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Advisory / Counseling Services News


Another Chance For Communities To Buy Land And Property
Additional Funding announced for Communities to buy land and properties to help regenerate their local areas.   Community groups across Scotland are being urged to explore the opportunities available through the recently-expanded Scottish Land Fund.  
Placement programme is helping to retain young people in the regionThumbnail for article : Placement programme is helping to retain young people in the region
Talented young people are choosing to work in the Highlands and Islands and helping businesses to achieve more as a result of a graduate programme in the region, according to a report commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).   More than 40% of graduates taking part in the TalentScotland Graduate Placement Programme said that without it they would have been less likely to have been working in the Highlands and Islands.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Energy/ Business Services: The Highland Council’s North Planning Applications Committee will next week consider a report on the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd’s application to Marine Scotland to build at a site in the Moray Firth.  Members of the committee will be asked to endorse the recommendation that the Council raises no objection to the development, subject to a number of conditions, including one ensuring that the developer continues dialogue with supply chain and ports, specifically mentioning Wick harbour as a potential operation and maintenance base.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 6th June 2013 Energy/ Business Services: Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd, the partnership behind the planned offshore windfarm in the Moray Firth near the coast of Caithness and East Sutherland, has added some further data to its application to Marine Scotland for consent to build its development.  If consented this could see up to 277 turbines sites in the Moray Firth, the closest of which would be around 8 miles from Wick.  
Pioneering healthcare from Highlands focus of new series of talks
The Highlands and Islands have an incredible history of shaping healthcare services right across the UK.  A new series of talks will explore this while looking at current and future innovations being developed in Inverness and around the world.  
Success for Highlands and Islands food and drink businesses
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) congratulates the region's businesses which scooped three food 'Oscars' at the 2013 Scotland Food and Drink Awards on Thursday night - 30th june 2013.   Three ambitious companies from the Highlands and Islands have been recognised in the 2013 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
This is a short message to update you on activities relating to the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership.   Energy/ Business Services: As reported last week I worked with partners from Highland Council, HIE, Energy North and Caithness Chamber to arrange a visit from representatives from National Grid.  
Tourism Webinars - Technology Trends: The importance of Mobile - Sign Up
29 May 2013 Technology Trends: The importance of Mobile - Wednesday 29 May Guest speakers are Ross Tuffni, DOGFI.SH MOBILE Ltd and Prof Jon Oberlander, The Smart Tourism Programme.   Mobile devices have transformed our daily lives and how, when and where your customers engage with their mobile devices is key to understanding how and where to reach them.  
Industry celebrates EMEC’s 10th anniversary at All-Energy
The renewable energy industry gathered on Wednesday 22 May 2013 to celebrate the European Marine Energy Centre’s (EMEC) 10th anniversary at the annual All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in Aberdeen.   Over 250 people attended a reception held on the HI-energy and Orkney pavilions at the show, which featured a wide range of Orkney produce.  
Record number of Highlands and Islands companies looking to export
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has revealed that more companies than ever before were supported into new overseas markets last year by its international trade arm Scottish Development International (SDI).   In 2012/13, SDI worked with 156 companies across the Highlands and Islands to develop their international business, representing an almost 50 per cent increase from 106 the previous year.  
Highlands and Islands set to take centre stage at the UK’s largest renewable energy event
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland is set to take centre stage at the All-Energy exhibition and conference in Aberdeen this week (Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd May).   Over 70 companies will come together under the banner of HI-Energy to showcase the region’s world-leading renewable energy expertise and supply chain capabilities.  
Record number of Highlands and Islands companies looking to export
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has revealed that more companies than ever before were supported into new overseas markets last year by its international trade arm Scottish Development International (SDI).   In 2012/13, SDI worked with 156 companies across the Highlands and Islands to develop their international business, representing an almost 50 per cent increase from 106 the previous year.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 13th May 2013 Energy/ Business Services: I met this week with colleagues from HIE, Highland Council, Environmental Research Institute, Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd and business representatives to discuss the evolving concept of an “International Marine Energy Delivery (IMED)” campus in Caithness.  It was clear from the meeting that there is a considerable amount of work currently being undertaken in the north that is ready for wider international attention, including the academic work being taken forward by the ERI and European partners, and the international work being undertaken by area businesses.  
Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2013
Employers all over Scotland will be encouraged to employ more Modern Apprentices as the second Scottish Apprenticeship Week gets underway on Monday 20 May.   Skills Development Scotland wants to work with bosses to recruit 25,000 new Modern Apprentices – matching the 25,000 training last year across more than 80 different occupations.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week Commencing 6 May 2013 Energy/ Business Services: Ignis Wick Ltd, the company behind the combined heat and power scheme in Wick, have announced a further expansion of the district heating system with the connection later this month of the Wick Assembly Rooms.  This will allow the north’s largest public performance venue to be heated entirely from renewable energy, enabling its oil-fired boiler to be switched off.  
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) invested £80m in the past year
HIE’s 2012-13 end of year results, reviewed by Board members this week, reveal that the agency has met or exceeded its targets for increasing turnover and international sales for supported businesses and social enterprises.  It also highlights the delivery of a wide range of ambitious projects which are making a real difference to the region’s economic and social sustainability.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Energy/ Business Services: As we continue to see positive interest in Caithness from the energy sector, I met this week with representatives from Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd, HIE and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd to discuss feedback from recent contact and to agree the key messages we will continue to take to companies in the sector about the value of doing business in the north.   Enabling Activities: Continuing work on developing our activities in support of skills this week: I met with local partners to discuss how we might best help people to understand and take advantage of some forthcoming opportunities in the “home-working” sector, where doing a range of skilled work from a home base can be an attractive option.  
Register Your SkillsThumbnail for article : Register Your Skills
Highlands and Islands Enterprise would like to increase the number of people registered on their skills register so they can spread the word on job opportunities in North Scotland.   It will also help greatly to attract large companies to come and invest in the local area! Go on, inspire investment and get job opportunities - register here: http://www.hie.co.uk/skillsregister.  
Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update
Week commencing 22 April 2013 Energy/ Business Services: Scrabster Harbour Trust has this week announced an agreement with NorSea Group, a major Norwegian oil & gas services company, that is expected will lead to major investment and new job prospects for the local economy.  NorSea operates nine supply bases along the coast of Norway, but this will be its first Scottish base.  
Interactive Map Shows How Many Work In Growing Energy SectorThumbnail for article : Interactive Map Shows How Many Work In Growing Energy Sector
A new interactive map interactive map displaying employment figures within the energy sector in the Highlands and Islands has been launched today (Monday 22 April 2013).   The launch coincides with today’s meeting of the National Renewables Advisory Group in Inverness, chaired by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.