Businesses will be urged to tackle in-work sickness and stop people falling out the workforce, following the appointment of Dame Carol Black as the Government's new Occupational Health Tsar. Dame Carol Black, an experienced health policy advisor, will lead a new Taskforce to improve employer awareness of the benefits of Occupational Health in the workplace.
The Body Shop has become the latest casualty of the British high street. The familiar sight (and distinctive smell) of its stores is under threat as the UK arm of the business goes into administration.
Key express air cargo routes are experiencing severe delays and rising rates. Confronted by China's Lunar New Year holiday and continuing Houthi attacks on shipping, some global companies are switching to air transport.
The Highland Council is currently unable to confirm whether funding will be available to support the Wick-Aberdeen Public Service Obligation (PSO) after 31st March 2024. The funding for the PSO is currently provided on the basis of £1.3m annually, with £1m committed by the Scottish Government and £0.3m committed by The Highland Council.
Finance companies Satchi Holdings PLC and Hartreel Ltd wound-up after misleading investors and failing to cooperate with an investigation into the firms' affairs. Brother and sister Michael Haston and Jennifer McQueen ran Satchi Holdings PLC which raised £3million from members of the public Investors' money was loaned to other companies owned by Haston and only £200,000 of customer investments were used for legitimate loans Two finance companies have been wound up in the public interest after misleading people into investing a total of at least £3million in an unprotected bond scheme.
A collaborative network of Head Teachers and Education Officers are working closely together with the goal of improving attainment and achievement in Highland primary schools. Cllr John Finlayson, Education Chair said: "It is essential that we have strong, consultation and communication strategies in place and there is effective and ongoing collaboration between our schools and our central education service.
A new partnership between The MacRobert Trust and Inclusive Farm will provide people with disabilities, additional needs or difference, a new route into agriculture. Through the provision of land and buildings by The MacRobert Trust in Tarland, Aberdeenshire, a new farming enterprise entitled ‘Inclusive Farm Scotland at MacRobert', will be designed by, and for, people with disabilities, additional needs or difference.
Analysis using the Moneyfacts Consumer Duty Audit Tool for Savings indicates that big banks are still failing to make their easy access rates more competitive, despite continued focus from the Financial Conduct Authority around Consumer Duty. The big banks' flexible easy access accounts* all remain in the bottom quartiles, and all now pay less than 2% on their easy access rates: Barclays Bank (third quartile), HSBC (third quartile), Lloyds Bank (bottom quartile), NatWest (third quartile) and Santander (third quartile).
The market study into infant formula is part of the CMA's ongoing work to contain cost of living pressures in the groceries sector. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today launched a market study into the supply of infant formula in the UK, after publishing its initial findings and committing to look at the sector in further detail in November last year.
Companies House fees are set on a cost recovery basis. This means the fees must cover the cost of the services we deliver.
The Government has announced action to tackle the use of controversial 'fire and rehire' practices. Government acts against controversial dismissal tactics through a new statutory Code of Practice.
The traditional threat from globalisation - domestic manufacturing being replaced by cheaper imports - has declined in recent decades. But Britain faces new and emerging trade exposures - from high-earning service sector jobs to cheap food in supermarkets - according to new research published on Monday 19 February 2024 by the Resolution Foundation.
School Age Payment is a payment of £294.70 per child to help with the costs of preparing for school when a child is first old enough to start primary school. The child does not have to have taken up a place at school, however, applications should still be made in the year that the child is first old enough to start school, even if the parent / carer decides to defer when the child starts or the child is not going to school.
Six ground-breaking projects including an investigation looking at how endometriosis impacts women in the workplace have been awarded £12.4 million, the government announced on, Tuesday 12 September 2023. The plans have now been updated.
Higher education students can apply to spread their student financial support package over a 12-month period for the first time this coming academic year. The year-long package of support will be available for eligible undergraduate students from August 2024.
Schools will receive new guidance on prohibiting mobile phone use during the school day in England. Mobile phones are set to be prohibited in schools across England as part of the government's plan to minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms.
XL Bully dog owners are being urged to prepare for new rules which are expected to come into force this Friday. New laws laid for consideration in Parliament will make it illegal to sell, advertise, gift or exchange XL Bully dogs, or letting such dogs stray.
As part of the study, businesses, community groups and social enterprises with future land or property plans are encouraged to complete a short survey by 22 March 2024. Whether it's interest in land for sale or space to lease, HIE is keen to hear from organisations already based in the region as well as from those that are considering locating a business to the area.
Matthew Lesh, a Director of Public Policy and Communications with the Institute for Economic Affairs looks at the latest position. The Office for National Statistics announced last week that the economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in the final quarter of 2023 after a 0.1 per cent fall in the third quarter.
Tesco Bank has regularly been featured in our Best Buy tables of Savings Champion, offering competitive easy access accounts and fixed rate bonds and ISAs from time to time. But it was announced last week that Barclays has entered into an agreement to acquire the retail banking business of Tesco, in a deal said to be worth £600m, which will include an exclusive long-term partnership to offer Tesco branded deposit accounts as well as credit cards and personal loans.
