News Archive
25/5/2013
Digital boost for SMEs
A £7 million funding package will help businesses across Scotland to become more digitally connected, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced today. The new funding from the Scottish Government will be available to SMEs to enable them to adopt and make better use of new technologies, helping them to become more competitive.
24/5/2013
First Tidal Stream Installation Ship Being Built For Pentland Firth
New updated sketch 'renderings' of the World's first purpose-built tidal stream turbine installation ship, the planned HiFlo-4 catamaran vessel, have just been released by her designers Mojo Maritime Ltd, of Falmouth, Cornwall, one of Britain's most technologically-innovative 'green' marine energy specialist engineering companies. Its managing director Captain Richard Parkinson has told Gills Harbour Ltd's chairman that its innovative vessel is on track for being delivered from her builder's shipyard during the summer of 2015.
24/5/2013
Orcadia Work-boat Visits Gills Harbour
The powerful modern 25 metre 'multi-cat' vessel 'Orcadia' berthed at Gills Harbour on Friday morning 17th May 2013; her first call there this year. She is owned and operated by Scotmarine Ltd, of Stromness, Orkney, one of a group of 'marine renewables' companies in the islands founded and headed by entrepreneur Barry Johnston.
24/5/2013
Tourism Webinars - Technology Trends: The importance of Mobile - Sign Up
29 May 2013 Technology Trends: The importance of Mobile - Wednesday 29 May Guest speakers are Ross Tuffni, DOGFI.SH MOBILE Ltd and Prof Jon Oberlander, The Smart Tourism Programme. Mobile devices have transformed our daily lives and how, when and where your customers engage with their mobile devices is key to understanding how and where to reach them.24/5/2013
Industry celebrates EMEC’s 10th anniversary at All-Energy
The renewable energy industry gathered on Wednesday 22 May 2013 to celebrate the European Marine Energy Centre’s (EMEC) 10th anniversary at the annual All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in Aberdeen. Over 250 people attended a reception held on the HI-energy and Orkney pavilions at the show, which featured a wide range of Orkney produce.24/5/2013
Record number of Highlands and Islands companies looking to export
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has revealed that more companies than ever before were supported into new overseas markets last year by its international trade arm Scottish Development International (SDI). In 2012/13, SDI worked with 156 companies across the Highlands and Islands to develop their international business, representing an almost 50 per cent increase from 106 the previous year.24/5/2013
Modern Apprenticeship Ambassadors
Employers and apprentices to champion benefits of MA programme LEADING Modern Apprentice (MA) graduates and some of Scotland’s top companies have signed up to become champions and ambassadors of the programme, helping to boost apprenticeship opportunities across Scotland. As Scottish Apprenticeship Week draws to a close, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is planning to build on the enthusiasm of all those involved in the earn-while-you-learn programme by asking them to sign-up as recognised supporters.24/5/2013
EFC Group launches next phase of expansion in Forres
EFC Group, a leading designer and manufacturer of instrumentation, monitoring, handling and control systems for the global oil and gas industry, has announced the launch of a new manufacturing plant in Moray. The base in the Enterprise Park, Forres marks the Group’s second phase of expansion in the area and a £100,000 investment.24/5/2013
Further wave and tidal leasing to accelerate technology development
The Crown Estate has announced plans to lease further wave and tidal sites in a bid to encourage and accelerate technology development. In line with responses to its recent industry engagement exercise, the leasing will focus on test and demonstration projects to be installed in waters around the UK.23/5/2013
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 24th May 2013
FORT WILLIAM, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 24th) sold 165 store cattle, 24 adult head of breeding cattle, 46 OTM cattle and 438 sheep. Bullocks (76) averaged 212.7p and sold to 268.1p per kilo for 235kg Aberdeen Angus crosses from 6 Scotstown, Strontian, and £860 gross for a Simmental cross from 7 Back of Keppoch, Arisaig.22/5/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 22 May 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 22nd) sold 131 pedigree and commercial Luing cattle at their fifth annual spring breeding sale sponsored by W & A Geddes and Harbro Ltd. Pedigree in calf heifers (12) averaged £1,456.88 and sold to 1650gns (£1,732.50) for a pair of 35 month old heifers from Mr J S Murray, West Preston, Kirkbean, to D Macarthur, Ravensview, Achterneed, Strathpeffer.22/5/2013
Road Maintenance Programmes – Caithness and Sutherland
The Highland Council’s Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee has approved the structural maintenance programmes for roads and bridges in the area for the coming year. The budgets allocated to Caithness and Sutherland for structural road and bridge maintenance totalled £2.44 million.22/5/2013
Record Number Of Apprentices In Scotland
RECORD NUMBER OF APPRENTICES FIGURES BOOST SCOTTISH ENGINEERING THE number of Scottish teenagers embarking on Modern Apprenticeships in engineering has topped 1,000 for the first time, new figures reveal this week. In 2012-13 there were a record 1,079 candidates aged 16-19 compared to 907 the previous year.20/5/2013
Partnership approach to skills and workforce development in Caithness and Sutherland
Councillor Deirdre Mackay, Leader of the Caithness and Sutherland Area committee has welcomed a presentation to the committee yesterday (Monday 20 May) which clearly laid out how the various agencies in Caithness and Sutherland are working together to offset the results of Dounreay decommissioning and ensure that clear pathways are in place to prepare our young people for the future needs and demands of industry and business across all sectors. Reports from North Highland College, Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Skills Development Scotland were brought together for the first time outlining the work that is currently underway to ensure young people reach positive destinations when leaving school, college and university.20/5/2013
Work progresses on Caithness & Sutherland Local Development Plan
A further step was taken yesterday towards a new Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan – CaS Plan - following a decision made at the Area Committee to issue a Call for Sites over the summer, urging communities to identify land for future development and areas they want to see protected. The Committee members were also looking at ways of taking forward the outcomes from the Wick and Thurso Charrettes, which will help shape the CaS Plan.20/5/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 21st May 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 21st) sold 64 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (40) averaged 232.9p (+1.1p) and sold to 256p per kg and £1,741.35 gross.19/5/2013
Highlands and Islands set to take centre stage at the UK’s largest renewable energy event
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland is set to take centre stage at the All-Energy exhibition and conference in Aberdeen this week (Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd May). Over 70 companies will come together under the banner of HI-Energy to showcase the region’s world-leading renewable energy expertise and supply chain capabilities.18/5/2013
Council staff commended for work on storm damage
Work has been completed on clean ups and repairs at 21 locations throughout the Highlands that were affected by the 14/15 December storm in 2012. Members of The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services Committee were updated yesterday on works completed and works still in progress at Portmahomack and Balintore Harbours.18/5/2013
Magic Business Is A Big Hit With Pre Wedding Gatherings
Highland Magician with strong links to Caithness, Clive Grewcock is proving to be a talking point and creating a stir amongst private parties and more notably at pre-wedding gatherings. “At first it all sounds really crazy but from experience and the interest this aspect of performance Magic is attracting groups, and in particular bridal parties before the big day want this mystery magic which combines mental magic, mind reading and uncovering old stories ” The immediate conclusion is that it is paranormal stories but Clive points out that there is most definitely nothing supernatural about this, which is why it has been labelled as mystery magic.
18/5/2013
