News Archive
28/9/2006
On October 1 2006, new laws will come into force to protect workers from age discrimination. The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations will make it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees, trainees or job seekers because of their age and ensure that all workers, regardless of age, have the same rights in terms of training and promotion.
UKAEA recently invited a group of Dounreay's retired workers back to site to see the decommissioning work taking place at Dounreay. During their return to site Gordon Bailey, Frank Sinclair, Sinclair Calder, Ernie Lillyman, Jonathon Kirk and Rolland Shallcross were informed about the shaft isolation project and saw for themselves the changes that have taken place at the shaft including the raised working platform which was recently constructed.
SUMMARY The August 2006 unemployment figures were released on 13th September 2006. During the month, July 2006 to August 2006, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Great Britain fell by 0.3%, from 932,191 to 929,498 (2,693 claimants).
27/9/2006
Envirowise was launched in 1994. The programme was designed specifically to encourage the sharing of best practice across UK industry, helping businesses boost competitiveness through improved environmental performance and more efficient use of resources.
Those looking to start their own business in the creative industries are being given a unique opportunity to take advantage of contracts available from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The Indiepreneur programme has two contracts available for new, recent or upcoming businesses involved in the creative industries across the Highlands and Islands.
The issues surrounding the employment of migrant workers are the subject of this month's Hot Topic on LearningWorks, the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) website dedicated to online training and learning. LearningWorks explores the key issues employers should be aware of when employing migrant workers, with links to new information about work permits and the workers registration team.
25/9/2006
FTA has greeted the decision by European Competitiveness Ministers to repeal the Block Exemption from restrictive trading practices for container shipping lines as the dawn of a new era in maritime transport. The decision means that shipping lines will need to end their long-standing practices of price-fixing and capacity management and submit to the normal disciplines of EU competition rules.
24/9/2006
Survey Reveals Large Gap that Threatens Economic Growth Most employees have not been offered language learning opportunity Scottish businesses worst offenders at offering language learning. More London businesses offer language learning than any other region.
REACTOR CONTROL ROOM IS CONSIGNED TO HISTORY. What was once the hub of the next generation of nuclear power plant, a hive of activity buzzing with the thrill of ground-breaking technology, is now in stark contrast an empty shell.
Speech by Liz Cameron Chief Executive Scottish Chambers of Commerce Caithness Chamber AGM, Park Hotel, Thurso 19 September 2006 Ladies & Gentlemen, good afternoon. First may I say how delighted I am to be here in Scotland's true North East? It is always uplifting to the spirit to leave the City behind and breathe the clear air, admire the stunning scenery and enjoy the warm welcome of the North of Scotland.
In a bid to raise the standard of computer services within Scotland, Blue Ivy Ltd has made available a guide to alert small businesses to the practices of less scrupulous computer service companies. Blue Ivy Ltd, the Wick based Small Business IT Specialist, has made this guide available after the increasing number of home and business customers requiring additional work on their computer systems after they had been 'fixed' by friends, neighbours or other computer service companies.
18/9/2006
The Freight Transport Association has published its new Guide to Managing Drivers. The 94-page book constitutes comprehensive need-to-know information for transport managers and those with responsibility for the operation of commercial vehicles and the deployment of drivers.
17/9/2006
Jimmy Manson (18) of Lower Gills, Canisbay, a 2nd year apprentice joiner with D B Smith Joinery, Wick was awarded first prize in this years Scottish Timber Trades Teachers Competition. A module made by Jimmy while attending North Highland College was chosen to be their entrant.
Wick-based KP Technology has been recognised at the Highland and Islands' leading business awards ceremony for developing and exporting new measurement systems. KP Technology collected the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Award for Excellence in Research and Development at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) Highlands and Islands Dinner and Awards ceremony which took place on Friday at the Highland Conference Centre in Nairn.
All of Scotland's bathing beaches have passed the European standard water quality tests for the first time since monitoring began 20 years ago. On the final day of the 2006 bathing waters season, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) can reveal that all of the 63 designated bathing waters have passed either EC 'mandatory' or stricter 'guideline' standards.
13/9/2006
Ross-shire young entrepreneur David Skea (20) has won the Highland final of the 2006 Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and Royal Bank of Scotland Business Awards. David from Alness started his business in 2004 marketing diver-caught shellfish.
12/9/2006
In recognition of the growing complexity of IT systems and the increasing sophistication of e-business software applications, Naver Technology Ltd (Navertech), the Thurso based E-Business specialist, has appointed a dedicated IT consultant to provide support to existing and new customers. Steve Trezise (47) is a Cornishman who moved north a year ago and now lives with his wife in Bower.
People in and around Caithness who use a solid fuel system are set to benefit from having a new local supplier to provide their wood fuel. Paul and Diane Barrett moved to Caithness from Essex, following the purchase of South Quintfall Forest Lyth, four years ago.
ENTERPRISE funding has been secured to enable a range of Seafood Scotland (SFS) market development services to continue to be delivered to the Highlands and Islands seafood sector. The �57,000 financial package from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will provide funding towards the costs incurred by SFS in the Highlands and Islands over the next two years and builds on the success of a previous package of assistance.
The latest new store to open at the Wick Retail Park opened with bang offering up to 60% off normal prices. The new store is the sixth one to open at the retail park at Wick's South Road.