News Archive
A �50 million fund that will invest in green energy projects to help heat homes across Scotland has been officially launched today. Housing Minister Margaret Burgess announced that two pilot schemes in Glasgow and the Highlands will be the first to be benefit from the Warm Homes Fund.
The Licencing Board of Highland council today 6 November 2012 voted 5 - 5 and with the chairman's Maxine Smith's casting vote abolished the late night curfew - late night door entry policy to licensed premises in Highland..
7/11/2012
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today visited construction of the new Forth Replacement Crossing as the project reached a major milestone. Ms Sturgeon was at the project�s Rosyth dockyard site to see huge sections that are being craned out on to Beamer Rock as part of work on the foundation for the bridge�s central tower.
7/11/2012
Finance Secretary John Swinney today announced a new living wage of �7.45 for employees working in parts of the public sector under the Government�s pay policy and urged employers in the private, public and third sectors to follow suit. The commitment is in line with the Scottish Living Wage Campaign and the Living Wage Foundation�s new recommended living wage announced today, �7.45 per hour, which encourages employers to ensure all staff on lower incomes receive a fair level of pay.
7/11/2012
Planning consent has been granted for a wind farm which will bring �30 million in to the Highland economy and generate �500,000 a year for local communities, including scholarships to send local young people into further education. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has approved the Beinneun wind farm, near Invergarry, Highlands.
7/11/2012
Scotland�s Chief Statistician today released Businesses in Scotland 2012. The main findings are: The total number of private sector enterprises in Scotland was estimated at 341,360 as at March 2012 � this is the highest level since 2000 (the earliest estimate in the time series) Between March 2011 and March 2012 the estimated number of enterprises increased by 9.9 per cent (30,835 enterprises) Small enterprises (0-49 employees) accounted for almost all of the rise in the total number of enterprises, and 83 per cent of the increase was due to an increase in unregistered businesses (i.e.
7/11/2012
More Scottish teachers will be able to benefit from Masters level study, Minister for Learning Alasdair Allan announced today. Responding to the National Partnership Group report, Dr Allan confirmed �3 million Scottish Government funding over the next three years to support higher quality learning for teachers.
7/11/2012
Official figures published today show that the number of businesses in Scotland is at its highest level since 2000 (the earliest available point in the time series). There are 341,360 businesses in Scotland, an increase of ten per cent on the previous year.
7/11/2012
Landlords have deposited millions of pounds into a scheme that aims to safeguard rent deposits for households in Scotland. Since July, the Tenancy Deposit Schemes have taken over 35,000 deposits with a value in excess of �23 million.
Leading expert to present to Council Adult and Children's Services Committee. Highland Council's Adult and Children's Services Committee, will hear from a leading expert at its meeting on Wednesday 7 November, about the most critical years in any child or adult's development.
A report to The Adult and Children's Services Committee of Highland Council on Wednesday 7th Novermber will show progress is being maintained to deliver the new schools. 5.0 SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL ESTATE REVIEW (SSER) 5.1 Wick - the Stage 1 submission from Hub North Scotland Limited (Hubco) is currently being considered by officials.
6/11/2012
When the online booking system on VisitScotland.com was developed ten years ago, for the majority of smaller tourism businesses this was the sole channel for consumers to book directly online with accommodation establishments. Over the last decade there have been a number of changes in the online booking landscape and there are now many more providers of this service.
6/11/2012
Home builders demand UK Government intervenes on mortgages and boosts confidence to stop housing crisis deepening. Scottish home building industry leaders today demanded urgent intervention by the UK Government to increase the availability of mortgages and help boost confidence to stop the housing crisis from deepening even further.
5/11/2012
Skills Development Scotland Launches Our Skillsforce - www.ourskillsforce.co.uk New web service will provide information on skills support for employers in the Highlands Employers in the Highlands are now able to access the help they need to recruit and develop skilled people following the launch of a brand new web service - Our Skillsforce. Developed by Skills Development Scotland, working with Highland Council and partners, it enables employers' access to skills support services available from public sector organisations in Scotland.
30/10/2012
�2 million training fund will support energy employers' skills needs. More than 700 newcomers to Scotland's energy industry are to receive essential skills and training thanks to a �2 million funding boost.
29/10/2012
The team members in the group photo from left to right are: Euan Bremner, Ailsa Coulden-Smith, Nicola Gray, Ross Sinclair, Ross Mackay, Bruce Cameron, Ryan Cameron and Martin Falconer. North Highland Young Engineers design, build and race electric cars in the Greenpower Challenge www.greenpower.co.uk Greenpower was started 14 years ago in Southern England but was only introduced to Scotland four years ago, in that short time NHYE have firmly established themselves as the dominant Scottish team and are now widely acknowledged as being one of the top teams anywhere in the UK; at the recent National Final held at Goodwood one of our cars finished in 3rd position.
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
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
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
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.