News Archive
11/8/2023
Monthly construction output is estimated to have increased 1.6% in volume terms in June 2023; this came from increases in both new work (2.0%) and repair and maintenance (1.1%) on the month. At the sector level, six out of the nine sectors saw a rise in June 2023, with the main contributors to the monthly increase seen in infrastructure new work and non-housing repair and maintenance, which increased 4.7% and 3.4%, respectively.
11/8/2023
In Russia this summer, you can still enjoy a Cornetto, but you can forget about eating a Tunnock's tea cake or a Big Mac. This is because Cornetto's UK-headquarted parent company, Unilever, is still operating in Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, alongside many other western firms such as PepsiCo.
11/8/2023
The Bank of England has increased interest rates to 5.25%, a level not seen since April 2008 and markedly higher than the all-time lows of 0.1% seen less than two years ago. In fact, interest rates hovered between 0.1% and 0.75% for the 13 years to May 2022.
11/8/2023
Scotch whisky exports grew from £4.51 billion in 2021 to more than £6 billion in 2022, while separate government figures showed a 25% sales increase last year - the biggest for any UK manufactured product except aircraft parts. Such impressive growth shows how the industry has cultivated its image, appeal and supply networks over 200 years, withstanding pandemics, trade wars and even world wars in the process.
Marine and land investigations are under way to inform proposals for a major upgrade of Kishorn Port in Wester Ross. Owner operator, Kishorn Port Limited (KPL), has engaged specialist contractors for phase one of the £2.4m project, after securing a £500,000 investment from HIE.
11/8/2023
In June 2023, nearly three in five (58%) trading businesses reported that they were able to get the materials, goods or services they needed from within the UK without experiencing any issues, broadly stable with May 2023. A further 6% of businesses were able to obtain what they needed but had to find alternative solutions to do so, but 2% reported that they were unable to get what they needed, though this is the lowest proportion since the question was introduced in June 2020.
11/8/2023
The 10 turbine site will be located in Caithness near to our existing operational project, Camster. When completed it will be capable of producing up to 36MW of electricity and generate power for over 35,000 average UK households.
Highland Council has been named as one of the host local authorities when vehicles taking part in the 2023 EV Rally of Scotland (EVROS) start their journeys on 16 August. The two-day event, which aims to showcase electric vehicle technology and the charging infrastructure network in Scotland, will stop at locations in Highland.
NHS Highland and the Highland Council are engaging on the Strategic Plan for Adult Services 2024-27. This is the strategic plan for the delivery of integrated health and adult social care services in the region covered by the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership.
Housing and Property Committee met yesterday (Thursday 10 August 2023) and discussed the impact that the ‘cost of living' has had on tenants experiencing rent arrears. Despite the challenges, Highland rent arrears remains significantly better than national benchmarking averages.
11/8/2023
Over 70 undetonated wartime explosives have been made safe at the Moray West offshore wind farm being built 14 miles off the coast of Caithness. The devices - known as confirmed unexploded ordnance (cUXOs) - include mines, other bombs, naval missiles and torpedoes from the First and Second World Wars.
10/8/2023
Sales activity continues to grow across Scotland's prime residential market. However, realistic pricing is key to enabling transactions as stock levels rise.
10/8/2023
Testing to be based on clinical need in hospitals, care homes and prisons. Routine COVID-19 testing in hospitals, care homes and prisons is to be substantially reduced following clinical and scientific advice.
10/8/2023
UCI Cycling World Championships support work on refreshed strategy. Against the backdrop of the world's biggest cycling event in history, discussions are taking place which aim to further boost equality, diversity and inclusion across Scotland's world-renowned events sector.
DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (August 4th) sold 7,628 Store lambs of all class at an average of £75.39 (- £3.23 on the year). Texel (2,532) averaged £75.04 (last year £82.34) and sold to £115 gross from Craiglands, Fortrose.
9/8/2023
How have employment, earnings and incomes performed in Scotland compared with the rest of the UK? What drives geographic inequalities within Scotland? While employment and earnings in Scotland grew substantially faster than in the rest of the UK (rUK) during the 2000s, since 2014 Scotland has seen slower growth. In 2014 the employment rate in Scotland was 1 percentage point higher than in rUK (74.0% versus 73.0%), but by 2021 it was around 1 percentage point lower (74.7% versus 75.5%).
9/8/2023
An early snapshot of attainment data indicates improvements made as young people across the Highlands receive their SQA exam results today. Initial figures for this year show an increase in the number of National 5 entries from the previous year, with 78% of candidates achieving A-C grades.
9/8/2023
Students getting their exam results today should be very proud of their achievements, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has said, with pass rates remaining above pre-pandemic levels. Data published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) showed the overall pass rate for National 5, Highers and Advanced Highers has increased from the 2019 pre-pandemic level, with a record number of passes in an exam year achieved at National 5.
9/8/2023
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced its advice regarding persons who will be eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccine in autumn 2023. JCVI's statement on the autumn 2023 programme follows interim advice published in January.
9/8/2023
Members of a gang which recruited illegal migrants to work as cleaners across a string of Sainsbury's supermarkets have been sentenced. Members of a criminal gang which recruited illegal migrants to work as cleaners across a string of Sainsbury's supermarkets in Oxfordshire and the south-west have been sentenced.