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News Archive


Recession Bites As D R Simpson In Wick To Close In Days
D R Simpson the newsagents in the middle of Wick is set to close after an announcment by the owner Davie Moss on Facebook last night.   The full message is as follows - To the people of Wick, my friends and my many customers who have visited the shop and spent their hard earned money in the nine and half years I have owned it.  
2/6/2013
Miller Group and Equitix Starting Immediately On New Inverness CampusThumbnail for article : Miller Group and Equitix Starting Immediately On New Inverness Campus
A consortium of Miller Group and Equitix has reached financial close on a £50m contract to build a new campus for Inverness College and will start work next month.   The new college will be the first and largest development at the multi-stakeholder Inverness campus site, which is currently being developed by Highlands & Islands Enterprise on the outskirts of the city.  
Success for Highlands and Islands food and drink businesses
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) congratulates the region's businesses which scooped three food 'Oscars' at the 2013 Scotland Food and Drink Awards on Thursday night - 30th june 2013.   Three ambitious companies from the Highlands and Islands have been recognised in the 2013 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
This is a short message to update you on activities relating to the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership.   Energy/ Business Services: As reported last week I worked with partners from Highland Council, HIE, Energy North and Caithness Chamber to arrange a visit from representatives from National Grid.  
31/5/2013
Work to start on Inverness College
Construction will start next month on the new £50 million Inverness College UHI, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today.   The 13.3 acre University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) development will create 300 jobs during construction, a minimum of 28 modern apprenticeships and provide facilities for over 8,500 students.  
31/5/2013
Action plan setting out support to reduce energy bills
The Scottish Government today launched its District Heating Action Plan which sets a clear roadmap for how we will support the growth of district heating networks throughout Scotland.  and help reduce energy bills and carbon emissions.  
Caithness Print Solutions Moved To Larger PremisesThumbnail for article : Caithness Print Solutions Moved To Larger Premises
Caithness Print Solutions has moved a couple of streets in Wick to larger premises.   You will now find them based at 10 Harbour Terrace, Wick where the offices were recently completely rennovated.  
28/5/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 28th May 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 28th) sold 74 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (42) averaged 232.9p (+1.6p) and sold to 255p per kg and £1,691.15 gross.  
27/5/2013
Open4Business Caithness Meet the Buyer Event
Caithness Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with SSE, invites you to attend this free Meet the Buyer Event on Thursday 13th June at Mackays Hotel, Wick from 09.00 - 17.00.   The day will cover a wide range of presentations from SSE Open4Business, SSE Renewables, SSE Transmission, Achilles and SSE’s Tier 1 contractors.  
27/5/2013
Helping young people towards employment
A pioneering scheme to help vulnerable 16 to 19 year olds into employment, training or education is delivering for more than 1,800 young people.   Activity Agreements aim to prepare individuals for more formal courses and form part of range of actions being taken across Scotland to support more young people into employment.  
26/5/2013
Council welcomes start of new cruise ship season in CaithnessThumbnail for article : Council welcomes start of new cruise ship season in Caithness
Highland Council has welcomed a successful start to the 2013 cruise ship programme at Scrabster, following the visit on Friday 24th May 2013 of the Adonia, carrying nearly 700 passengers and over 350 crew.   Councillor Roger Saxon said “We were delighted to see so many visitors enjoying the sunshine, and either visiting local attractions such as the Castle of Mey or taking advantage of the free shuttle buses between Scrabster and Thurso town centre.  
25/5/2013
North Sea Prawns Stay Burrowed Deep
A scientific article published by Marine Scotland published this week outlines the environmental factors contributing to the issue on the key Fladens fishery which includes weather patterns causing colder than usual water temperature.   For the first 4 months of 2013 landing figures show a decrease of 52 per cent on the same period last year - an 11-year-low in the number of tonnes of prawns caught.  
25/5/2013
Digital boost for SMEsThumbnail for article : 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 FirthThumbnail for article : 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 HarbourThumbnail for article : 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.  
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.  
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.  
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
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.