News Archive
31/1/2014
China Overtook US as No. 1 trading country in 2013
China surpassed the United States to become the world's biggest trading country last year, measured by the sum of exports and imports of goods, latest official figures from both countries show. China, the world number 2 economy, has been playing an increasingly crucial role in the global trade arena over recent years.
31/1/2014
Funding Opportunity - Scottish Seed Fund
Scottish Enterprise has announced that Small and Medium sized companies can access equity finance through the Scottish Seed Fund. The Scottish Seed Fund (SSF), managed by The Scottish Investment Bank (SIB) is designed to improve the availability of finance for start-up and young growing companies in Scotland.31/1/2014
Planning permission granted for the Port of Ardersier
The Highland Council has today (Friday) granted planning permission in principle to Port of Ardersier Ltd to establish an off-shore renewables port facility at the former McDermott Fabrication Yard at Whiteness Head to the west of Nairn. The site, which extends to over 3km2 of ground reclaimed from the foreshore in the 1970s for the fabrication and construction of off-shore platforms associated with the oil and gas industry, will once again be used to support off-shore development, but this time within the off-shore renewables sector.30/1/2014
Businesses urged to target China in the Year of the Horse
Highlands and Islands businesses interested in exporting to China have an opportunity to access specialist information and advice at a free event in Inverness in March. Organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), in partnership with Scottish Development International (SDI) and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), the event comes a matter of weeks after China celebrates its New Year, the beginning of Year of the Horse, on January 31.
29/1/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 29th January 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (January, 29th) sold 741 sheep of all classes. Lambs (446) averaged £64.22 and sold to £80 gross for Texel crosses from Wester Moy, Urray.29/1/2014
Indications of farm income recovery
Scotland Agriculture Rural Development Official statistics point to partial bounce back in 2013. Farm income in Scotland has made a partial recovery in 2013 following the poor weather of recent years, initial estimates suggest.28/1/2014
Calling Flow Country Artists To ERI Conference
Scientists from Thurso’s Environmental Research Institute are reaching out to the art community in Caithness. Artists and designers of all disciplines are being given the opportunity to display their work and interact with the scientific community at a forthcoming conference in Thurso dedicated to research in the Flow Country.
28/1/2014
Cattle Manager App Now Available
Last year a group of Wick High School pupils won an award for creating great new app for your phone. It will cut down on paper work for farmers.28/1/2014
SPA consider proposal to enhance police control centres
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) will consider strategic proposals from Police Scotland to enhance the service provided by its Contact, Command and Control Centres at the Authority’s next public board meeting on Thursday 30 January in the Trades Hall, Glassford Street, Glasgow. In considering this proposal, the SPA will test the evidence that underpins the recommended course of action.
28/1/2014
Planning Chairman clarifies Council clamp down on roadside signage
The Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning Environment and Development Committee has clarified the Council’s clampdown on roadside signage, stressing that the main targets for action are unauthorised adverts which are long-standing, those which have a substantial adverse impact on amenity and those that give rise to road safety concerns. Councillor Thomas Prag stressed that short-lived signage promoting community events, which did not impact on road safety, were not the focus of the Service’s enforcement action.28/1/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 28th January 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 28th) sold 45 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (21) averaged 221.6p (+2.2p) and sold to 232p per kg and £1,652.40 gross.27/1/2014
Police in Highland and Islands Division to host Facebook chat on officer recruitment
Police Scotland Highland and Islands Division is currently recruiting new Police Constables and Special Police Constables and are hosting a Facebook chat this week to answer any questions people have on the subject. The chat event will take place virtually on the Police Scotland Highland and Islands Divisonal Facebook page on Thursday 30 January 2014 between 18:00 and 20:00 hours to discuss the topic of Police Officer recruitment with Chief Superintendent Julian Innes.27/1/2014
Below Inflation Rises For Scottish Water Customers
Scottish Water’s household charges will rise this April, 2014, by 1.6 per cent – 1 per cent below the level of inflation (RPI). This is only the second rise since 2009 and signals a determination to build on customer service improvements in recent years, maintain investment in upgrades to water works and pipes and ensure services are ready for the future.24/1/2014
Impromptu Meeting With A Top UK Cabinet Minister At Gills
The three officer-bearers of the community company which owns and operates Gills Harbour, the Scottish mainland’s most Northerly port in Caithness, held a surprise impromptu meeting with a top UK Cabinet Minister on Friday 24th January, 2014. The Rt.23/1/2014
Dounreay Jobs Will Last Longer Than Previously Thought
Management at Dounreay are facing the challenge of how to accommodate additional work from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) whilst maintaining the same annual spend, the same Interim End State – and most importantly, the same priority on working safely and securely that the site is renowned for. The additional work has arisen because activities that were not sufficiently developed by the NDA at the time the competition was run in 2012 have now reached a state of maturity that allows them to be added to the existing programme of work.
23/1/2014
Serco Northlink Ferries Welcomes New look Hamnavoe Back To Service
Northlink Ferries is set to welcome the MV Hamnavoe back to service on Friday, 24 January 2014, complete with new livery. The photo here shows Hamnavoe on 5th January before the makeover.
23/1/2014
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 20th January 2014 Energy & Business Services: HIE colleagues have returned to Aberdeen this week for a further series of meetings with companies and agencies. As previously reported interest in Caithness as a place from which to do business is strong, with new companies showing interest in energy sector opportunities.23/1/2014
2 Day Crofting Course
2 Day Crofting Course in Golspie next month. This course is ideal for aspiring, new and existing crofters and will get you up to speed with all things croft related from CAP reform to animal welfare, diversification and much more...
22/1/2014
Lay of the land
Survey to map Scotland’s tenant farming sector. Surveys are being sent to every tenant farmer in Scotland as part of a major piece of research that will influence the future of Scottish farming.
22/1/2014
