News Archive
22/1/2007
Caithness Partners Agree Structure For Regeneration
A taskforce drawing on the area's three key public agencies will be charged with delivering an action plan for the regeneration of the Caithness and North Sutherland economy. The Far North has specific economic hurdles ahead with the prospect of decommissioning work at Dounreay's nuclear reactor coming to an end in the early 2030s with the eventual loss of around 2,500 jobs.Caithness Wedding Photographer Scoops Top UK Award
Thurso based photographer John Baikie has capped off an amazing year by lifting the UK Photographer of the Year in the wedding portfolio category in the annual SWPP awards, presented at the society's convention in London this week. The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers are widely accepted as the biggest organisation in the UK and held a huge event in the capital last week, which saw 4600 attendees from all over the world descend on the Novotel Hotel in Hammersmith to attend seminars by some of the biggest names in the world of photography.
18/1/2007
FREE CV Workshops In Wick And Thurso
Careers Scotland offer FREE CV workshops in Wick and Thurso NEW YEAR - facing changes? Is the thought of creating a CV putting you off applying for a job? Don't have a clue where to start? Come along to one of our free sessions: Pentland Hotel, Thurso Tuesday 23 January 1.00pm - 2.30pm 6.00pm - 7.30pm Norsman Hotel, Wick Wednesday 24 January 1.00pm-2.30pm 6.00pm-7.30pm The workshops will help YOU: plan your career, sell yourself in your CV, and discover your skills. Please contact Maureen Whale on 01847 805208 to reserve a place.17/1/2007
Dounreay Prototype Fast Reactor Coming Apart
Work to pull apart Dounreay's Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) is rapidly advancing with more and more large items of redundant equipment being ripped out of the former reactor complex as the plant is dismantled. Dounreay is at the leading edge of world-wide clean-up of former nuclear facilities, and as demolition progresses removal of massive and extremely heavy steel structures presents a challenging task to the site.
17/1/2007
Chamber Of Commerce Demands Answer To Supremo For Dounreay Run Down Question
The Caithness & Sutherland Chamber of Commerce is urging the lead Agencies in the decommissioning of the Dounreay site and the economic regeneration of Caithness & North Sutherland to make clear without further delay their acceptance or otherwise of the proposal, put forward six months ago at a Meeting of the Dounreay Stakeholder Group, for the appointment of a 'supremo' to oversee and drive the process forward. If the proposal has been rejected by the Agencies what are the objections to it and what plans do the Agencies have to take matters forward? Whilst acknowledging that the lead role is the responsibility of the Agencies concerned the Chamber considers it essential that any proposal/plan has public confidence and support.17/1/2007
Shetland Times Retains Newspaper Of The Year Award
For the second year running, the Shetland Times has been voted Newspaper of the Year by the Highland and Islands Media Awards' judging panel. Editor Jonathan Lee will receive a cheque for £500, to be donated to a charity of the newspaper's choice, at the Highland and Islands Press Ball being held at the Newton Hotel, Nairn on Friday 2 February.15/1/2007
Poor Leadership Is Costing UK Business £6+ Billion Per Year
A new study released today reveals that UK business is suffering from the poor leadership skills of Britain's bosses. The survey shows that business leaders fail across the board at setting clear objectives, motivating staff and weeding out poor performers.15/1/2007
FTA Scottish Freight Council Welcomes Commitment To New Forth Crossing
FTA SCOTTISH FREIGHT COUNCIL At the January meeting of the Freight Transport Association's Scottish Freight Council, Ian Fleming of CJ Lang Ltd, Dundee, was elected to serve a further year as chairman. Members discussed the recent publication of the Scottish National Transport Strategy and the Freight Action Plan.12/1/2007
HIE Invites Public To Consult On Potential Environmental Impacts Of Draft Operating Plan
There are still two weeks left for the public to respond to a consultation by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) on its draft operating plan and associated environmental report. Under the provisions of Regulation 16 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans & Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004, HIE has its first strategic environmental assessment to gauge the potential significant effects its draft operating plan may have on the environment.12/1/2007
Construction Commences At Forss Wind Farm Extension
Civil engineering work has begun to add another four turbines to the existing two-turbine Forss wind farm near Thurso in Caithness, the project owner Renewable Energy Systems Group (RES)1 announced today. The 5.2MW project is expected to be fully commissioned and delivering green power for the Caithness area by the summer of 2007 RES has developed the project with landowner and co-renewable energy developer Abbey Properties Cambridgeshire Ltd and was responsible for the development of the original two turbine project, which started generating in 2003.10/1/2007
Dounreay Bulletin - Issue 18
FOUR YEARS ACCIDENT-FREE FOR REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING TEAM Safety has become a way of life in dismantling the Dounreay Fast Reactor. Four years without a lost time accident is no mean feat in any industry, but this achievement has been all the sweeter with the knowledge of the enormous range of work undertaken at DFR and the mix of people employed.10/1/2007
Public Invited To Exhibitions About Particles
Exhibitions about radioactive particles in the marine environment near Dounreay will open in Caithness next week. The exhibitions will provide an update of information on the work carried out to date and provide information on a short list of eleven clean-up options identified.
9/1/2007
USDAW Backs Crackdown on Rogue Employers Who Fail to Pay Minimum Wage
Retail union Usdaw is backing a government crackdown on the minority of rogue employers who ruthlessly exploit their staff by failing to pay the national minimum wage. Millions of retail workers benefited from higher wages when the minimum wage was introduced by this government and Usdaw backs plans to fine bad employers £200 for each worker who doesn't get the minimum rate of £5.35 an hour for adult workers.9/1/2007
Drivers' Hours Rules - Free Briefings For FTA Members
During January the Freight Transport Association will be running a series of ten free member briefings at venues across the UK on the new drivers' hours rules, together with a wider legal update on new transport regulations for 2007. New EU drivers' hours rules will take effect from 11 April 2007 and FTA is already experiencing an upsurge in calls from operators concerned to put in place the measures needed to properly comply with the changes.22/12/2006
Caithness And Sutherland Enterprise - Approvals List - November 2006
The following are funds approved up to the last day of the month. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments.21/12/2006
New Apprenticeship For Local Food Growers - A Great Opportunity
Highlands and Islands Local Food Network (HILFN) is to set up a food apprenticeship to train a new generation of food growers in the area - the first course of its kind in Scotland. More and more consumers in the Highlands and Islands are choosing to eat healthily and shop locally which is leading to a shortage of locally grown fruit and vegetables in many parts of the north.20/12/2006
Dounreay Bulletin - Issue 17
NONE IN A MILLION - DOUNREAY REACHES SAFETY MILESTONE Dounreay has clocked up a million man-hours without a lost time accident. With more construction and demolition work taking place than ever before, this is an excellent achievement.17/12/2006
Enter British Small Business Champions 2007
On the entry form for British Small Business Champions (BSBC) 2007 businesses are asked to suggest the ideal prize that would benefit them. The winning business will be given £10,000 to spend as specified.
11/12/2006
Before you Spend, Spend, Spend this Christmas - Know Your Shopping Rights
With only two weeks before Christmas Day, The Highland Council's Trading Standards Service is advising shoppers during this busy time to be aware of their consumer rights. Head of Trading Standards, Nigel MacKenzie said: "Some shoppers have taken the option to shop on-line this Christmas in order to beat the car park queues and crowds thronging around the busy towns throughout the Highlands.11/12/2006
