Staff praised as Council toilets receive top awards

7th January 2015

Cleaning staff responsible for looking after The Highland Council's Care and Learning services' toilets are been praised after scooping 7 national category awards, and 2 major national awards in the annual Loo of the Year Awards. With 20 facilities receiving platinum certificates and a further 23 gold, the Council has also been awarded a Champions League Standards of Excellence Certificate.

Chairman of the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee, Councillor Alasdair Christie thanked staff for their hard work and commitment in providing top class toilets. He said: "To win so many national awards is a great achievement and reflects the hard work and commitment of our staff who take pride in ensuring the very best of toilet facilities are provided. Our school pupils and teaching staff should also be given credit for their support and efforts to ensure the work of cleaning staff is respected."

Competition from across the whole UK for these awards has got stronger each year. Our percentage of platinum awards has increased by over 46% so everyone involved should take pride in the fact that they are setting the high standards for the rest of the UK to follow and behalf of the whole council I give them our sincere congratulations."

The Scottish National Category Award for Primary Schools and Play Centres went to Alvie Primary in Badenoch and Strathspey while Invergordon Academy won the Higher and Adult Education category and the Education Early Years top prize went to Carbost Primary Nursery on the Isle of Skye. The Scottish Historic Buildings award went to Inverness Town House with Merkinch Community Centre taking the best Community Centre category. The other two national awards went to The Glen Centre in Aviemore for best Day Centre and Osprey House in Alness in the category for Commercial & Public offices.

The two Scotland National Award Winners were The Highland Council for the Local Authority Entries category and Alvie Primary School for the Toilets in Education Entries.

Each successful entry was assessed using a strict judging criteria which included signage, decor and maintenance, cleanliness, fixtures and fittings, accessible facilities and overall management and customer care made during an unannounced visit by an authorised Loo Of The Year Awards Inspector.

Highland facilities, maintained by Care and Learning staff which were awarded top Platinum gradings are:

· Council Offices, Golspie

· Golspie Service Point

· Osprey House, Alness

· Ben Wyvis Primary

· Assessors Office, Dingwall

· Ullapool High School

· Milton of Leys Primary, Inverness

· The Highland Archive Centre, Inverness

· Inverness Town House

· Merkinch Community Centre

· Aldourie Primary

· Court House, Nairn

· The Glen Centre, Aviemore

· Aviemore Primary and Community Centre

· Alvie Primary

· Highland Folk Museum (Main offices)

· Lochaline Primary

· Acharacle Primary

· Roy Bridge Primary

· Carbost Primary Nursery


Those awarded Gold gradings are:

· Halkirk Primary

· Mount Pleasant Nursery

· Pultneytown Academy

· Reay Primary

· Thrumster Primary

· Thurso High School

· Thorr House

· Dornoch Primary Nursery

· Golspie Primary

· Beachview Lodge

· Invergordon Academy

· Kinlochewe Primary

· Ullapool Primary

· Kirkhill Primary

· Council Headquarters, Inverness

· North Tower, Inverness Castle

· Merkinch Family Centre

· Caberfeidh Resource Centre

· St Brides Primary

· Inverlochy Nursery

· Ballachulish Primary

· Eigg Primary

· Tigh Na Sgire, Portree

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

Short Term Let Control Area In Badenoch and Strathspey Has Slowed More Properties Joining - See Highland Wide Tougher Rules

Early indications suggest that the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area (STLCA) for Badenoch and Strathspey has slowed the growth of secondary short-term lets across the area.   The STLCA for Ward 20, which covers Aviemore, Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Dalwhinnie Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, and Newtonmore, has been in place for two years and was one of the first to be designated in Scotland.  

24/4/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council signs Memorandum of Understanding with Ukrainian region

The Highland Council has confirmed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State (Military) Administration in Ukraine.   The MoU acknowledges bonds of friendship and common aims to promote knowledge transfer, educational and trade exchanges, and encourage investment opportunities between the two regions.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Accessible Voting at the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election – Support Available for Voters

As the Scottish Parliament Election approaches on Thursday 7 May 2026, we are ensuring that voting is accessible to voters.   Polling stations across the Highlands will be open from 7am to 10pm.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Thurso provides feedback on £100 million investment plan

Consultation in Thurso has found strong support for investment in a Community Point of Delivery (PoD) that serves the whole town and delivers wider benefits beyond the replacement of ageing school buildings.   Local people described the proposed development of an education campus on the current Thurso High School site and surrounding area as an opportunity to create a civic asset for the whole community, bringing together education, sport, leisure, health, art and social facilities.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Housing Under Pressure: What the Latest Caithness Committee Report Really Tells Us

The latest Highland Council Caithness Committee Housing Management Performance Report (2025–26) offers a detailed snapshot of how social housing services are performing across the region.  On the surface, it is a routine governance update—tracking repairs, allocations, rent collection, and tenant satisfaction.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget Approved By Councillors In The Year To 31 March 2026

Councillors approved grant funding from ward discretionary funds in the year to 31 March 2026.  13 groups in each of the two wards received funding.  

23/4/2026 : Local Authority

Workforce North: A Turning Point for the Highlands If We Get It Right

The Highland Council’s Workforce North initiative arrives at a critical moment for the Highlands.  On one side, the region is seeing unprecedented levels of investment in renewable energy, infrastructure, and construction.  

22/4/2026 : Local Authority

Non Domestic Rates - Sector Specific Business Rates Relief – from 1 April 2026

Support for Highland businesses may be available.   Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Relief.  

15/4/2026 : Local Authority

Child Payments Up, Council Services Down: The Budget Squeeze No One Wants to Admit

Scotland's councils are now facing a financial crisis that is deeper and more structural than anything seen since devolution.   The pressures have been building for more than a decade, but they have now reached a point where several councils are openly warning that they may not be able to balance their budgets in the coming years.  

13/4/2026 : Local Authority

 
Deadline approaches to register to vote in the Scottish Parliament election

With the Scottish Parliament election taking place on Thursday 7 May 2026, electors in the three Highland constituencies are being urged to ensure they are registered to vote before the deadline for receipt of applications which is midnight next Monday (20 April).   You will receive a poll letter to tell you where to go to cast your vote on Thursday 7 May.