News Archive
9/1/2007
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.
The following are funds approved up to the last day of the month. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments.
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.
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
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.
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.
Christmas could break the bank for the more than 6.6 million people already behind on payments, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) warned today launching its Christmas debt awareness campaign. The campaign asks shoppers to think of the debt they may be racking up ahead of January when the bills arrive.
The search continues to find the Highlands and Islands' answer to Richard Branson as the ICT Hothouse Youth Challenge 2007 enters its final month for entries. The challenge is looking for young entrepreneurs with bright ideas to submit their ideas for information technology and communications of the future.
PLUG REINFORCED TO ENABLE SHAFT TO BE DECOMMISSIONED The second stage of the Shaft Isolation Project is complete and has achieved its objective. A section of the liquid effluent discharge tunnel which passes close to the base of the shaft was required to be in-filled with grout in advance of the installation of the main shaft isolation barrier.
A new �10 billion international project to harness fusion energy can offer major opportunities for Scottish companies. That will be the message to a delegation from the Scottish Executive when they visit the headquarters of the UK's fusion research programme on Monday 11th December.
The third report of the Dounreay Particles Advisory Group states that the possibility of coming into direct contact with a particle at Sandside is extremely small and would not cause any discernable health effect. As a result existing signs, which were erected by the estate, were removed at the weekend by the estate of its own choice.
Yet another pioneering invention has successfully allowed the crucial next phase of decommissioning Dounreay's Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) to begin. The innovative purpose built device, which resembles an extremely long flexible drill, enables pockets of liquid metal to be drained from deep inside the redundant reactor.
6/12/2006
AXA Business Crime Index reports second consecutive quarterly increase in business crime � Birmingham tops the city business crime table � The average claim settlement amount is �3,524 � Over 50% of business crimes relate to theft, while arson claims highest payouts � AXA warns businesses to be vigilant over the Christmas period The latest findings from the AXA Business Crime Index* reveal a 15% increase in crime related insurance claims by businesses between July and September, compared to the second quarter of this year. The last six months have seen a consistent rise in the number of business crime claims experienced by the insurer.
4 December 2006: The Mey Selections winning team scooped the Best New Beef Product Award for their recently launched Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Mey Selections Meatballs. At an awards dinner and presentation ceremony at London's Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, the prize was accepted by Anna Grundy and Amy Brech (Product Development) from Sainsburys, Dermot Slade, Development Chef at Dunbia, and John Strak, Managing Director of North Highland Products Ltd.
4/12/2006
On a cold winter night a delicious hot pudding is the perfect warmer, however health fads and media pressure can push the pudding to the back of the freezer drawer or cupboard. Well no more! Traditional delights such as Syrup Sponge and Sticky Toffee Pudding have reclaimed their crown - even replacing Christmas Puddings in popularity for the festive season, showing that the great British Pudding is back with a vengeance! Would you like to try a pudding that celebrates luxury and pleasure and encourages the nation to indulge itself and enjoy a well-earned treat.
Scotland is in danger of relying on luck to solve environmental challenges. This stark message comes from leading academic Professor Mike Hulme of the internationally recognised Tyndall Centre on Climate Change Research.
A new headquarters that provides a world-class working environment and creates a business campus positioning it as an employer of choice, has won a prestigious national building award for the Royal Bank of Scotland in Gogarburn, Edinburgh. Designed by Edinburgh-based architectural firm, Michael Laird Architects, the new building and 100-acre site has won the top award for a new modern building with non-load bearing stone in this year's Natural Stone Awards.
28/11/2006
MOT Tests Could Be Reduced Lord Davidson QC today published his final report on the implementation of European legislation in the UK. It proposes action to cut the burden of regulation particularly in the areas of consumer sales, financial services, transport and waste - creating an estimated �670 million saving to business and consumers.
28/11/2006
A review of the penalties for regulatory non-compliance lead by Professor Richard Macrory published its final report today. The report 'Regulatory Justice: Making Sanctions Effective' found that reliance on criminal prosecution failed to give regulators adequate means to effectively deal with many cases in a proportionate and risk based way.
CONTRACTORS SUPPLIER EVENT 4 pm 29 NOVEMBER 2006 Pentland Hotel Thurso Caithness & Sutherland Enterprise is hosting a supplier event in the Pentland Hotel Thurso on 29 November at 4pm to provide information to local companies on current business opportunities. Presentations will be made by:- Dan Mistry of UKAEA Culham who will provide information on the prospects and opportunities for locally based businesses arising from the construction and commissioning of ITER at Caderache in France.