News Archive

Independent Panel Established For £3m Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm Fund

An independent panel has been established to review applications and determine which projects will receive funding from the £3 million Beatrice Partnership Fund.   The Beatrice Partnership Fund, which was launched in December 2016 and is associated with the Beatrice offshore wind farm currently under construction in the Moray Firth, is part of a wider package of benefits being offered by Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited (BOWL), the joint venture partnership behind the wind farm.  

Caithness To Moray Energy Link On Target

Energy firm Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has announced an "important milestone" in its £1.1billion Caithness-Moray undersea link project.   The company said new equipment installed at its Dounreay substation had been "successfully energised" as part of reinforcement work on power connections in the area.  

8,000 childcare staff to earn the living wage

Scotland's early learning and childcare (ELC) expansion plans will be built on a foundation of fairness and equality, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed this week.   Currently, around 80% of practitioners and half of supervisors in the private and third sector providers that deliver the Scottish Government's 600 hours of free ELC are not paid the Living Wage.  

Record year for food and drink exports

Food and drink exports from Scotland grew by £421 million in 2016, to a record £5.5 billion.   The latest figures show an 8% increase in the value of exports to Scotland's successful food and drink sector over the past year.  

SRUC Vets' Advice on Schmallenberg Virus in Scotland

During the past two week SAC Consulting Veterinary Services (part of Scotland's Rural College) has confirmed two diagnoses of Schmallenberg Virus (SBV) infection in malformed lambs in two Scottish flocks close to the border with England.  This follows the increasing numbers of affected lambs identified in England and Wales throughout the winter of 2016/2017.  

Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holder & Refresher course

If you would like to complete the course and exam required to apply for a Personal Licence Holder through the Scottish Licensing Board or require to complete the refresher training, then Aspire HLTC Ltd are holding a course at Helcat Training, Omlie Industrial Estate on 4th April 2017.   £125 per person Personal licence holder course.  

Glass Half Full for Highland's Licensed Trade

People throughout the Scottish Highlands who have experience working in the licensed trade but have fallen on hard times are being encouraged to apply for one-off grants as part of an industry charity's ‘Glass Half Full' campaign.   Over the years the Scottish Licensed Trade Benevolent Society, known as The BEN, has helped a host of beneficiaries from throughout the Highlands for everything from essential payments including council tax to household refurbishment including a stair lift.  

Bmt Nigel Gee Secures 85m Ropax Ferry Contract For Pentland Ferries

BMT Nigel Gee (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group, has announced a new project to design an 85m steel-hulled catamaran RoPax ferry for Strategic Marine, a subsidiary of Triyards Holding Limited.  The ferry is for Scottish ferry operator Pentland Ferries and BMT will be responsible for concept through to production design, working closely with Strategic Marine.  

The UK Space Agency Has Awarded Just Under £150,000 To Three Business Incubation Centres Across The UK

These awards will support entrepreneurs and small companies in the space industry.  The Agency is working with UK industry to deliver world-class science innovation support, in line with the Government's Industrial Strategy, which emphasises the importance of science, innovation and skills.  

Expansion Of Foundation Apprenticeships

Up to 5,000 will start work-based training programme by 2019.   Thousands of young people will gain industry recognised qualifications, real-world work experience and access to work-based learning while still at school thanks to a massive expansion of the Foundation Apprenticeship programme.