News Archive
14/4/2012
Wick Diamond Jubilee HarbourFest Stalls - Pitches Filling Fast!
Stall pitches for June's Wick Diamond Jubilee HarbourFest are being snapped up - and the organisers are asking for yet-to-register exhibitors to lodge their applications as soon as they can to ensure their presence at the event. The HarbourFest pitch organiser, Liz Richard-Jones says "We've had a good response so far, including an encouraging number of new exhibitors. However, many of the 2009 HarbourFest stallholders have told us they wish to exhibit at this year's event but they have not yet registered with us. The closing date for applications is 18th May, but I suggest that folk do not delay for too long because although we are planning an increased number of stalls, once they have been allocated it will be too late to register, so please get your application in to us ASAP!" The HarbourFest Committee wish to support community groups, charities and local organisations to take advantage of this popular event.
11/4/2012
Businesses Invited To Get App Happy
Finance, travel, games, shopping, design, news, music - you can find an app for them all. By 2014 it is expected that 77 billion mobile applications, or apps, will have been downloaded from the Android and Apple markets.11/4/2012
A Fairer Highland
The Highland Council has confirmed its ongoing commitment to advancing equality of opportunity and tackling discrimination by publishing its new plan, A Fairer Highland. The plan sets out arrangements for gathering information and developing outcomes that affect people on the basis of disability, race, gender reassignment, age, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.11/4/2012
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 12 April 2012
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (April, 12th) sold 691 sheep of all classes. Lambs (306) averaged £61.98 and sold to £89 gross for Beltex crosses from Caberfeidh, Upperton.9/4/2012
Caithness Maternity Unit Receives International Recognition
The Henderson Maternity Unit at Caithness General Hospital has been re-accredited as Baby Friendly, which means it is internationally recognised by UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) as providing high quality support to mothers and babies. Staff at the Wick unit were originally presented with the prestigious Baby Friendly Award in March 2010.9/4/2012
Tribute Paid To Retiring Councillors
Tribute has been paid to the 13 Highland Councillors who are retiring from local government. At the end of the final meeting of this five year Council cycle, Convener Sandy Park presented scrolls to 12 of the outgoing councillors.
9/4/2012
Business Incentives For Four New Areas
Finance Secretary John Swinney outlined the range of new business incentives that are available to encourage private investment in Scotland's four new Enterprise Areas, during a visit to the Port of Dundee this morning. Incentives and actions to stimulate investment include: business rate discounts worth up to £275,000 per business or enhanced capital allowances; new streamlined planning protocols across all sites; skills and training support; and an international marketing campaign to promote the sites.9/4/2012
Fertiliser Fears Unfounded
Fears that farmers will be unable to farm sloping land are entirely unfounded, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said today. Media coverage surrounding the use of fertiliser in recent days has fuelled concerns that farmers will be unable to use fertiliser on sloping ground, effectively rendering it useless.Easter Freezer Offer From Norfrost
Norfrost are offering 10% off freezers for Easter. Order online to get this bargain.7/4/2012
Unanimous Support For Tug Reinstatement
Highland Councillors have unanimously supported a call for the reinstatement of the Emergency Towing Vessel, which until recently was based in the Minches, and for the successful conclusion of an agreement with the Oil and Gas Industry to provide ETV capability for the Northern Isles, fearing an environmental catastrophe if vital cover is not provided in the rural and exposed coastal waters. Council Leader Michael Foxley highlighted the importance of the tugs at the last full Highland Council meeting before the May elections, showing slides that highlighted the extent of a potential oil spill should previous groundings have led to a spillage.
7/4/2012
Rates Deferral Scheme for Scotland
Scottish companies are being reminded that they can spread the cost of the inflationary increase in business rates through the Scottish Government's rate deferral scheme for 2012-13. The scheme gives companies the flexibility to defer the uplift in their 2012-13 business rates bills over three years.7/4/2012
New Partnership For Out Of Hours Service
As of Tuesday 10 April 2012, The Highland Council's out of hours calls for emergencies relating to council housing repairs, property and homelessness, as well as roads, street lighting and environmental services will now be managed by Northern Constabulary working in partnership with The Highland Council. Calls will be dealt with by specialist staff from Northern Constabulary at the Force's Operations Centre, Old Perth Road in Inverness.7/4/2012
New Scheme To Protect Tenants' Millions
A compulsory scheme to safeguard millions of pounds in deposits paid by tenants renting properties in Scotland has been approved by Housing Minister Keith Brown. Annually, tenancy deposits amount to over £74 million in the majority of the 273,000 households that make up the private rented sector in Scotland.7/4/2012
Highland Businesses Invited To Attend First NHS Innovation Open Day
Highland businesses will have an opportunity to find out about the possibilities of developing products and ideas with NHS Highland and Inverness College UHI at a free event this month. The Innovation Open Day, which is the first event of its kind, is being held at the Centre for Health Science, near Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, on Wednesday April 18 between 10am and 4pm.7/4/2012
Scottish Enterprise Partners 2-B Energy
Dutch renewables company 2-B Energy has joined forces with Scottish Enterprise to deliver cutting-edge offshore wind technology with the potential to reduce costs by up to 45 per cent. The organisations will work together to support commercialisation of 2-B's unique two-bladed offshore turbine concept through development of offshore test and demonstration facilities in Scotland - potentially by the end of 2014.
6/4/2012
57,000 Tonnes Of Hazardous Materials Finally Dealt With At Dounreay
Dounreay today completed the destruction of one of the most hazardous legacies of Britain's earliest atomic research. A purpose-built chemical plant processed the last of 57,000 litres of liquid metal lifted from the primary cooling circuit of the experimental fast breeder reactor.5/4/2012
Highlands and Islands counting on skilled workforce for new investments
A new register to demonstrate the skills and experience of workers interested in the financial and business services industry across the Highlands and Islands has been launched by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Due to a number of ongoing discussions with companies interested in investing and creating jobs in the area, the agency is now looking to demonstrate the range and diversity of skills and experience which are available across the Highlands and Islands.5/4/2012
Thurso at junction with A836 to Castletown
Due to a previous incident at the above locus whereby the traffic light controlling traffic flowing South and traffic turning right into Tesco was damaged, it has come to the attention of police that drivers are failing to observe the red "repeater" light at the far side of this junction and travelling straight through. There is a high probability of an accident occurring as a result of this.2/4/2012
Police - Three Days Of Action Against Uninsured Drivers
Today Northern Constabulary joins Scotland's other Police forces for three days of action, coordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, to target those who drive without suitable insurance. The campaign runs from Tuesday April 3 and concludes on Friday April 6, 2012.2/4/2012
