News Archive
10/4/2013
Councils face tighter squeeze in 2013
Councils face tougher challenges in the year ahead, particularly in dealing with budget pressures, says the Accounts Commission in its annual overview report published today. Pressures on resources and demands on services mean that councils may now have to consider decisions, which they had previously ruled out, to balance their budgets.9/4/2013
Sutherland Brothers Annual Trade Day - 25th April 2013
Sutherland Brothers Annual Trade Day is being held in Wick Assembly Rooms on Thursday 25th April between 2pm and 8pm. If you are a business looking to purchase from a local wholesaler why not come along and meet us along with many of our local and national suppliers.
9/4/2013
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Young Farmers 10th April 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd, (April 10th) sold 25 Young Farmers over-wintered cattle at their annual show and sale, kindly sponsored by Messrs Home Farms, Inverness & Messrs Craiglands Quarry, Fortrose. Bullocks (15) averaged 250.2p and sold to 264.2p per kilo for the Craiglands Quarry Homebred Reserve, a 545kg Charolais cross from Skye MacGillivray, Glasstullich, Nigg Station, to Messrs McKenzie Craiglands Ltd, Fortrose, and £1,450 gross for the Home Farm Reserve Supreme Overall, a 595kg Limousin cross homebred from Donna Maclennan, c/o Mains of Clunas, Nairn to Mr D Budge, Brae-edge Farm, Castletown.
9/4/2013
Closure of Sheriff Courts a mistake claims Highlands & Islands MSP
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has hit out at plans revealed by the Scottish Court service which indicate that there are plans to close 10 of Scotland’s Sheriff Courts and seven JP Courts. David Stewart said “It appears that the Government plan to make savings by closing 10 Sheriff Courts across the country.
9/4/2013
Planning Process begins for new Wick Schools and Community Facilities
The £50M project for two new Primary Schools, a new High School, and new Community Facilities, incorporating a replacement Library and swimming pool, due for completion for use in August 2015, takes another step forward this month. The planning process for major works includes a “Pre-Application Consultation” in which the proposals are shared with the public, so that comments at this stage can be considered by the architects before formal Planning Applications are submitted.9/4/2013
HIAL launches draft Gaelic Language Plan
Regional airports group HIAL has today launched a draft Gaelic Language Plan for consultation. In common with other public authorities, HIAL is required by the Scottish Government to produce a Gaelic Language Plan under the terms of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.9/4/2013
Landmark Agreement for Cromarty Port and Council
A landmark memorandum of understanding has been signed today joining in partnership the Highland Council and the Cromarty Firth Port Authority. This will further strengthen good working relationships and produce a blueprint for the future of the Cromarty Firth.
9/4/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 9th April 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 9th) sold 80 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (47) averaged 227.7p (-1.1p) and sold to 246p per kg and £1,782.50 gross.9/4/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 10th April 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 10th) sold 766 Aberdeen Angus, native bred and continental store cattle in a special show and sale and 11 OTM cattle. Aberdeen Angus bullocks (326) averaged 230.1p (+9.5p on the corresponding sale from last year) and sold to 289.5p per kilo for the champion a 380kg Aberdeen Angus cross from Gaskbeg, Laggan, and £1,330 gross for a 695kg Aberdeen Angus cross from Ardjachie, Tain.9/4/2013
The Highland Council Chief Executive announces his retiral
The Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Mr Alistair Dodds, has announced his decision to retire, with effect from 31 August 2013, after 22 years service with the Council, the last six at the helm. He has given more than four months notice of his retiral to give the Council the opportunity of finding a successor before he leaves.
8/4/2013
Caithness-Moray subsea link following completion of the Dounreay-Beauly grid upgrade
SHE Transmission moves forward with Caithness-Moray subsea link following completion of the Dounreay-Beauly grid upgrade. Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc (SHE Transmission), is progressing to the final stages of developing a significant subsea link between Caithness and Moray following the successful completion of its £78 million investment to upgrade the Dounreay to Beauly overhead transmission line.8/4/2013
Businesses in the Highlands to benefit from new employer services team
Anna Dawson and Derek Cairns on board to identify and advise on recruitment and skills needs. Employers in the Highlands can now benefit from more direct support and advice to help them recruit and develop the skills they require in today’s competitive environment.8/4/2013
Multi-million pound substation contracts awarded encourage economic growth
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc (SHE Transmission) has awarded four contracts with a cumulative value of approximately £600 million to help facilitate the delivery of new electricity substations in the north of Scotland. The contracts, which have been awarded on a regional basis, are designed to encourage investment in Scotland and will help support over 150 jobs.8/4/2013
Tidal energy partnership
US tidal power company ResHydro has announced plans to establish operations in Scotland with the support of a £100,000 SMART: SCOTLAND award from Scottish Enterprise. First Minister Alex Salmond, who is in the United States for Scotland Week undertaking a programme aimed at attracting inward investment, welcomed the announcement.7/4/2013
Event To Prime Highland Firms For Investment
Small firms from across the Highlands will get the lowdown on how to tap into traditional and alternative sources of finance at an event in Inverness later this month. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has joined forces with local business experts Highland Opportunity and their Business Gateway service plus MSP, Rhoda Grant, to host a special event -Accessing Business Finance - at the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stadium on the 29 April.7/4/2013
How To Make An Award-Winning Application
Practical and useful ideas and time-saving tips to help you make strong applications for Business Awards The Federation of Small Businesses, in association with the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards, is to pilot a workshop for all businesses in Caithness and Sutherland, knowing that winning awards, or being shortlisted, increases business. Businesses that win awards do better! Sponsored by Dounreay Communities Fund the event will take place on: Tuesday 16th April at dounreay.com Traill House, 7 Olrig Street, Thurso KW14 7BJ.7/4/2013
Council raises no objections to Stronelairg Wind farm application
Members of The Highland Council’s South Planning Applications Committee have voted to raise no objections to an application by Scottish & Southern Energy Renewables to erect a wind farm at Stronelairg on the Garrogie Estate, subject to additional conditions on top of the amendments and conditions listed in the committee report. The vote was carried 11 votes to 3 after a site visit and debate today (Monday 8 April 2013).7/4/2013
UP TO 15,000 DEFENCE INDUSTRY JOBS COULD GO IN A SEPARATE SCOTLAND
UP TO 15,000 DEFENCE INDUSTRY JOBS COULD GO IN A SEPARATE SCOTLAND, SAYS COMMITTEE. In a report published today, Monday 8 April 2013, the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee says the many thousands of people whose jobs depend on the defence industry in Scotland need to be told, before the referendum, what their real prospects for future employment would be in a Separate Scotland.5/4/2013
Caithness Firm JGC Spotlighted In Latest NDA Newsletter
JGC was founded in Thurso by the current Chairman Jock Campbell, who began supplying welding services to the NDA’s Dounreay site and the neighbouring Vulcan naval test base back in 1972. The company has since expanded into other sectors including oil and gas, becoming more specialised in the process, and now has an annual turnover of £10 million-plus, together with a workforce of 130 people.5/4/2013
