A survey is being launched today (Wednesday 11 June) to poll around 2,000 companies across the Highlands and Islands on how technology and access to the web impacts on how they do business. The research, which is part of a Scotland wide project, aims to measure current progress in the digital economy and the extent to which businesses are using and exploiting online opportunities.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (June, 10th) sold 53 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (38) averaged 197.2p (-0.3p) and sold to 215p per kg and £1,478.40 gross.
The second topic on the Council's Budget Blog goes live on Thursday 12 June - how can we generate income to pay for services? The blog is available from the home page of The Highland Council website www.highland.gov.uk The first topic focussed on how we could reduce some services but the Council is now asking for comments on how to generate income to pay for services. Suggestions include the Council delivering services to other organisations, for example, providing HR services to a local business.
UK Trade shows the extent of import and export activity and is a key contributor to the overall economic growth in the UK. Seasonally adjusted, the UK's deficit on trade in goods and services was estimated to have been £2.5 billion in April 2014, compared with £1.1 billion in March 2014.
A Caithness based processor and supplier of locally sourced shellfish is to further expand its premises to help manage the growing worldwide demand for its products. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is supporting JPL Shellfish with a grant of £60,000 which will also allow the company to increase its workforce.
GILLS BAY/PENTLAND FIRTH'S INNER SOUND VISIT BY DELEGATES TO TOP-LEVEL INNOVATION CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THURSO'S ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS. A top team of Scottish-based scientists, engineers and academics sailed out to the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound from Gills Bay on a fact-finding mission to see at first hand the fast-flowing waters above the seabed site of the UK's first planned 'marine electricity' power-station.
ISAs are changing into a new, simpler product as part of changes announced in the 2014 Budget. From 1 July, the 'New ISA' (NISA) will have an annual allowance of £15,000 - the biggest ever increase to ISA limits - and all or part can be invested in cash, stocks and shares or whatever combination of the two that you choose.
North Highland College is running a summer programme that will be of interest to any young people thinking about a career in engineering with a modern apprenticeship in mind. It aims to help young people into employment by providing essential training that will give candidates the knowledge, skills and certification to progress into sustained employment within the Engineering Sector.
People in the Highlands are being invited - on a new blog - to have their say on how the Council should meet its savings target of £63.7m over the next 4 years. On Monday (9 June), The Highland Council will launch its 2014 budget blog on the home page of its website: www.highland.gov.uk.
HIGHLANDS and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is investing in Scotland's first women-focused network designed to encourage more female angel investors and entrepreneurs. Investing Women is being launched in the region tomorrow (Thursday June 5).
Week Commencing 2nd June 2014 Tourism, Food & Drink: Further success for the area's food & drink sector is evident in this week's news that JPL Shellfish is to expand its premises at Scrabster to meet increasing international demand for its products. As previously highlighted, the company has been winning business in European export markets, but more recently has seen significant interest from markets in Southeast Asia.
New calculations - based on forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - suggest that an independent Scotland would face a budget deficit of 5.5% of GDP (£8.6 billion in today's terms) in its first year of independence were it to inherit a population share of the UK's national debt. This would not be sustainable for any prolonged period.
Eleven trainee welders from North Highland College UHI and Inverness College UHI went head to head in a college weld challenge last week, with the first heat based at Inverness Longman campus, and the second at North Highland's state-of-the-art engineering, technology and energy centre. The students were selected from the 72 full time and apprentice welders currently training at the two colleges.
Caithness Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that it is now accepting entries for the George Bruce Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2014. Now in its fifth year, the award aims to highlight a young, local business person who has displayed the necessary drive and determination to make their business a success.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is investing in Scotland's first women-focused network designed to encourage more female angel investors and entrepreneurs. Investing Women is being launched in the region tomorrow (Thursday June 5).
On Friday (6 June 2014) The Highland Council will welcome the Political Bureau of the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime regions (CPMR) to Inverness. This is the first time that the Political Bureau has met in the Highlands and the Council is keen to use the visit to highlight the realities of living and working at the periphery of the European Union.
Summary The Queen has delivered her speech to the House of Lords setting out the Coalition Government's programme for the next Parliamentary year. This will be the last parliamentary session before the 2015 General Election.
Mobile data bills could hit £465 per day in Brazil if footie fans opt out of automatic data limits imposed by networks, instead of using free local Wi-Fi[3]. Fans jetting off for the 10-day group stage could be hit with a staggering roaming bill of almost £5,000[4], more than eight times the cost of the best tickets to the final[5] Brits visiting Brazil can expect to spend an average £5 on every 1MB of mobile internet data - enough to view just 10 web pages, or stream a one minute video.
- 15% of UK adults have so far used a specially enabled credit or debit card to make a contactless payment; - Online and smartphone banking is booming with over 80% of adults regularly managing their money online - 28% of Brits have made payments using a smartphone banking app. New research suggests that shoppers are warming to contactless payments with 15% of Brits having already made a contactless payment using a credit or debit card and more than a fifth saying they expect to use contactless payments this year.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (June, 3rd) sold 60 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (37) averaged 197.5p (-4.1p) and sold to 220p per kg and £1,475.80 gross.