News Archive
5/2/2024
Variable Savings Rates Hold Firm As Interest Paid On Fixed Accounts Drops Sharply
December saw the largest month-on-month fall in average fixed savings rates in over a decade, and January saw an even steeper reduction as providers continued to slash interest paid to savers. Despite this, variable savings rates have remained largely steady in recent months.
4/2/2024
Disposable Vape Ban ‘A Pro-smoking' Policy - You Decide But By Now We All Know Putting Chemicals in Our Lungs Is Bad News
Commenting on the government's plan to ban disposable vapes and restrict e-cigarette flavours, Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the free market think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs, said, "The government is trying to ram through illiberal and counterproductive policies before anyone thinks about them too carefully. The generational ban on tobacco sales will be a farce and will spawn all the problems associated with prohibition.
4/2/2024
Premier League Transfer Spending Has Plummeted In January 2024 - An Expert Explains Why Belts Have Been Tightened
Premier League transfer windows can be a noisy affair, with vast amounts of money being thrown around, as deals are made and players bought and sold. The summer of 2023 reached a record spend of £2.36 billion, straight after a high-spending January window before that (£815 million).
4/2/2024
New Teaching Apprenticeship In England Set To Transform Pathway To Classroom
New teacher degree apprenticeship will support schools to recruit and retain the excellent teachers they need in vital subjects including maths. A new teaching apprenticeship will launch this autumn revolutionising the way schools recruit teachers while supporting more people to earn while they study for a degree.4/2/2024
Economic Impact Of Scotland's Renewable Energy Sector
More than 42,000 jobs supported by Scotland's renewable energy sector, our new report finds. Scotland's renewable energy industry and its supply chain supported more than 42,000 jobs and generated over £10.1 billion of output in 2021.
4/2/2024
New Scottish Gdp Figures, And The Bank Holds Firm On Rates
It might have flown under the radar compared with news on interest rates from both sides of the pond, but the first monthly estimate for Scottish GDP in November 2023 was released this week by the Scottish Government, alongside the Quarterly National Accounts publication for quarter 3 of 2023. There are two main areas of news.4/2/2024
Atholl House - Kaye Adams Well Known Radio/tv Presenter Wins 9-year IR35 Case Against HMRC
Many of you will know Kaye Adams from her radio and tv broadcasting. What you may not know is that she has been fighting HMRC for nearly 10 years and finally won her case recently.4/2/2024
Inflation - How A Different Approach Could Ease The Burden Of The Cost Of Living Crisis
The latest annual inflation rate rise to 4% has dampened expectations about how soon the Bank of England might start cutting interest rates. Marginally higher than the previous month's figure of 3.9%, it was a surprise to some economists.3/2/2024
Smarter Maintenance For Navy Fleet Under £1.85 Billion Contract
UK security will be boosted through a vast new contract - worth nearly £2 billion - that will ensure the long-term availability and resilience of critical naval assets. £1.85 billion contract to sustain world-class leading sonar and sensors for Royal Navy ships and submarines Defence Secretary announces 450 UK jobs to be created or sustained across the UK AI and data management to analyse availability and reduce repair times and increase ship availability UK security will be boosted through a vast new contract - worth nearly £2 billion - that will ensure the long-term availability and resilience of critical assets used by Royal Navy ships and submarines over the next 15 years.3/2/2024
500 Trucks Rapidly Procured For British Army Operations
500 support trucks will be delivered to the British Army, to support operational activity, following a rapid procurement process of just 7 months. 500 support trucks will be delivered to the British Army in 2024 to support operational activity, following a rapid procurement process.3/2/2024
Government Backs Bill To Clamp Down On Livestock Worrying In England
Tougher powers to tackle livestock worrying have taken a significant step forward today (2 February) with the announcement of government backing for new legislation. Livestock worrying - when dogs chase, attack, or cause distress to livestock - can result in significant injury and suffering and in the worst cases, the death of the animals involved.2/2/2024
If Generative AI Is Saving Academics Time, What Are They Doing With It?
Drawing on a recent survey of academic perceptions and uses of generative AI, Richard Watermeyer, Donna Lanclos and Lawrie Phipps suggest that the potential efficiency promised by these tools disclose which work is and isn't valued in academia. Widespread use of generative AI tools in academia seems inevitable.2/2/2024
Highland Workers Need Action, Not More Rhetoric
Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary writing in The Herald today sums up many problems facing the Highlands and not least NHS Highland cancellations of many projects. The Highlands and Islands may be celebrated for their beauty, their lush landscapes and scenic hills, but for many workers life is a struggle.1/2/2024
Scottish Government Leaves The North To Crumble And Dumps The Blame On Councillors Handling Their Budget
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, says the SNP Government is leaving the North to crumble. The MSP again raised the issue of the condition of the roads in the Highlands with the Scottish Government as she highlighted that the roads backlog for repairs in the Highlands this year stands at a staggering £233million.
1/2/2024
Cairn Housing Are Looking For A Repairs Contractor In Caithness! - Three Years Work Starting April 2024
Local contractors and organisations are wanted to tender for repairs and maintenance to 700 homes in Caithness. The contract will last for three years and begin in April 2024.
1/2/2024
Support Programme Takes Young Entrepreneurs To The Next Level
Dynamic business support programme, IMPACT30, is aimed at nurturing and empowering the next generation of innovative leaders. The fully funded programme is for people aged under 35 in a young enterprise and in a key decision-making role.1/2/2024
Region's Businesses Value Community Links
Most businesses in the Highlands and Islands consider their links with the local community as either equal to or more important than their profitable growth. This is one of the key findings of the most recent rural business survey commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).1/2/2024
New XL Bully Dog Safeguards Being Introduced - Owners Urged To Prepare For Changes
The first of a two-stage approach to new legal safeguards on XL Bully dogs will come into force on 23 February subject to parliamentary approval. From this date, it will remain legal to own an XL Bully dog but owners must ensure their dogs are muzzled and on a lead when in a public place.1/2/2024
Home Heating Switch Faces Significant Risks In Scotland
The Scottish Government will not be able to phase out fossil-fuel home heating systems by 2045 unless it significantly increases the scale and pace of activity. Ministers published the Heat in Buildings Strategy in 2021 and officials then spent almost two years building a team to deliver it.
1/2/2024
