News Archive

Top Tips For Jobseekers At Risk Of Fake DBS Check Recruitment Scams

To coincide with the launch of the Home Office Stop! Think Fraud campaign, the Disclosure & Barring Service is providing support to job seekers for a safer employment search.   Persuading job seekers to pay for a non-existent DBS check is a tactic being used by fraudsters to extract cash from their victims, with January and February a peak period for scammers to pounce.  

Back To Work Boost As Quarter Of A Million Workplace Training Places Delivered

More than a quarter of a million workplace training places for benefit claimants have been delivered in just three years, new data reveals.   266,000 workplace training places delivered - boosting skills and long-term economic growth.  

Tax Credits Recipients Will Receive Cost Of Living Payment From 16 February

Eligible tax credits only customers will automatically receive a Cost of Living payment.   Around 700,000 families who receive tax credits and no other qualifying benefits will receive their £299 Cost of Living Payment from today, 16 February 2024, to help with everyday costs.  

Automatic Enrolment Changes Could Add £105bn To Young Adults' Pensions Over 50 Years

The Government's decision to extend automatic enrolment to workers aged between 18 and 21 could mean an additional £105bn of pension savings for younger people across the UK over the next 50 years, according to new analysis by People's Partnership, which provides The People's Pension to more than 6.5 million people across the UK.   Following the passing of a new Bill in Parliament last year, automatic enrolment, which has seen nearly 11 million people start saving into a pension since 2012, is set to be extended to workers aged between 18 to 21 by the mid-2020s.  

UHI Shortlisted For Two Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2024

The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has been shortlisted in two categories at the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2024, celebrating the people and partnerships behind ground-breaking innovations.   The Flow Country Partnership , working with the Environmental Research Institute in Thurso, part of UHI North, West and Hebrides , nominated for the ‘Making an Environmental Difference' award.  

No Trains Between Brora and Helmsdale Today 16 February 2024

Because of a safety inspection of the track between Brora and Helmsdale all lines are closed.  Disruption is expected until the end of today (16 February 2024).  

UK Falls Into Recession, And A Far Deeper Living Standards Downturn

The UK economy fell into recession in the second half of 2023, but families have experienced a far deeper living standards downturn, with GDP per capita now 4.2 per cent off its pre-cost of living crisis path - equivalent to a loss of nearly £1,500 per household – the Resolution Foundation said today.   Weaker than expected growth meant that the economy contracted by 0.5 per cent in the second half of 2023, while the economy grew by 0.1 per cent over the whole of 2023.  

Construction Output In Great Britain - December 2023, New Orders And Construction Output Price Indices, October To December 2023

Short-term measures of output by construction industry in December 2023, contracts awarded for new construction work in Great Britain and a summary of the Construction Output Price Indices (OPIs) in the UK for Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2023.   Quarterly construction output saw a decrease of 1.3% in Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2023 compared with Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2023; this came solely from a decrease in new work (5.0% fall), as repair and maintenance increased by 4.0%.  

Warning From HMRC To Self Assessment Customers As Scam Referrals Exceed 200,000

With the Self Assessment tax deadline behind us, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is warning people to be wary of bogus tax refund offers.   Fraudsters could set their sights on Self Assessment customers, with more than 11.5 million submitting a tax return by last month's deadline.  

House Price Index Figures For Scotland - December 2023

Estimates for the most recent months are provisional and are likely to be updated as more data is included.  The House Price Index for December 2023 reflects transactions that took place up to the end of December.