The Highland Council is sponsoring the Community Land Scotland Conference to be held at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Sleat, Skye, on Friday and Saturday (7 and 8 June). The keynote conference address will be delivered by the First Minister Alex Salmond, MSP.
The introduction of the “bedroom tax” has resulted in an increase in arrears and the level of debt of tenants affected. Members of The Highland Council’s Finance Housing and Resources Committee were told that the number of tenants affected by the “bedroom tax” and in arrears had risen from 724 before it was introduced on 1 April to 1,144 on 18 May and the total of arrears had risen from £173,491 to £197,795 in the same period.
Highland Councillors are leading the way in Scotland in introducing a scheme which will help reverse the decline in apprenticeships. Members of the Finance Housing and Resources Committee have agreed to contribute £30,000 towards the establishment of a new company which will create a pool of construction apprentices, who will work with multiple contractors over the duration of their apprenticeships.
There are now just a few days remaining to book a place at our Networking and Meet the Buyer events, held in partnership with SSE. These events are a great way to make contacts with and hear all the latest information from SSE Procurement, SSE Transmission, SSE Renewables, Achilles and SSE's Tier 1 contractors.
The Highlands and Islands have an incredible history of shaping healthcare services right across the UK. A new series of talks will explore this while looking at current and future innovations being developed in Inverness and around the world.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (June, 4th) sold 56 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (37) averaged 236.2p (+1.7p) and sold to 252p per kg and £1,654.30 gross.
A free event in Inverness on Thursday 27 June is aiming to help local businesses in the Highlands make the most of new contracting opportunities arising from the new Energy Companies Obligation (ECO). The event will give firms opportunities to speak directly with energy suppliers and also hear an overview of current government funded schemes to support and improve energy efficiency.
North MSP concerned about frustration caused by slow moving farm vehicles to other road users. Highlands & Islands (Labour) MSP and road safety campaigner David Stewart has called for more action with regards to frustration caused to other road users by slow moving farm vehicles.
D R Simpson the newsagents in the middle of Wick is set to close after an announcment by the owner Davie Moss on Facebook last night. The full message is as follows - To the people of Wick, my friends and my many customers who have visited the shop and spent their hard earned money in the nine and half years I have owned it.
A consortium of Miller Group and Equitix has reached financial close on a £50m contract to build a new campus for Inverness College and will start work next month. The new college will be the first and largest development at the multi-stakeholder Inverness campus site, which is currently being developed by Highlands & Islands Enterprise on the outskirts of the city.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) congratulates the region's businesses which scooped three food 'Oscars' at the 2013 Scotland Food and Drink Awards on Thursday night - 30th june 2013. Three ambitious companies from the Highlands and Islands have been recognised in the 2013 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.
This is a short message to update you on activities relating to the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership. Energy/ Business Services: As reported last week I worked with partners from Highland Council, HIE, Energy North and Caithness Chamber to arrange a visit from representatives from National Grid.
Construction will start next month on the new £50 million Inverness College UHI, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today. The 13.3 acre University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) development will create 300 jobs during construction, a minimum of 28 modern apprenticeships and provide facilities for over 8,500 students.
The Scottish Government today launched its District Heating Action Plan which sets a clear roadmap for how we will support the growth of district heating networks throughout Scotland. and help reduce energy bills and carbon emissions.
Caithness Print Solutions has moved a couple of streets in Wick to larger premises. You will now find them based at 10 Harbour Terrace, Wick where the offices were recently completely rennovated.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 28th) sold 74 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (42) averaged 232.9p (+1.6p) and sold to 255p per kg and £1,691.15 gross.
Caithness Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with SSE, invites you to attend this free Meet the Buyer Event on Thursday 13th June at Mackays Hotel, Wick from 09.00 - 17.00. The day will cover a wide range of presentations from SSE Open4Business, SSE Renewables, SSE Transmission, Achilles and SSE’s Tier 1 contractors.
A pioneering scheme to help vulnerable 16 to 19 year olds into employment, training or education is delivering for more than 1,800 young people. Activity Agreements aim to prepare individuals for more formal courses and form part of range of actions being taken across Scotland to support more young people into employment.
Highland Council has welcomed a successful start to the 2013 cruise ship programme at Scrabster, following the visit on Friday 24th May 2013 of the Adonia, carrying nearly 700 passengers and over 350 crew. Councillor Roger Saxon said “We were delighted to see so many visitors enjoying the sunshine, and either visiting local attractions such as the Castle of Mey or taking advantage of the free shuttle buses between Scrabster and Thurso town centre.
A scientific article published by Marine Scotland published this week outlines the environmental factors contributing to the issue on the key Fladens fishery which includes weather patterns causing colder than usual water temperature. For the first 4 months of 2013 landing figures show a decrease of 52 per cent on the same period last year - an 11-year-low in the number of tonnes of prawns caught.
