Advisory / Counseling Services News

1/5/2024 : Banks & Finance

 
Adult Membership Of Credit Unions Is Increasing And Members Taking Out More Loans

The latest information from the Bank of England shows that adult membership of credit unions across the UK is increasing.   The total number of adult members has been steadily increasing.  

23/4/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
NDA Group Establishes Innovative Partnership To Manage Asbestos Waste At Legacy Nuclear Sites

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), in collaboration with its subsidiary Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), has awarded two contracts to establish an innovative partnership for the enhanced management of asbestos waste.   The Asbestos Innovation Partnership (AIP) will work with the NDA, NWS and the supply chain, to test and develop new solutions to treat asbestos waste, helping to deliver efficiencies and enable more effective waste management.  

17/4/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Cairngorm Funicular Remedial Works Progressing

A programme of remedial works to bring Scotland's only funicular railway back into service at Cairngorm Mountain is entering a new phase during week beginning Monday 15 April.   With the snowsports season now over, multiple teams from contractor Balfour Beatty, appointed by Cairngorm Estate owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), are set to be deployed on the mountainside.  

11/4/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
SRUC and HIE partnership to benefit rural economy

The five-year agreement between Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will also play a major role in contributing to regional economic growth.   The signing of the agreement, by Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, and HIE Chief Executive Stuart Black, follows the official opening of SRUC's Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre (RAVIC), a valued addition to SRUC’s School of Veterinary Medicine, in Inverness by HRH the Princess Royal.  

5/4/2024 : Other Public Services

 
Dounreay Workers Vote To Strike Over Pay

Workers at the Dounreay nuclear power complex in Caithness have voted to strike in a dispute over pay.   The GMB union said its ballot had an 85% turnout.  

1/4/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Great British Nuclear To Buy Two Hitachi Sites For New Nuclear Development

Land is to be acquired by government to underpin nuclear revival.   In a historic day for the UK's energy security, Great British Nuclear (GBN) is buying land for new nuclear development from Hitachi at both Wylfa in Ynys Môn/Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire.  

26/3/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Gad Develops Bespoke Benefits Modeller As Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Reforms Pension Benefits

GAD has built a pension benefit modeller to support the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority as it undertakes a pension reform programme.   The Government Actuary's Department (GAD) has supported the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) as it undertakes a pension reform programme.  

13/3/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
New Orkney Whisky Distillery In Moves To Create Jobs And Lower Emissions

Deerness Distillery Ltd has secured £246,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the £820,000 development.   Construction is underway at the distillery, which was founded by husband-and-wife team Stuart and Adelle Brown.  

9/3/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
NDA Group Hosts First Ever Large-scale Graduate Recruitment Event

This week, the NDA group hosted it's first ever large-scale graduate recruitment event in Manchester, with over 600 candidates in attendance.   The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group held its first ever large-scale graduate recruitment event in Manchester this week, bringing together more than 600 candidates as it looks to double the number of opportunities across its graduate schemes this year.  

8/3/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For Tapestries

The Co-Chairs of the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, Fergus Ewing MSP and Cllr Ian Brown, are delighted to announce the award of £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in support of framing the 57 panels that will form the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.   This financial commitment from HIE has contributed significantly to the preservation of the 57 panels created by communities across the Highlands and Islands, of which 32 will be included in the first exhibition as part of the Inverness Castle Experience.  

28/2/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
£24.5m To Secure £350m Inward Investment

Sumitomo Electric UK Power Cables Ltd plans to establish major operations in the region, supplying high voltage cables to the growing offshore wind energy sector.   A funding package has been agreed to secure an estimated £350m in inward investment for Scotland, based in the Highlands.  

18/2/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Property Demand Study Launched By Highlands and Islands Enterprisie

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.  

13/2/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Shetland Engineering Firm Expands And Creates Jobs

L&M Engineering has secured a grant of £58,914 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the development, which is set to boost business turnover by £1.2m and create two jobs over the next three years.   The company is diversifying its operations to cater for additional aquaculture markets.  

1/2/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

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 : Advisory / Counseling Services

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.  

20/1/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Power Boost For Off-grid Island

A project to increase electricity supply and reduce emissions on a west coast island has been awarded more than £25,000 by HIE.   The HIE funding is being used to replace and upgrade high voltage transformers and other associated equipment to enable a major upgrade of the renewable energy supply on the Isle of Muck.  

19/1/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Region's Young Workforce To Take Part In Pioneering Sustainability Skills Programme

Region's young workforce to take part in pioneering sustainability skills programme.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Zero Waste Scotland and business transformation enterprise Powering Futures have teamed up to provide the fully-funded places on the Highlands and Islands Powering Futures Challenge 2024.  

16/1/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

New Facility For Renewables Industry Trainees

People working in or entering Scotland's growing renewables industry will soon have access to a new training facility in Inverness.   The £1.22m Renewable Energy Training Centre, being established by Aurora Energy Services Ltd, (AES) will be the first of its kind in the region.  

15/1/2024 : Other Services

 
Wick River Campsite - A Great Success For Wick Development Trust

From Caithness Voluntary Group Facebook page about a great success for the volunteer run Wick Development Trust.   I thought I should do a post based on the recent post shared about the new facilities block at Wick River Campsite.  

11/1/2024 : Other Services

 
Wick Development Trust - Wick Riverside Biodiversity Improvements Success - £6,319

Five local organisations to benefit from the 2023/24 Highland Nature Restoration Fund as further approvals are announced.   Five organisations have been awarded funding from the second round of the 2023/24 Highland Nature Restoration Fund.