If an independent Scotland chooses an informal currency union (called ‘dollarization' or 'sterlingization') as Plan B, its financial institutions cannot be sure they will have access to emergency liquidity in the next financial crisis. This is likely to have important consequences for Scotland's financial sector, and therefore its capacity to export financial services, its new balance of payments and general economic prosperity.
Businesses urged to nominate in Scotland's Modern Apprenticeship Awards. Businesses in the Highlands are being urged to make the most of their last chance to nominate in the search for Scotland's top apprentice.
As the Games drew to a close yesterday, they were hailed as the greatest ever staged by Commonwealth officials, athletes and spectators. But, although the last 11 days will live long in the memory; for Glasgow, the Games story doesn't end at the closing ceremony.
Serco NorthLink Ferries has scheduled a later sailing to accommodate those visiting this weekend's Orkney County Show (Saturday, 9 August). The 1645 hours M.V Hamnavoe sailing from Scrabster to Stromness will depart one hour later than timetabled, whilst the return sailing from Scrabster will now depart at 2000 hours, arriving into Stromness at 2130 hours.
Thursday, 11th September, Caithness. A practical day looking at soil & grassland management and making best use of FYM & slurry; there will also be a seeder demonstration.
With interest rates at an all-time low, many Scots are shunning traditional savings accounts to get better returns on their cash. A study by TopCashback, released today, reveals that the majority now choose to keep their savings in a current account, while around half are depositing money into ISAs.
Week Commencing 28 July 2014 Energy & Business services: It has been another good week for Wick Harbour. Following the recent news that Wick Harbour Authority had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd, thus maintaining their position as a potential base for MORL's offshore wind operations, this week has seen Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL) announce that Wick Harbour is the preferred location for its operations and maintenance base in support of its development off the Caithness coast.
Police Scotland acknowledges the 8 year sentence given to Duncan Begg at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday 01 August 2014, following his conviction in July for serious violent and sexual crimes. Mr Begg was convicted of rapes, sexual assaults and assaults of women in Caithness between 1984 and 2010.
This short film posted on Youtube 24 July 2014. With the indyref showdown fast approaching, Scotland needs to know the implications of a YesScotland or a BetterTogether vote.
*50% of credit card customers in Scotland offered higher credit limit by their lenders. *Two-thirds of these accepted the increased limit.
Matt Sanders, Gocompare.com's banking expert, said: "These figures make interesting reading and it's clear that customers have been enticed by incentives and cash back deals. The figures show that the biggest winners are Santander with its 123 account, which offers varying amounts of cashback, and Halifax with its £100 payment for those who switched to its Reward account, as well as the £5 per month in credit incentive.
The University of the Highlands and Islands has announced the establishment of its new Archaeology Institute. Centred in the heart of the rich and diverse archaeological heritage of the region, the Institute aims to advance our understanding of the historic environment through the creation, interpretation and dissemination of archaeological knowledge.
In the most comprehensive analysis of the cash savings market ever, Which? reveals the full extent of how some providers are failing consumers and leaving them with next to no return on their money. While there have been improvements from a handful of providers, our new report - The Savings Trap - is a damning indictment of the systemic failings and poor practices in this market that distort competition and make it difficult for people to know whether they are getting a good return on their savings.
The Highland Council's Trading Standards is alerting consumers to be on their guard if they receive a ‘Final Award Notification' letter address from "Euromillions FIFA World Cup Super-Lottery". Letters are being sent out by fraudsters claiming that people have won £725,000.
Works to install twelve storage lockers for electric bikes have started this week in Inverness - six at Falcon Square and a further six at Glenurquhart Road. The public are advised that contractors McGregor Construction and SSE will be on site at both locations.
A progress update has today been published by the Independent Project Board responsible for overseeing the audit of charges and benefits in legacy defined contribution workplace pension schemes. View the full update at - http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/docs/dc-audit-charges-benefits-legacy-report-2014.pdf .
Keith Wade, Chief Economist at Schroders, comments on yesterday's US GDP figures, which far outstripped expectations with growth of 4%. "Within the details, consumer expenditure was the largest contributor to the quarterly figures (+1.7 percentage points) as households took advantage of the continued improvement in real disposable income.
More and more people are taking action after receiving support from the Money Advice Service. New figures reveal that in the year from April 2013 to March 2014 its customers took 653,000 positive steps to manage their debt better, save regularly, prepare for retirement, protect their assets or provide for their dependants.
The preliminary estimate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) indicated that the UK economy grew by 0.8% in Q2 2014. This is the sixth successive quarter of output growth, contributing to annual growth of 3.1% - the highest rate since Q4 2007.
Ofgem has today set out its proposed price control settlements for five of the six companies that run Britain's local electricity network, which transports energy into homes and businesses. www.ofgem.gov.uk/press-releases/ofgem-announces-£17-billion-electricity-network-and-cuts-bills-consumers Ecotricity founder Dale Vince wrote to Ofgem over 18 months ago highlighting the incredible profits being made by these electricity distribution companies that operate as a monopoly.
