News Archive
20/2/2012
Rural Communities Land Boost
The Scottish Land Fund which will help more rural communities buy their land was launched today by Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson. The £6 million scheme will empower rural communities by helping them acquire land and make their dreams a reality.20/2/2012
First Subsea Electricity Cable Between Scotland And England
National Grid and ScottishPower Transmission have awarded a contract for construction of the first ever subsea electricity link between Scotland and England & Wales. The £1 billion contract has been awarded to Germany's Siemens and Italian cable manufacturer Prysmian.20/2/2012
Autism Strategy In Action
Almost £300,000 of funding to support the Scottish Government's autism strategy has been announced by Public Health Minister Michael Matheson. Sixteen organisations around Scotland, many working in partnership, have received funding to develop new support services for people with autism and their families.20/2/2012
Funding for the Highlands and Islands
Fifteen projects designed to boost economic growth and create jobs will receive a share of funding worth £5.3 million, Alex Neil announced today. The projects across the region will focus on supporting people who are finding it hardest to get jobs, those most effected by the current economic challenges and those at risk of redundancy.17/2/2012
Natural Retreats Invitation To Caithness Suppliers
Natural Retreats is currently in the final throes of a £6m redevelopment of the village at John O' Groats as a premium tourist destination with the creation of 23 unique standalone holiday Residences, due to be completed in Summer 2012. We are now looking to engage suppliers in the community to start working together to achieve our vision for the area.
16/2/2012
Planning For Integration - Big Changes For Health and Care Services
Caithness Meeting 7.00 - 9.00pm 23rd February 2011 Mackays Hotel, Wick For other meetings see below. On 16 December 2010, the Board of NHS Highland and Members of The Highland Council agreed in principle to commit to planning for the integration of health, education and social care services.
15/2/2012
"Chew it, wrap it, bin it"
"Chew it, wrap it, bin it" message promoted to Highland pupils Next week pupils in ten Highland schools will take part in a series of drama workshops to highlight issues surrounding litter, especially disposal of discarded chewing gum. The Bin It! workshops, sponsored by Wrigley, aims to encourage students aged 11-13 to consider the personal, social and environment costs of gum litter and to encourage behavioural change.14/2/2012
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 14th February 2012
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 14th) sold 82 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (46) averaged 201.4p (+1.3p) and sold to 224p per kg and £1,500.80 gross for a 670kg Charolais cross from The Cloy, Fortrose.14/2/2012
Target date for partial re-opening of Stromeferry By-pass delayed
The target date for the partial re-opening of the A 890 Stromeferry By-pass between Lochcarron and Kyle/Plockton has had to be delayed until Monday 27 February as the result of more extensive works being identified by the specialist contractors employed by The Highland Council to make safe the rockface and reopen the road. At a public meeting at Achmore, near Plockton, last night, TRAC Engineering Ltd set out the challenges they are facing as they work round the clock to stabilise the rockface, clear rock, soil and vegetation from the hillside and install safety netting at a point 100 yards west of the Avalanche Shelter.14/2/2012
Public To Have Say On Service Integration
People in Caithness are invited to find out more about, and have an opportunity to have their say on the development of Planning for Integration of health, education and social care services provided by NHS Highland and The Highland Council. At a public meeting in, Wick (Mackays Hotel) on 23 February from 7pm - 9pm, Jan Baird, Planning for Integration, Transitions Director will explain how, from 1 April 2012, staff are being brought together into integrated teams to work with children and families and with people who use community care services.14/2/2012
£6million Now Available For Wave and Tidal Projects
The marine and tidal energy sector is to benefit from £6 million in funding to further develop testing of new wave and tidal prototypes in the seas around Scotland. Scottish Enterprise is launching a second round of the remaining competitive funding from the initial WATERS £13 million fund, launched in March 2010.14/2/2012
Finance Minister Cuts Turf For New Inverness Campus
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth John Swinney MSP joined representatives of the elected youth parliament of the Highlands on Tuesday (14 February) to formally mark the start of infrastructure works at Inverness Campus. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is developing the multi-stakeholder location as one of Scotland's prime sites for business, research and education.
13/2/2012
Council's Cleaning Team Receive National Excellence Award
The Highland Council's Education, Culture and Sport Cleaning Service have received a Performance Network Award for the Most Improved Performer in the Association of Public Services 2011 Excellence Awards. The ECS cleaning service, which employs 850 people, provides a daily building cleaning service to 367 of the Council's establishments including nurseries, schools, offices, libraries, community centres and museums.
12/2/2012
Household Recycling Saves Councils £20m
New figures show that Scotland's household recycling efforts save local authorities more than £20 million each year. The revelation on how much councils save through recycling comes as Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead launches the latest recycling campaign from the Scottish Government, encouraging the public to recycle more and more often.12/2/2012
College student support
Many more college students will be able to claim bursaries to support them during their studies, it has been announced today. An extra £11.4 million funding for further education student support has been announced in the Scottish Parliament by Finance Secretary John Swinney at the final stage of the Budget Bill 2012-13.12/2/2012
New Transport Projects
Details of how new budget allocations will be spent were unveiled by Finance Secretary John Swinney in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon. The specific transport strand of the announcement represents a package of almost £72 million aimed at improving journey times, relieving congestion and making Scotland's roads even safer.11/2/2012
Increased funding for NHS Boards
Health boards across Scotland are to benefit from a share of £8,802 billion in revenue funding in 2012-13, it was announced today. The additional funding represents a real terms increase of 2.9 per cent for all territorial boards.11/2/2012
Future For Teacher Employment
Plans to support teachers to improve learning outcomes for children and young people have been announced. In response to the McCormac review of teaching employment, the Scottish Government intends to: create a new masters level qualification to replace the Chartered Teacher scheme introduce a refreshed system of professional review for teachers give further, careful consideration to the role of external experts in schools Speaking in Parliament, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell said: "Teachers have a fundamental role in nurturing and supporting the development of our children and young people.11/2/2012
Deadline To Nominate Education Stars
People in the Highlands are being urged to enter their local schools, nurseries or individuals into the Scottish Education Awards 2012 so that their exceptional achievements can be recognised. The deadline for submissions is Friday 2 March 2012.11/2/2012
