News Archive
4/12/2014
The December Issue of Energy North is Available Online now
To read the latest issue of 'Energy North' go to tinyurl.com/np5p7d4.4/12/2014
Help to tackle debt
One-stop portal for money advice services launched. A new Financial Health Service offering a one-stop-shop for money advice services has been launched by Business Minister Fergus Ewing.3/12/2014
Improvement Notice issued to Dounreay
The Office of the Nuclear Regulator (ONR) has served Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) with an Improvement Notice as a result of a fire at the sodium tank farm of the Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) in October 2014. The fire took place early hours of the morning on 7 October 2014 and has been widely publicised to local stakeholders by DSRL.
3/12/2014
Living Wage to be paid to all Parliamentary workers
All contractor staff working at the Scottish Parliament will be guaranteed a Living Wage, Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick announced today. All directly employed Parliamentary staff are already paid at a level above the Living Wage rate and today's announcement extends the Living Wage guarantee to their colleagues who are employed through contractors.3/12/2014
Improving transparency of land ownership
Future of Land Reform in Scotland. Making sure people know who owns land in Scotland is a key issue of a land reform consultation launched today.3/12/2014
£1 million for business tourism
Cash boost to Conference Bid Fund. Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing has announced a £1 million investment from the Scottish Government to help attract major international conferences to Scotland.3/12/2014
Hundreds more affordable homes planned
Millions to be invested through innovative charitable bond model. The Scottish Government is investing £25 million next year in charitable bonds that could lead to up to 450 affordable homes being built, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil confirmed today.3/12/2014
Commitment to raising attainment for all
Education Secretary pledge as £1.5m awarded through Access to Education fund. Schools across Scotland have secured funds totalling £1.5 million to help reduce barriers to learning experienced by pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.2/12/2014
Update on Radon works to Council properties
The Highland Council has been taking action to reduce radon in nine properties which include five schools. Testing earlier in the year showed all properties had radon above the statutory Action Level of 400 Bq/m³.2/12/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 2 December 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (December, 2nd) sold 45 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (25) averaged 214.3p (-15.9p) and sold to 231p per kg and £1,512.30 gross.2/12/2014
Opportunity to join the Board of High Life Highland
Two opportunities have arisen for people with an interest in community learning and leisure services in Highland communities to become involved as Directors of the Board of High Life Highland to deliver these services on behalf of The Highland Council. High Life Highland (HLH) is a charity registered in Scotland and a company, limited by guarantee, wholly owned by The Highland Council.2/12/2014
SSE AWARDS SCOTLAND'S LARGEST EVER LIVING WAGE CONTRACT WORTH £460M
SSE'S networks business, SHE Transmission, has awarded its largest ever Living Wage contract - worth £460million - to engineering firm ABB Limited. The contract is part of the Caithness to Moray Transmission Project, the vital new subsea link which will allow more renewable energy to join up to the network in the north of Scotland.
2/12/2014
Multi- agency partners provide support to annual festive safety initiative, Operation Respect
With the approach of the festive season, multi-agency partners have once again joined forces to support Operation Respect with the aim of making the streets of Inverness safer for shoppers and party goers, both day and night, during the festive season. Supported by Inverness Community Safety Partnership and the Operation Respect multi-agency group, the city will see increased high visibility police patrols, as well as the use of Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) Security Task Team members and Taxi Marshals, the British Red Cross and Inverness Street Pastors.1/12/2014
Are you ready for winter asks Highland Council? 
The Highland Council is supporting the Scottish Government's Ready Scotland Campaign and urges people in the Highlands to take some time to get ready for winter and all kinds of severe weather. See - 7 http://www.readyscotland.org/are-you-ready/winter-weather/ Councillor Graham Mackenzie, Highland Council's Chair of Community Services Committee, said: "We have had a very mild start to this winter and we want people to think ahead and be prepared for a change in the temperature and all types of severe weather.
1/12/2014
Island malt whisky alliances help conserve ancient Scottish crop
A second island alliance between university researchers in Orkney and a distillery on Islay has seen a new single malt whisky made from an ancient barley variety released this month. Bruichladdich Distillery's Bere Barley 2008 is now available at selected Global Travel Retail outlets.
29/11/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 24th November 2014 Energy & Business services: Delighted to meet up this week with Dan Pearson of the MeyGen project as he gave an update on progress with the project to Caithness Councillors in Wick. It was good to hear that contracts for onshore works are now in place, and that works will be taking place over the winter at the onshore site near Gills.29/11/2014
Highland Council raises concerns over Universal Credit
Highland Council has raised concerns regarding Council tenants who are affected by Universal Credit, at a meeting of the Resources Committee on 26 November. Chair of Resources, Maxine Smith said: "The exact number of people affected is unknown, however, we are aware of 32 households who are in receipt of Universal Credit of which 30 households are in rent arrears.29/11/2014
Scottish Government Creates 'Wave Energy Scotland'
The Scottish Government will establish a new wave energy technology development body. Wave Energy Scotland will be tasked with bringing together the best engineering and academic minds to collaborate on innovative projects that will accelerate the development of wave technologies.28/11/2014
StepChange Debt Charity Welcomes Government Announcements on Payday Loan Marketing
Following yesterday's announcement that the government has asked the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) to broaden the remit of its review of payday loan advertising to include the appropriateness of scheduling as well as content, and that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will consult on unsolicited marketing calls for payday loans, Mike O'Connor, chief executive of StepChange Debt Charity, said: "We are extremely pleased that the government has recognised the potential harm caused to millions of people through payday loan marketing. We know that many people are drawn into a cycle of unaffordable borrowing through tempting offers that are clearly unaffordable and prevention is a welcome step forward." Children and advertising "Today's families are increasingly vulnerable to falling into a cycle of damaging problem debt.27/11/2014
