News Archive

Voucher scheme to help Scottish businesses prevent cyber crime

Small and medium-sized businesses across Scotland are being given the chance to enlist the services of an industry expert to assist them with a cyber security strategy.  The Cyber Resilience Voucher Scheme has been launched by Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership (formed of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Business Gateway and COSLA).  

Unconventional oil and gas research published

A package of six research reports have been published today to inform the Scottish Government's position on whether or not to allow any Unconventional Oil and Gas (UOG) development in Scotland.   The Scottish Government put in place a moratorium on UOG in January 2015 and, while it is in force, this prevents the development of any project involving hydraulic fracturing, also known as ‘fracking’, or any coal bed methane extraction technologies.  

Index of Manufacturing Exports 2016, Q2

Scotland's Chief Statistician today announced the publication of the latest Index of Manufactured Exports for the second quarter of 2016.   This quarterly publication measures changes, in constant-price and seasonally-adjusted terms, in export sales to the rest of the world from manufacturing businesses located in Scotland.  

Businesses in Scotland 2016

Scotland's total business stock falls but the registered business stock continues to grow.   Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Businesses in Scotland 2016.  

Rural payments underway

£246m support payments arriving in farmer bank accounts.   The first 2016 direct loan payments will be deposited in farmers bank accounts today, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has confirmed.  

"Right To Licence" checks for taxi and private hire car drivers

Under provisions of the Immigration Act 2016 which comes into force on 1 December 2016, The Highland Council will be unable, from that date, to grant a taxi driver or private hire car (PHC) driver licence to any person unless a check has first been made to verify that the person is not disqualified by reason of his or her immigration status from driving a taxi or private hire car (PHC).   This will mean that all applicants for taxi or PHC driver licences, including UK passport holders, will require to attend their nearest licensing office in person with original documents (passport or other acceptable documents) demonstrating that they have the right to work in the UK.  

Wick company wants more seaweed harvesters

Wick based New Wave Foods is looking for more seaweed harvesters to help with increasing demand for their products.   New Wave Foods has been sustainably harvesting high-quality seaweed for food over the last six months.  

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 2 November 2016

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 2nd) sold 302 store cattle.  Bullocks (179) averaged 213.2p and sold to 278.4p per kilo for a pen of 255kg Limousin crosses from Erchite, Dores and £1,110 gross for pens of 561kg and 547kg Shorthorn crosses and from Balliefurth Farm, Grantown on Spey.  

Council committed to seeing Skye Air Services take off

Highland Councillors have given their backing to the business case for bringing air services to the Isle of Skye and are to continue lobbying the Scottish Government and its agencies at the highest level.   Following assessment of the business case at the Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee, members of the Council's Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee had the opportunity to discuss the wider economic and social benefits of having an airport on Skye and examined the short-term action plan to take forward some key development activities.  

EU funds guaranteed

Certainty for over £700m of farming, fishing and structural funds projects.   EU funding contracts for structural funds, fisheries and farming projects that are agreed before the UK proposes to leave the EU will be paid in full, the Scottish Government has announced.