News Archive
1/3/2013
Vital youth jobs scheme extended
Hundreds more young people will be supported into jobs following the investment of an additional £6.3 million from the Scottish Government into Community Jobs Scotland. The third sector programme will receive £5.75 million for 2013/14 to support up to 1,000 young people into employment with 10 per cent of the budget ring fenced for those with disabilities and long term illnesses.28/2/2013
Public thanked for input into new vision for Thurso and Wick
Members of the Thurso and Wick communities have helped to develop a new vision for the towns by participating in events known as Charrettes. The Charrettes included well attended workshops held over two days in both Thurso and Wick and culminated in report back sessions in Wick on Tuesday and Thurso on Wednesday.28/2/2013
Money For Marine Energy Announced
Two British companies have today been awarded a share of £20 million to help drive forward growth in the UK’s marine energy industry. Two British companies have today been awarded a share of £20 million to help drive forward growth in the UK’s marine energy industry.28/2/2013
The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters and South West Marine Energy Parks join forces
The UK's two Marine Energy Parks (MEP) will today (Thursday 28 Feb) sign a milestone agreement to work together to support the development of the wave and tidal industry in the United Kingdom. The collaboration agreement, which will be signed at the Renewable UK Wave and Tidal Conference in London, will be witnessed by Greg Barker, MP, Minister of State for Climate Change and Fergus Ewing, MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism.
27/2/2013
Scottish switching scheme launched in Highland
Households across Highland have an opportunity to save hundreds of pounds on their energy bills as part of a collective buying initiative. Highland residents have until Sunday 17 March to join in to secure a better deal from energy companies by buying energy together.
27/2/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 27th February 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (February, 27th) sold 1,689 sheep of all classes. Lambs (871) averaged £44.64 and sold to £77 gross for a Cheviot from 58 Rhue, Ullapool.27/2/2013
Vision for Scotland's digital future
A nationwide debate will get underway today to ensure Scotland becomes a world class digital nation by 2020. ‘Scotland’s Digital Dialogue’ will see a series of workshops, demonstrations, conferences and debates take place from now until the end of May, led by the Scottish Government in partnership with prominent digital experts, universities and business leaders.
26/2/2013
Council welcomes ground investigation works for start of A9 dualling
The Highland Council welcomes Transport Scotland’s announcement today that a £1.3 million ground investigation contract is expected to be awarded early next month, for the dualling of the A9 Perth – Inverness road. Leader of the Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry said: “We are delighted that this early sign of delivery on dualling of the A9 has been announced.24/2/2013
Welfare Reform briefing for Highland MPs
The Highland’s three MPs - Danny Alexander (Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey), Charles Kennedy, (Ross Skye and Lochaber) and John Thurso (Caithness Sutherland and East Ross) - attended a meeting of The Highland Council’s Welfare Reform Working Group today (Friday) to hear the Council’s concerns about welfare reform and ideas for action that may reduce the impact of change. Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Welfare Reform Working Group welcomed the opportunity of a face-to-face briefing with the MPs.24/2/2013
Highland homes – rent before you buy
The Scottish Government has announced a £1.3 million funding boost to help first-time buyers in the Highlands on to the property ladder. The Rural Rent to Buy model will support those on low and modest incomes who will initially rent a newly built property for five years before purchasing it at a reduced price.24/2/2013
School meals sourcing summit
Changing the way food for school meals is sourced will help improve the standard of school meals. Scottish Ministers announced today that work would be taken forward to ensure that as much locally sourced food as possible will be served within Scotland's schools.24/2/2013
Time to seize the moment on offshore wind
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has warned the UK Government that investment uncertainty created by electricity market reform is risking thousands of offshore wind jobs. Ahead of a debate on the Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Committee’s report on the achievability of the Scottish Government’s renewable energy targets, Mr Ewing warned the UK coalition ministers’ mixed messages on energy policy and continuing uncertainty around Electricity Market Reform, including the lack of a decarbonisation target until at least 2016, is risking jobs, investment and economic growth The proposals outlined in the Energy Bill published in November 2012 lack measures to give investors confidence beyond 2020, putting the UK at a disadvantage compared to countries like Germany which has already set a clear target of 26GW from offshore wind by 2030.
24/2/2013
Ready For Reform
Local arrangements for police and fire and rescue are making excellent progress ahead of new single services going live on April 1, an event to share good practice heard today. Almost 200 people from across Scotland attended the Local Scrutiny and Engagement event in Edinburgh.
23/2/2013
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership
Energy: Good news this week from Ignis Biomass Ltd, the owners and operators of the Combined Heat & Power Plant in Wick. The Company has invested an initial £2.5M in a new biomass boiler, which has now been installed and is operating.22/2/2013
Devices Placed In Pentland Firth to Take Measurements
Report by Bill Mowat The vessel was there for Mojo Maritime Ltd of Falmouth, Cornwall and was in port to deploy three 'Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler' (ADCP) devices on the seabed of the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound. This was undertaken for MeyGen Ltd, the company that holds the Crown Estate's seabed licence for that part of the Firth as a site for development as 'the world's first commercial tidal stream electricity power station'.
22/2/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 21st February 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 21st) sold 28 registered Cheviot females at its Harbro sponsored show and sale, and 89 in lamb Cheviots for the dispersal of the Amat flock on behalf of W R Cameron. The judge Mr W.
22/2/2013
Council's Reassurance Over Provenance Of School Meals
Staff, parents and pupils in the Highlands are being reassured about the quality and safe consumption of the fresh meat and processed food used in school meals in the Highlands. Council Catering and Cleaning Manager Norma Murray has written to the head teachers of the Council's 177 primary schools, 29 secondary schools and three special schools in response to the national debate and general concerns surrounding the presence of horsemeat in some UK food products.22/2/2013
Farmers Preparing For Ever Higher Energy Prices As UK Oil Prices Rise Again
New Renewables Energy Show For Agriculture To Be Held At Thainstone Centre A renewables energy show for Scottish farming is to be held at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, in April. AgriEnergy 2013 will be a two-day event aimed at showcasing and discussing the latest developments in wind, solar, biomass, hydro and other forms of sustainable energy.21/2/2013
Caithness Councillor To Step Down
Highland Councillor Robert Coghill, who represents Landward Caithness, has given notice of his intention to resign, with effect from Thursday 28 February. Councillor Coghill, who helps run a farm at Halkirk, is standing down on medical advice.
21/2/2013
