News Archive
26/3/2013
£146 Million To Upgrade Broadband in Highland and Islands
The project, led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and delivered by BT, is being hailed as the UK’s most complex and challenging broadband project ever. It means that around 84 per cent of Highlands and Islands homes and businesses will have access to fibre broadband by the end of the project.26/3/2013
European Offshore Wind Centre
The Scottish Government today announced consent for the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen Bay. The development consists of 11 wind turbines and their connecting cables, sited between two and 4.5 km off the Aberdeenshire coast, capable of generating up to 100 MW, providing enough energy to meet the needs of over 49,000 homes – almost half of the homes in Aberdeen.26/3/2013
HIAL Introduces Free Wi-Fi Across Their Airports
HIAL INTRODUCES FREE WI-FI ACROSS NETWORK Regional airport group HIAL has become the first in Scotland to provide free Wi-Fi for passengers. The publicly owned company, which operates a network of 11 airports across Scotland, including Wick John O’Groats, Stornoway, Inverness and Dundee, began rolling out the new service last month, with the majority of airports now live.26/3/2013
Homelessness falls
There has been a significant fall in the number of people presented as homeless in Scotland, official statistics confirmed today. There were 8,734 applications for homelessness assistance in the quarter to December 2012 - a 12 per cent drop on the same period in 2011.25/3/2013
Caithness & North Sutherland Community Groups Awarded over £142K!
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund recently awarded its latest round of community grants totalling over £142k. The grants were awarded to eleven community and voluntary groups in the Dounreay travel to work area for projects that help to make Caithness & North Sutherland an attractive place to live, work and invest in.
24/3/2013
Helicopters Boost Wick John O’Groats Airport To Strong Air Traffic Growth
Passenger numbers at Scotland’s regional airports increased by 2.2% last month. Latest figures from airport operator HIAL show that its 11 airports handled 87,476 passengers in February, an increase of 1,869 passengers compared to the same month last year.
22/3/2013
Meet the Buyer Event for Caithness and Sutherland Subcontractors
Miller Construction is extending an invitation to subcontractors and suppliers based in the Caithness and Sutherland area to a Meet the Buyer event to find out more about future opportunities for local businesses in the area. As a Tier 1 contractor with hub North Scotland Limited, Miller Construction is preferred bidder on a £50m pipeline of work to be delivered over the next three years in Wick and Tain and is seeking suitable local partners to deliver these projects and others when they arise.21/3/2013
Highland population growth spans the ages
The latest Census figures released by the National Register of Scotland, show that Highland’s population growth spans the age range. Highland’s population has risen by 23,000 between 2001 and 2011 to 232,000.21/3/2013
The Highland Council – Welfare Reform
New legislation from the UK government means that, from 1 April, a deduction will be imposed on housing benefit claimants in council or housing association homes with a spare room or rooms in their homes. The new rule is estimated to affect more than 2,200 council house tenants in Highland.21/3/2013
Advice for landlords on 'Bedroom Tax'
Landlords should consider all possible options and use all reasonable means to prevent evictions of housing tenants struggling to pay rent due to the bedroom tax, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said today. The Scottish Government has called for the UK Government’s under occupancy measures, that will cut housing benefit for those deemed to have a spare room, to be scrapped.21/3/2013
Unemployment in Scotland falls by 4,000
Official statistics published today by ONS show that unemployment in Scotland fell by 4,000 over the three months to January 2013. Youth unemployment experienced the biggest fall in 20 years.19/3/2013
Highland Council raises no objections to off-shore Wind Farm proposal
The Highland Council has raised no objections to a consultation from the Scottish Government (Marine Scotland) regarding an application by Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd for the construction and operation of 3 offshore wind farms and associated electricity transmission works in the Outer Moray Firth. The application has been submitted under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 so although The Highland Council is not the determining authority, it is an important consultee so today (Tuesday 19 March) Members sitting on the North Planning Applications Committee considered the proposals.19/3/2013
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 19th March 2013
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 19th) sold 86 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (58) averaged 216.1p (-2.1p) and sold to 233p per kg and £1,597.50 gross.17/3/2013
New Offices Almost Ready For Hugh Siimpson Contractors, Wick
New offices for Hugh Simpson contractors well known locally for cranes and oil have new offices almost ready at Wick harbour. The ofices are on the site of the former Wick Power station that was finally demolished in October 2008..
17/3/2013
Intermediate Preparing to Export course - Caithness and Sutherland
11 April 2013 Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with Scottish Development International, is offering an Intermediate Preparing to Export course for companies that are already exporting to 2/3 markets and would like to further develop their export capabilities. • Course kick-off: 2-day residential on 11th & 12th April 2013 (1 nights accommodation and dinner will be provided) • Course continues on: 4 additional sessions held over 6-8 weeks: 25th April, 9th May, 23rd May and 6th June 2013 Location: The Norseman Hotel, Wick This programme is fully funded by Smart Exporter, an ambitious new international trade skills programme, and is targeted at Scottish companies that are already exporting and wish to develop their export capabilities to grow their business.16/3/2013
Tea Cosy - Simply Unique Opens After Winter Break
Winter break over! The Tea Cosy / Simply Unique will be open from Easter onwards, a warm welcome waits. New exciting menu and some old favourites.
16/3/2013
Round two of the Scottish EDGE is open for entries
After the first round of the Scottish EDGE competition, where over £500,000 was given to help 17 of Scotland’s brightest entrepreneurs, they are ready to start all over again! This next round will award in the region of £750,000 to young Scottish businesses. The closing date for round two applications is 5pm Tuesday 16 April 2013.16/3/2013
Government Support for Business R&D and Innovation
20 March 2013 The Government Support for Business R&D and Innovation event is a free workshop to highlight the wide range of Government support available to help small and medium sized enterprises invest in R&D and innovation and to grow their businesses. Each session will be led by a representative from the relevant delivery body, including HMRC, the Technology Strategy Board, the UK Intellectual Property Office, the Design Council and HIE.16/3/2013
Results from 2012 December Agricultural Survey
Scotland’s Chief Statistician today published Results from the 2012 December Agricultural Survey, covering winter sown crops, hay and silage production, livestock and machinery. This Statistical Publication provides commentary and graphics on the latest data and trends over the past ten years.16/3/2013
