News Archive
21/11/2011
£3 million investment in Lewis renewable energy facilities complete
A £3 million investment project upgrading renewable energy facilities in the Outer Hebrides has been completed. The recladding of the 12,000 square metre fabrication building at Arnish Point will allow the tenants, BiFab, to grow their already important position in the renewables and heavy engineering sectors.
21/11/2011
Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration P'Ship - Update
Week commencing 21st November 2011 Energy: Along with a number of other stakeholders, I attended two events this week related to the development of renewable energy. The first was the public consultation on the proposed Orkney-Caithness subsea cable link.21/11/2011
Communities get 2nd chance to form a Community Council
The Highland Council has today (Monday) published on its web site: www.highland.gov.uk a notice of election seeking nomination of candidates to serve on the 19 Community Councils in the Highlands which were forced to disband from Wednesday 16 November as the result of not attracting sufficient nominations at the first time of calling. The deadline for nominations is 4 pm on Friday 9 December.21/11/2011
Scottish Thistle Awards Open For Entries
Does your business pride itself on impeccable customer care, outstanding visitor experiences or brilliant creative campaigns? If the answer is yes, then it's time for you to enter the Scottish Thistle Awards. The Scottish Thistle Awards, which are run by VisitScotland, celebrate excellence and quality within the tourism industry.20/11/2011
Robots Will Take Dounreay's Dome Apart
Like something out of the Tom Cruise movie War of the Worlds, the Kuka robot has a very important job to do. The standard industrial robot, built exactly the same as a typical car assembly line robot, will play an integral part in the demolition process of Dounreay's iconic fast reactor.
20/11/2011
Chamber Spreads The Word On Transport Advice
Please see the following information about low carbon transport loans which you may find useful: "Don't miss out on transport loans of up to £50,000 that are being offered by the Energy Saving Trust for a limited time only. Funded by Transport Scotland, all organisations in Scotland interested in making their travel arrangements more sustainable can apply, including government, private sector businesses, community organisations and the public and voluntary sectors.20/11/2011
Construction contract awarded by HIE for Inverness Campus
Project expected to support thousands of jobs and generate millions for regional economy. [A photograph is attached.
20/11/2011
Cheaper Grid Connection for Shetland
The Shetland Times ran a story on 16th November 2011 that shows the offshore energy industry is making leaps and bounds towards interconnecting the country. Change of plan makes windfarm grid connection much cheaper.20/11/2011
£5 million investment to help Service heroes start up
The Be the Boss scheme for ex-service personnel is being expanded to include all Service-leavers. The initiative offers business start-up training, grants and loans up to £30,000 as well as mentoring.20/11/2011
Local communities invited to hear latest on Pentland Firth projects
Residents in Orkney, Caithness and North Sutherland are being invited to evening talks to hear the latest news on the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters projects, the first commercial wave and tidal stream energy schemes in the world. The talks follow public exhibitions hosted by The Crown Estate in November 2010, which were attended by over 700 people, and are being held to give an update on progress over the last year.20/11/2011
Rail consultation on Highland Council agenda
At the meeting of The Highland Council's TEC Services Committee last week, Members had an early opportunity to discuss the Scottish Government consultation on rail services that was announced two days ago. Although a full response to the 80 page consultation will be considered by the TECS Committee in January, the chairman, Councillor John Laing, welcomed the opportunity today to raise this important issue for the Highlands with members.20/11/2011
Marine science opportunities drive £7.5m investment
Construction of the ambitious European Marine Science Park is underway at Oban in Argyll, where a turf-cutting ceremony was held to mark the occasion Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is investing £7.5m to create the first phase - which will take advantage of significant opportunities in marine science, including in marine biotechnology and renewable energy. The 20,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space will support businesses in Scotland's growing Life Science and Energy sectors and has the potential to support up to 125 jobs.
20/11/2011
£250m pilot to give employers power over skills training
Businesses will be given the power to design, develop and purchase the vocational training programme they need under a £250 million plan announced today by the Prime Minister. The move is designed to boost economic growth and ensure that the UK workforce has the skills that businesses require.[Training]
19/11/2011HIE Board Checks Out Wick's New Community Centre
As the final stages of work take place on the £3.8 million community centre for Wick, Highlands and Islands Enterprise's most senior staff have enjoyed a sneak preview. As part of a two day programme of meetings with ambitious Caithness and Sutherland businesses and social enterprises, the HIE Board visited the Pulteney Centre due to open in the new year and paid tribute to the achievements of the Pulteneytown People's Project (PPP).
18/11/2011
New Business In Caithness
Another business has announced that from 8th November 2011 Torrance Partnership has opened a new office in Thurso. Torrance Partnership LLP 6 Princes Street Thurso Caithness KW14 7BQ Tel: 01847 890 112 e-mail: thurso[AT]torrance-partnership.co.uk They provide the following services:- property valuations ~ home reports ~ EPCs ~ new-build monitoring ~ quantity surveying ~ building surveying ~ project management ~ CDM co-ordination.16/11/2011
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 16 November 2011
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November,16th) sold 882 weaned calves and store cattle and 8 breeding cattle. Stot calves (420) averaged 205.3p and sold to 265.3p per kg for a 245kg Charolais cross from Lochdhu, Nairn and £900 for a Charolais cross also from Lochdhu.16/11/2011
Lookout For Fake Goods and Web Sites
"Watch out for fake goods and bogus websites this Christmas" warns Highland Council Trading Standards. The Highland Council Trading Standards Service is warning consumers not to be duped into buying counterfeit sports clothes and equipment from bogus websites, as part of the National Consumer Week 2011 campaign entitled "Good Sports Don't Fake it".16/11/2011
Partnership supporting Scotland's aluminium industry
Rio Tinto Alcan has signed up to a pioneering partnership with local and national government as part of its plans for ongoing maintenance and expansion at its highland smelter and hydro power stations at Lochaber and Kinlochleven over the next five years. Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop, met with staff from the company along with representatives from The Highland Council and Historic Scotland to hear about how they have worked together to simplify the planning process associated with the modernisation currently being carried out by Rio Tinto Alcan at its Lochaber power station.15/11/2011
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 14th November 2011
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 14th) sold 179 adult head of breeding cattle. Bulling heifers (25) sold to £1,180 gross for a pen of Simmental crosses from Milldam, Meikle Ussie.15/11/2011
