News Archive
3/7/2014
NEET rates decrease in all Scottish Local Authorities
Over the year to November 2013, the rates of 16-19 year olds who were not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) decreased in all 32 local authority areas. Scotland's Chief Statistician today released estimates of young people aged 16-19 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) at a local authority level in Scotland.Flavours Ice Cream Opens Second Shop In Thurso
Flavours ice Cream Shop At John O'Groats has been a huge success and scored a hit with the public. with so much enthusiasm for the shop a new one has been set up in Thurso and will open its doors on Wednesday 2nd July 2014 at 2.00pm.
1/7/2014
CNSF Receives NDA Next Instalment Of £300K
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund (CNSF), a grant body funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), received its second instalment of £300k at a recent stakeholder event held in the new low level waste repository vault at the Dounreay site. This funding is the latest instalment of the NDA's £4M community benefit package being provided via DSRL.
1/7/2014
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 1 July 2014
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (July, 1st) sold 53 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (36) averaged 195p (-4.2p) and sold to 216p per kg and £1,457.80 gross.1/7/2014
Africa benefits from Scots technology
Mobile app will help millions of farmers. High-tech Scots excellence will help tens of millions of farmers across Africa to solve animal health issues, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed today.1/7/2014
I'M NOT RAVING, I’M SAVING
· Over five million 18-24 year olds (66 per cent) are saving regularly each month · Average young savers has around £3,200 set aside · Less than one per cent say that their financial priority is to put money into a pension Young Britons are bucking the trend of the generation before them by choosing to save rather than spend, according to new figures out today. The findings indicate that over five million 18-24 year olds, approximately 66 per cent of the age group, manage to put money aside each month into savings or investments, each putting aside £204 on average.1/7/2014
Camster Wind Farm Has Begun Production
Eon has switched on the 50MW Camster wind farm in Caithness, Scotland. The wind farm lies between Lybster and Watten and has 25 Vestas V80 turbines.1/7/2014
Fishing for the common good - Fish quota consultation launched
Ensuring fish quotas are managed for the common good is at the centre of a new consultation launched today. Fish quotas are the amount of fish that may be landed by our fishing vessels.1/7/2014
Days at sea exemption
European Commission responds to government request. Another 59 Scottish fishing vessels, which fish for prawns in inshore waters, will no longer be subject to European time at sea limits.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
