News Archive
29/11/2012
Scottish Renewables Projects To Lead The Way
An expert team will help Scottish green energy projects secure funding from the Green Investment Bank as it is launched today. The team, to be led by Marcia Campbell, former Group Operations Director of Standard Life, will identify and support potential Scottish bidders to make the strongest possible case for funding from the £3 billion publically funded Green Investment Bank.29/11/2012
Tighter Controls For Taxi Firms Planned
Tighter controls on taxi licensing to crack down on rogue firms and support responsible businesses are being consulted on. The Scottish Government today launched a consultation on the plans in response to concerns about the influence of criminality within the trade and the working of the current licensing regime.29/11/2012
Public Service Pension Reform
Finance Secretary John Swinney has today outlined to Parliament the Scottish Government’s continuing commitment to public service pensions that are affordable, sustainable and fair, as he responded to UK reform of public sector pensions. Mr Swinney confirmed Ministers’ objections to the UK Government’s decision to use pension reform as a cover for deficit reduction and to place constraints on Scotland’s ability to negotiate long term reform with public sector workers.29/11/2012
Legislation On Colleges And Universities
New legislation will support better job chances for college leavers and ensure more students from poor backgrounds go to university. The Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill, published today, will drive forward regionalisation of colleges, the most fundamental change to the sector for two decades.28/11/2012
Car hire available over the weekends In Wick
Mackays Hotel is delighted to announce in collaboration with Richards Garage car hire vehicles will be available from the hotel outwith normal working hours, including Saturday and Sunday. Murray Lamont, of Mackays Hotel, commented that he felt there was a gap in the market and particularly on a Sunday when there was no public transport to John O'Groats.28/11/2012
Locals invited to SNH reception
Local people in and around Caithness are being invited to an evening reception by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in the Pentland Hotel, Thurso, at 7pm on Wednesday 5 December. Scottish Natural Heritage is the Scottish Government's advisor on the management, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of Scotland’s wildlife, natural habitats and landscape.25/11/2012
Caithness and Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 19th November 2012 Energy: A reminder that this Wednesday (28th November) there will be an opportunity for members of the public to catch up with current activities in the wave and tidal sector when the Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters Information Day is held in the Pentland Hotel, Thurso. The event will be open from 2pm til 8pm, with a number of stands from bodies such as Marine Scotland, The Crown Estate, National Grid, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd and wave/ tidal developer companies, as well as HIE, Highland Council, Skills development Scotland, North Highland College and Caithness Chamber of Commerce.22/11/2012
Serco NorthLink Simplifies Passenger Boarding Process
Visitors to Orkney and Shetland will no longer need photo identification to board Serco NorthLink Ferries, Managing Director Stuart Garrett announced today (Thursday 22 November 2012). The move sees the services to Orkney and Shetland fall into line with other domestic ferry services.
22/11/2012
Events highlight benefits of Woodland Crofts
A series of events is underway to provide information and advice to anyone interested in woodland crofts. The Scottish Crofting Federation, the Community Woodlands Association and the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust have joined forces to form the Woodland Crofts Partnership.
22/11/2012
Review of Highland Polling Places and Stations
The Highland Council is reviewing polling places used by voters at the UK Parliamentary elections and also the boundaries of their polling districts. The Council is eager to ensure that its network of 218 polling places is viable and complies fully with disability legislation.22/11/2012
Business Tourism Fund Supports 18 Conferences
A fund designed to increase the number of business conferences being held in Scotland is expected to have a positive economic impact of £56m, according to new VisitScotland figures which also suggest that for every public sector pound invested the return will be £53. Tourism Minister, Fergus Ewing updated MSPs on the Conference Bid Fund during today’s debate on business tourism in the Scottish Parliament.21/11/2012
Businesses Can Support Economic Health Check
Call for businesses to support economic health check for Highlands and Islands. Businesses and social enterprises are being invited to play their part in a quarterly temperature check of the region’s economy being gathered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).20/11/2012
Construction underway at Conon Bridge
Network Rail has begun work on the new station at Conon Bridge. The station and car park, which will be completed by early February next year, is being delivered by Network Rail and ScotRail in alliance with Transport Scotland, HITRANS and The Highland Council.
20/11/2012
Call for businesses to support economic health check for Highlands and Islands
Businesses and social enterprises are being invited to play their part in a quarterly temperature check of the region's economy being gathered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The results will provide an ongoing picture of business confidence, growth aspirations, access to finance and the labour market to help inform the business community on challenges and opportunities facing the area.20/11/2012
Further funding for Highland Universal Home Insulation Scheme
The Highland Council has been awarded a further £60,000 of funding by the Scottish Government to deliver the Universal Home Insulation Scheme in the Highlands, bringing the total budget to £590,000. The extra funding has allowed the Council to target households in The Highland Council Wards of the Black Isle as well as Culloden and Ardersier.20/11/2012
Marine Energy Park Information Day
Residents are invited to a public information day at The Pentland Hotel, Thurso on Wednesday 28th November from 3pm - 8pm to hear the latest news on the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters wave and tidal energy projects. The projects are among the first commercial-scale marine renewable energy schemes in the world and are located within the recently launched Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park.
20/11/2012
Flexibility On Days At Sea
New incentives have been proposed by Marine Scotland to increase catches of valuable Monkfish and Megrim – while boosting cod conservation. Fishermen have highlighted that days at sea restrictions, applied under the EU’s Cod Recovery Plan (CRP), have had the effect of forcing them to fish in cod-abundant waters closer to port, rather than taking the time needed to seek alternative species in deeper waters, like Monkfish.20/11/2012
Close of Council’s Budget Consultation
The Highland Council has today (Tuesday 20 November) brought a close to its budget consultation, which has been running for the past three months and has asked for views on where the Council can identify savings of £30 million for the next two years. Potential savings have ranged from shortening the school day to increasing charges for certain services.20/11/2012
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 20th November 2012
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 20th) sold 64 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (27) averaged 208.7p (-0.6p) and sold to 217p per kg and £1,569.50 gross.20/11/2012
