News Archive

3/9/2023

NHS Doctors In England To Receive Pay Rise This Month

the government in England have pressed ahead with the doctors pay increase despite strikes still coming.   Junior doctors will join the strike on 20 September, also with "Christmas Day" levels of cover.  

3/9/2023 : Local Authority

Upcoming Changes To The Treatment Of Upholstered Furniture At Council Recycling Centres

Members of the Communities and Place Committee of Highland council were briefed on an imminent legislative change being brought forward by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), concerning the collection, storage and treatment of Upholstered Domestic Seating at Council facilities throughout the region.   Currently the Council directs all Upholstered Furniture to landfill, however, yesterday's update outlined the operational and financial implications to the Council in adopting this legislative change and diverting Upholstered Furniture from landfill.  

3/9/2023

The Short-term Lets Licensing Scheme

An article from the Fraser of Allander Institute published 31 August 2023 This morning the Scottish Government released the first statistics on applications and granting of licences for short-term lets by councils.  The licensing scheme came into force in October 2022 for new operators, and existing operators must apply for a licence before 1 October 2023.  

3/9/2023

 
Consultation Launched Into Unregulated Cosmetic Procedures - A New Licensing System

People and businesses are invited to share their views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures safer as thousands complain of ‘botched' procedures.   Government to seek views on how to make non-surgical cosmetic procedures safer for consumers.  

2/9/2023 : Libraries, Museums & Galleries

 
Supporting Innovation - Funding For Public Libraries

Libraries across Scotland can apply to the Public Library Improvement Fund to help finance creative projects and sustainable services.   Projects that could be supported under the £450,000 Scottish Government fund include tackling the cost of living crisis, bridging the digital divide, tackling the attainment gap for children and young people, or addressing sustainable development goals.  

2/9/2023 : Auctioneers

 
Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd - Sale 31 August 2023

DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (August 31st) sold 2,026 breeding sheep also all classes of lambs and Lewis Livestock at its annual sale sponsored by Gow Transport.   Gimmers 1st - H.V & W.  

2/9/2023 : Auctioneers

 
Dingwall And Highland Marts Ltd - Sale Lambs from Lewis Livestock Producers - 31 August 2023

DINGWALL., Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (August 31st) sold 723 Lambs from Lewis livestock producers.   Lewis Livestock Producers lambs (723) averaged £53.38 and sold to £98 for a pen of Cheviot Mules from 22 North Shawbost.  

2/9/2023

 
Next Chapter For Reading Schools

The First Minister has encouraged every school in Scotland to join Reading Schools, a Scottish Government-funded programme that supports attainment and benefits pupils' health and wellbeing.   So far, 371 schools have been awarded Reading Schools accreditation and 511 more have joined the programme - which independent evaluation has shown leads to more pupils reading for pleasure and can help to reduce the poverty-related attainment gap.  

2/9/2023

 
Robot Proves Itself In Dounreay Radioactive Area

An evaporator cell in the Fuel Cycle Area that has been shut off for 25 years has given up its secrets to ‘Spot'.   ‘Spot' is a robotic quadruped from Boston Dynamics described as a ‘mobile agile robot’.  

1/9/2023

 
Natural Immunity Wins On Covid - Dr John Campbell

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Naturally Acquired Immunity versus Vaccine-induced Immunity.   Reinfections versus Breakthrough Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study.  

1/9/2023

Companies Urged To File Accounts Early To Avoid Penalties - Deadline 30 September

If you're due to file accounts with Companies House by the end of September, allow plenty of time before your deadline.   All limited companies, whether they trade or not, must deliver annual accounts to us each year.  

1/9/2023

Nationwide Makes Further Mortgage Rate Cuts

Nationwide Building Society is reducing rates on selected fixed and tracker mortgage products by up to 0.15 percentage points.  The new rates will be effective from today, Friday 1 September 2023.  

1/9/2023

One Month Before Short-term Lets Licensing Deadline

The Scottish Government has reminded short-term let operators in Scotland to apply for a licence before the 1 October deadline, highlighting that no application so far has been rejected.   Licensing has been introduced to ensure short-term lets in Scotland are safe and meet consistent quality standards, including having gas certificates and suitable electrical equipment.  

31/8/2023 : Marine Services

 
Aurora Energy Services Acquires Northern Marine Services In Wick

Aurora Energy Services Limited (Aurora) has acquired lifting and inspection firm, Northern Marine Services (NMS), as part of its strategy to expand its services portfolio and geographic reach.   NMS is a provider of non-conventional lifting, inspection, logistics and marine services with customers including SSE, Subsea 7 and a number of windfarm, hydro power, telecoms and rail network clients.  

31/8/2023

Launch Of Caithness Challenge Initiative

The Caithness Challenge initiative to breathe new life into local spaces will be launched next month with residents being welcomed and encouraged to play their part in making it a success.   Meetings are being held at the UHI Campus in Thurso and Castletown Drill Hall to map out a way forward to make the best use of the two sites to help address the local challenges they face.  

31/8/2023

Government Bans Machetes And Zombie Knives

The government has introduced a new ban on zombie-style knives and machetes that have no practical use and will give police more powers to seize knives.   Machetes and zombie-style knives with no practical use will be banned and police will have more powers to seize them in a bid to crack down on their use in devastating street violence.  

31/8/2023

 
Government To Make It Easier To Sack Rogue Police Officers In England

Government announces changes to rules governing police officers' disciplinary, vetting and performance processes.   Police chiefs will chair independent public hearings responsible for removing corrupt officers from their force under new plans to strengthen the police dismissals process announced today (Thursday 31 August).  

31/8/2023

 
UK House Sales 22% Lower In July 2023 Than July 2022

July is the second consecutive month in which we have seen a small increase in seasonally adjusted transaction figures.  Seasonally adjusted residential transactions are up 1% relative to June, while seasonally adjusted non-residential figures are up 3%.  

31/8/2023

 
Scientific Community To Conduct Final Tritium Experiments At JET

Scientists and engineers at world-leading UK Atomic Energy Authority's Joint European Torus facility will run its third and final experiments using tritium.   The start of the final deuterium-tritium experiments at the Joint European Torus (JET) take place today at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) in Culham, Oxfordshire.  

31/8/2023

Transport And Storage Sector Hits The Skids, Missing Out On The Big July Bounce-back

The latest Government data shows a generally perky July for most business sectors, but transport & storage companies reported gloomier results.  The home delivery expert ParcelHero warns transport businesses are the barometer for the economy and July's rosy picture could be masking future problems.