanting for the next ten years. We are keen to hear from members of the community who visit these forests or would like to offer comments on future management of the woodlands here.27/6/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 23 June 2014 Tourism, Food & Drink: Following last week's food & drink success for Caithness companies, news this week that two more local businesses have been nominated for the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards with Thurso's Mr C's Bar and Annie's Bakery both nominated in categories. Enabling activities: CNSRP partner the Highland Council is holding two public engagement events in Caithness next week in support of the developing strategy for a new LEADER programme for the Highlands.
27/6/2014
Ofcom Rules Openreach Must Repair Faults Within Two Days
Commenting on Ofcom's ruling that Openreach must repair the majority of phone and broadband faults within two days, and that most customers requiring a new line must receive an appointment within 12 working days or face sanctions, Ewan Taylor-Gibson, broadband expert at uSwitch.com says: "Today's news that Ofcom is cracking the whip on Openreach is very welcome. Anyone who has waited for their broadband or phone to be fixed for weeks on end would have felt at the mercy of their provider, whilst paying for a service they couldn't use.24/6/2014
Cairn Housing Association, Wick Has Homes To Rent For Over 50's Right Now
Cairn operates nationwide, across the whole of Scotland. They have properties in the Borders in the south, and as far north as Thurso and Wick.
24/6/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 24th June 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (June, 24th) sold 45 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (30) averaged 199.2p (+0.5p) and sold to 211p per kg and £1,412.90 gross.24/6/2014
Economic growth at centre of planning revamp
National projects identified and scenic areas protected. Planning Minister Derek Mackay has yesterday (23 June 2014) launched the Scottish Government's vision for planning in Scotland.24/6/2014
More than 500,000 Council Tax Reduction recipients
An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland. Council Tax Reduction: Caseload and Expenditure, Scotland, 2013-14 This publication provides statistics on the Council Tax Reduction scheme, which reduces the Council Tax liability of vulnerable people in Scotland.24/6/2014
New wild land map published to support national planning documents
The map was produced by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to identify the most extensive areas of the highest wildness in Scotland that are considered nationally important. It was prepared after a seven-week public consultation at the end of last year and detailed analysis of new data.23/6/2014
The Highland Council lead the charge for resource efficiency in business
The Highland Council is to take a lead role in helping businesses save money, be more competitive and reduce their environmental impact by using resources more efficiently, by backing the national Resource Efficiency Pledge scheme. The Resource Efficiency Pledge is a new scheme from Resource Efficient Scotland, a programme of Zero Waste Scotland which works with businesses to help them reduce both their running costs and carbon emissions.
23/6/2014
Highlands And Islands Success At The Scottish EDGE Awards
Four Highlands and Islands companies won a total of £173,500 last week in the fourth round of the Scottish EDGE competition. The Scottish EDGE competition is designed to help innovative young Scottish companies to expand and grow by creating more jobs in Scotland and taking advantage of opportunities to move into international markets.
23/6/2014
Consumers In The Dark About British Inventions
Telephone, TV and Jet Engine Are 'Britain's Best Inventions', but Consumers Are in the Dark About Them Being British. Britain invented the telephone[1], TV[2] and the jet engine[3].
23/6/2014
The Future of the Grocery Sector in the Uk
Price wars are a "race to the bottom" and could deter future investors. Shift to convenience store shopping has been driven by retailers - not consumers But convenience stores sales are now so significant they risk rendering hypermarkets obsolete in their current form 'Drive through' supermarkets and free doorstep delivery would offer consumers the ultimate in convenience and choice Introduction.23/6/2014
