Energy: I took part in a meeting this week to help develop the marketing plan for the Pentland Firth & Orkney waters, together with colleagues from Orkney Islands Council, HIE and EMEC. As partners build on the recent announcement of Marine Energy Park status for the Pentland Firth/ Orkney waters area and the Enterprise Area status for Scrabster, our discussions focused on ensuring that the message to potential investors remains clear and attractive and that local communities and stakeholders are kept informed of progress.
Alasdair Hay will be the first Chief Officer of the new single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The post will be one of the top fire jobs in the UK and one of the most demanding and high-profile roles in civic Scotland.
Cairn Housing Association is pleased to announce that it's all change at Caberfeidh Court, Wick. After a fundamental review of the services offered at Caberfeidh Court it has been decided that the housing court at Wellington Avenue in Wick is to be redesignated as Retirement Housing.
Police in Wick are appealing for information regarding a commercial premises being entered on Rutherford Street, Wick. Police would like to hear from any members of the public who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in this area between about 4pm Monday 30th July and 11am Wednesday 1st August 2012.
Police in Wick are appealing for witnesses following a reported road traffic collision about 1:45am on Sunday 22 July 2012. This was at A882, Haster, Caithness, two cars collided and one of the cars left the location without stopping or reporting the matter to Police.
Home security advice. Don't give thieves a chance...
Enabling Activities: Enabling those who are currently out of work to find employment, helping school students to identify paths towards employment and supporting those seeking transition opportunities within the current workforce were the three drivers for a meeting I convened this week with colleagues from North Highland College, Skills Development Scotland, Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Highland Council's Employability team. The discussion was to progress plans for an event that promotes access to skills opportunities in new and emerging sectors with relevance to the area.
Northern Constabulary enforcement campaign to target speeding motorists on roads in Highlands and Islands. Northern Constabulary joins Scotland's other forces this weekend in an enforcement campaign against those who drive at excessive or inappropriate speeds.
This is a short message to update you on activities relating to the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership. Update 9th July 2012 Tourism: Natural Retreats, the operators of the new development at John O'Groats, confirmed in this week's local press the good news that the high-quality self-catering lodges at its site should be completed by early August, with already encouraging levels of interest.
Week ended 2 July 2012 This is a short message to update you on activities relating to the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership. Energy: The Marine Energy Group, which is co-chaired by Scottish Government and industry body Scottish Renewables, has published its Marine Action Plan, which updates on progress since the launch of the Marine Energy Roadmap in 2009 and highlights ongoing activities required of governments, agencies and private sector in five key areas to further development the marine energy industry.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority says significant acceleration in the clean-up and shutdown of Dounreay will bring real value to the taxpayer who funds the work. Its chief executive John Clarke, writing in the organisation's annual report published today, says the award of the site closure contract earlier this year was a milestone in the NDA's mission to clean up the UK's nuclear legacy and bring down the cost.
As the opportunities for renewable energy increase in the North of Scotland, the lead partner in the Dounreay site, Babcock, announces its continued support to bring jobs into the area. The secondment of June Love, Dounreay, to support Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) activities in the sectors of Energy and Business Services demonstrates a real partnership working between the private and the public sectors.
Energy: As reported last week, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) launched its online procurement portal for supply chain companies seeking to tender for work with the company. A variety of current tendering opportunities is at https://www.sseopen4business-highlands.com/sse/publicSearchForm.html#publicSearchForm and interested businesses are being encouraged to register their organisation and create a business profile on the site.
Does your business have a strategy in place to comply with compulsory provision of pensions for all employees? Do you know by what date you will have to comply? Are your employee benefits fit for purpose and providing value for money? Does your business have a strategy in place to comply with compulsory provision of pensions for all employees? Do you know by what date you will have to comply? Are your employee benefits fit for purpose and providing value for money? Caithness Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Chamber members, NFU Mutual, invite you to a presentation on employee benefits and the impact that auto-enrolment and NEST (National Employment Savings Trust) may have on your business. This free event is being held on Monday 9th July in Caithness Horizons from 19:00 to 21:00.
Come and see our new office at Stevenson House, Harbour Street, Wick Tuesday 19th June 2012 "To build the kind of society that we all want, we need to pay more attention to the way that we relate to our youngest children. Science is helping us to understand why it is that the way we love our children matters so much." Dr.
Police urge drivers not to spoil the party by drinking and driving as summer of events approaches. Drivers in the Highlands and Islands are being urged not to spoil the party this summer by getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
The first meeting of the new Northern Joint Police Board members heard today that Northern Constabulary achieved the highest ever detection rate by the Force last year and remains one of the highest performing Forces in the UK. The detection rate stood at 67% (class 1 to 5) by the end of an extremely busy year from April 2011-12 and 4% up on the previous year.
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund recently awarded its 2nd round of grants for 2012 to community projects totalling £101,342. Six groups in Caithness and two groups in the North Sutherland area have been awarded funding for projects that help to improve the attractiveness of their area as a place to live, work and invest.
As summer approaches, Northern Constabulary is reminding cyclists about the importance of locking their bikes, every time they use them. Bicycle theft is a problem nationwide, and the Highlands are no exception.
Successful Farm Watch scheme is rolled out in Caithness, Sutherland and East Ross. Northern Constabulary is delighted to announce the roll out of the successful Farm Watch initiative to the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross-shire areas.