News Archive
29/10/2012
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partneship update
Week commencing 22nd October 2012 Energy: Scottish Government has announced the launch of the £103M Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF). Initial priorities for the REIF are wave and tidal energy, community-owned renewables and renewable district heating, as well as other projects with a focus on innovative renewable energy technologies.29/10/2012
Biomass System Installed At Island School
The Highland Council's drive to cut down carbon emissions has benefited one island primary school. Over the October school holidays Eigg Primary has had a new biomass boiler commissioned at a cost of £44,000 to provide heat and hot water to the school from wood logs which a company based on the island will supply.
29/10/2012
Young Engineers' success in National Final
Nine members of North Highland Young Engineers recently made the 1500 mile round trip to compete in the Grand Final of the Greenpower Challenge at Goodwood circuit in West Sussex. The Greenpower Challenge is a rapidly growing competition in which young engineers design, build, then race electric cars; with the top teams producing cars that are amongst the most efficient vehicles to be found anywhere in the world.
29/10/2012
Warm Homes For Winter
Up to 10,000 extra Scottish households will be given free help to cut their energy bills this winter, Nicola Sturgeon said today. The Deputy First Minister has allocated a further £6 million to install vital energy efficiency measures, such as loft and cavity insulation into Scottish homes.29/10/2012
Businesses get ready for Year of Natural Scotland
Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing has today visited one of the thousands of Highland businesses hoping to benefit from the Year of Natural Scotland in 2013. Mr Ewing toured The Scottish Dolphin Centre in Moray where visitors have some of the best land based opportunities in the world to see dolphins in their natural habitat.28/10/2012
Cultural networking event for Arts businesses
A networking event at Moray Arts Centre on Friday 2 November aims to bring together cultural organisations from across the Highlands and Islands to meet with Creative support organisations working across Scotland. The HISEZ Cultural Networking lunch, organized in conjunction with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), is open to any creative Social Enterprise keen to hear from the extensive range of speakers.28/10/2012
Mackerel Talks Unsuccessful
Talks in London during the past week aiming to secure a 2013 Coastal States mackerel agreement have failed to bring about a new international agreement. Following the repeated failure in recent years of annual negotiations between the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands to achieve an international mackerel fishing deal, negotiations for a 2013 deal took place this week, with the aim of finally putting in place a four-party agreement.28/10/2012
Northern Police Join In Winter Safety Campaign
Northern Constabulary take part in ACPOS led campaign to keep us moving this winter. Northern Constabulary will be working closely with Scottish Government, road operating companies and other transport providers to ensure that the Highlands and Islands keeps moving throughout the winter.28/10/2012
AmbITion Scotland's Winter Workshop Series is open for registration
AmbITion Scotland is delighted to launch the winter training series, offered FREE for those in the cultural sector in return for a fully refundable deposit. Join us on Wednesdays in November and December to learn about: Search Engine Optimisation (beginner/intermediate) 7 Nov, ½ day Recent research from Culture Sparks and Culture24 has shown that the majority of traffic to organisations websites is driven by search.28/10/2012
Starter for 6 Inverness Roadshow
Starter for 6 is Scotland's premier start-up and investment programme for creative industry entrepreneurs. The Inverness Road Show is an opportunity to come and meet a member of the team from Starter for 6, to hear about the programme and discuss the application process and the criteria for selection.28/10/2012
Free Finance for Practioners Course
Just Enterprise are pleased to announce their 2 day "Finance for Practitioners" course in central Inverness during November 2012. Specifically developed for a third sector audience, this 2-day course is designed around practical financial solutions that can be employed in your organisation.28/10/2012
Need Help To Start A Social Enterpise?
Helping Social Enterprises grow and develop across the Highlands & Islands. Highlands and Islands Social Enterprise Zone (HISEZ) delivers support for new start and established Social Enterprises from across the Highlands and Islands.28/10/2012
Non-Domestic Rates Relief for Small Businesses in Scotland 2012
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Non-Domestic Rates Relief Statistics for Small Businesses in Scotland 2012. The publication provides statistics on the Small Business Bonus Scheme, (which provides non-domestic business rates relief for small businesses in Scotland), including number of recipients and the amount of relief received.28/10/2012
Social Enterprise Short Courses
More and more people in the third sector are seeing social enterprise as a way forward. Taking a day or two out of your work routine to think about social enterprise and learn from your peers and practitioners is a great way of developing ideas.26/10/2012
Wind turbines on school sites to restart soon following review
The Highland Council has completed a comprehensive risk assessment of wind turbines located in school grounds which confirms safe operation and gives the go ahead for the turbines, which have proved effective, to restart soon. It believes it has broken new ground in assessing and managing the risks associated with wind turbines in schools following a detailed review of school locations by independent consultants Building Research Establishment (BRE).25/10/2012
A New Landfill Tax For Scotland
Finance Secretary John Swinney today outlined the Scottish Government plans for a replacement tax relating to the disposal of waste to landfill including proposals for communities in Scotland to benefit more from Landfill tax than elsewhere in the UK. The passage of the Scotland Act 2012 means that from April 2015 the Scottish Parliament will be empowered to introduce and manage taxes on the disposal of waste to landfill along with the purchase or leasing of land and buildings.24/10/2012
NorthLink Ferries Opens Bookings for 2013
Serco NorthLink Ferries has opened bookings for its services linking Orkney and Shetland with the mainland in 2013. As previously announced Serco's contract with the Scottish Government will next year see some changes to the Pentland Firth timetable.24/10/2012
Aon Hewitt acquires Babcock's pensions administration business in Caithness
Aon Hewitt, the global human resource solutions business of Aon plc (NSYE:AON), has today announced the acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, of Babcock International Group plc's Pensions Administration Office (PAO) at Brims House, Forss, in Caithness, Scotland. The PAO is an established provider of high quality pensions administration services.23/10/2012
A Malt Is Born In Wick
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead saw a little bit of history being made during a recent visit to Wick's Pulteney Distillery. A 40 year old single malt has been launched by the distillery - the oldest whisky the company has ever released.23/10/2012
