News Archive
21/5/2007
POWER OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ON SHOW IN ABERDEEN
The increasing strength of the Highlands and Islands renewable energy sector will be on show in Aberdeen this week when 22 businesses from the region exhibit at All Energy - the UK's largest energy conference and exhibition - on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th May. The extensive renewable energy resources, the breadth of expertise and the infrastructure the region has to offer will be demonstrated by the companies on show, from Vestas Celtic in Argyll to the PURE Energy Centre in Shetland.20/5/2007
"Health Warning" for Local Businesses
Big-hearted local businesses in the Highlands, who are approached to help fund the production of health-related leaflets and booklets for primary schools, are being urged to sponsor only material that has the endorsement of The Highland Council and NHS Highland. The advice from the agencies follows concerns from some head teachers that leaflets, sponsored by local companies and sent to schools by commercial entities, have contained materials that are outdated, misleading, inaccurate and inappropriate for the target age group.20/5/2007
11% Of Scots Disturbed By Commercial Noise
As the 2007 Noise Action Week roars into action today (21 May 2007) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) advises Scottish businesses how to avoid noise nuisance through NetRegs. Sound affects us all and industry noise can represent a statutory nuisance.20/5/2007
Market Development Scheme Worth £9.2 Million In Food And Drink Sales
Highlands and Islands food and drink producers have attributed £9.2 million of new sales to events and exhibitions organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), through its UK Market Development programme. A recent evaluation of the programme commissioned by HIE has demonstrated that bringing together food and drink producers and buyers is an effective way for speciality companies in the Highlands and Islands to do business.18/5/2007
Can Your Business Use A Graduate This Summer?
Do you have a project you'd like to complete, but no time or resource to undertake it? Each year over 1000 Shell Step students take on these challenges, for small and medium-sized companies throughout the UK, and achieve outstanding results. Shell Step places second and penultimate year undergraduates, from all academic disciplines, with businesses to deliver real working projects.17/5/2007
UNIQUE DOUNREAY POLAR CRANE REFURBISHED
Holding centre stage within the historic Dounreay sphere is the unique Goliath crane, one of the first polar cranes in the world. Installed fifty years ago in the Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR), the original crane was in need of renovation in order to bring it up to the modern standards required to decommission and dismantle the reactor and ancillary plant inside the dome.
17/5/2007
New IT Awards From British Computer Society
BCS targets SME sector with new category in IT Industry Awards 18 May 2007: BCS is looking for examples of IT excellence from the 4.3 million businesses that make up the SME sector. The organisation has introduced a new category specifically for small to medium enterprises in the BCS IT Industry Awards 2007.16/5/2007
MEY SELECTIONS MEATBALLS WIN GROCER AWARD
Sainsbury's popular Taste the Difference Meatballs, made from Mey Selections beef in an authentic tomato and smoky bacon sauce with added Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, beat off four other finalists to win the meat and poultry category of the Grocer Own Label Award Excellence Awards for 2007 at the Savoy Hotel, London yesterday. The award follows the product's success as the Best New Meat Product in the Meat Industry Awards in London last year.
15/5/2007
HIE GETS VALUE FOR MONEY IN PROPERTY CONTRACTS
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has extended two contracts through which all of its new properties are built, after an independent report gave it a five star value-for-money rating. The network's board was told at its public meeting in Thurso today (Tuesday May 15) that the contracts had been awarded in 2004 following a decision the previous year to make HIE's method of property procurement more efficient.14/5/2007
Dounreay Bulletin - Issue 25
WORKERS REWARDED FOR ZERO ACCIDENT RATE Workers at Dounreay are set to tuck into a free cooked breakfast as a reward for improving the site's safety record. Earlier this year, the site announced it would provide for a free breakfast for every worker whenever the site went 60 consecutive days without an accident that required more than localised first aid.
14/5/2007
Visit by Lithuanian Delegates
Dounreay has hosted a visit by delegates from the Ministry of Economy & Central Project Management Agency in Lithuania from 7th-10th May. During their time on site, the group toured a number of facilities being decommissioned, including the Prototype Fast Reactor and former Fuel Cycle Area, and saw how the site manages the waste produced.
13/5/2007
HIE REPORTS ON YEAR OF RECORD INVESTMENT
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will report on a year of record investment in the Highland economy when it delivers its annual review to the May board meeting on May 15th. Head of strategic planning and research, Alastair Nicolson, will tell board members in Thurso that all primary measure targets were exceeded and significant progress made against key strategic projects in a year that saw the network invest £118m in the regional economy.12/5/2007
Inverness Life Sciences Company Set For Global Showcase
An Inverness life sciences company will showcase its business to an influential group of international investors and key biotech companies this month as part of BioEquity Europe 2007 - Europe's largest investment conference for the life sciences sector. IVMD, based in Inverness, develops and manufactures medical devices for near patient testing and monitoring.9/5/2007
Hie Approves £5m Boost Towards Uhi Quest For Title
THE drive to create a university for the Highlands and Islands has received a major boost from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The enterprise network this week announced a funding package of nearly £5m over the next three years designed to facilitate specific outputs which UHI Millennium Institute needs to attain to satisfy the Quality Assurance Agency that university title is appropriate.8/5/2007
Businesses Asked To be Wary Of Book Sellling Scam For Local Schools
Head Teachers in Caithness are concerned that local businesses may be approached to sponsor books. The schools know nothing about these approaches by a company selling the books.8/5/2007
Thurso High School In Green Awards Final
Thurso High School is one of eight schools to make it through to the final of the Big Green Challenge. Eight schools from the Highlands and Islands are to battle it out for a coveted place in the final of the region's first debating competition tackling one of the most talked-about subjects of the 21st century - renewable energy.6/5/2007
Unemployment Update - March 2007
Summary The March 2007 unemployment figures were released on 14th March 2007. During the month, February 2007 to March 2007, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain fell by 1.9%, from 948,577 to 930,094 (18,483 claimants).
6/5/2007
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Board Heads To Thurso
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will be holding its next public board meeting at the Pentland Hotel in Thurso on Tuesday May 15, 2007. Chair for HIE Caithness and Sutherland Pat Buchanan will begin proceedings by welcoming the board to Caithness.6/5/2007
North Airports Record Busiest Ever Year
Passenger numbers at airports in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland have increased by 7% in the past 12 months to a record total of 1,232,782. Figures released today by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited show that an additional 80,000 passengers have used its 10 airports in the year to 31 March 2007 compared to the previous operating year making it the sixth consecutive year of passenger growth.6/5/2007
