At yesterday's (Thursday 27 April 2023) Housing and Property Committee meeting, Members approved the draft Housing and Investment Plan 2023-2028 for submission to the Scottish Government. Members also agreed to the indicative five year investment programme to 2028.
The Green Jobs Capital Fund supports organisations to create and retain green jobs. These are jobs focusing on the production of goods or services that benefit the environment, or that help drive more environmentally friendly processes.
Spain recently adopted a menstrual leave policy, which makes additional (paid or unpaid) days off work available to "only and all cisgender women". It's so great that we're having more public conversations about menstrual and menopausal health, but I'm getting very tired of being told that menstrual leave is the solution.
Members at next week's meeting of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be allocating the distribution of £7.7M of the £20.5M capital roads budget specifically for carriageway structural maintenance. Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "Many of our roads are suffering from lack of attention due to limited resources over a number of years.
Caithness Rural Transport members are growing daily and the service has expanded dramatically these past few months. The service relies on volunteers to cover any additional runs throughout the week that the main drivers/volunteers who have set days are unable to cover due to already having runs booked in.
A national network of climate action hubs is being set up to support communities to take forward climate action in their areas. Find out how to apply to set up a hub.
State schools to receive extra cash in May following additional £2 billion investment. Every state school in England is to receive a cash boost, as primary and secondary schools are allocated extra funding for the next academic year.
Energy and trade intensive businesses as well as heat network operators can from today apply for further support. Support for energy and trade intensive businesses opens for applications today, with savings of up to 20% on wholesale energy bills.
Signs of growth are encouraging, says Secretary of State, while focus remains on halving inflation and reducing debt. The Scottish GDP figures for February 2023 have been published today here.
The UK borrowed £139.2 billion in the last financial year - £13.2 billion less than the latest OBR forecast - but the UK's public sector net worth is also falling, and shows that the country is failing to invest in its future, the Resolution Foundation said on Tuesday in response to the latest ONS public sector finances. The end of year (2022-23) public sector finances data showed that while government borrowing is high – at 5.5 per cent – it is below the OBR forecast at the Budget last month, driven by government spending coming in £17.2 billion lower than forecast.
Fusion energy challenges discussed with worldwide robotics and automation community at ICRA and UKAEA's Haptic Training Simulator unveiled for the first time. Fusion energy development challenges discussed with worldwide robotics and automation community at ICRA 2023.
Families in the UK found themselves in the midst of a cost of living crisis over the winter. Inflation has skyrocketed over the past year, with prices still over 10 per cent higher than a year ago.
The Treasury's Covid approach contributed to "tug of war" in government. This report examines the Treasury's impressive role in designing and delivering economic support schemes - as well as the problems that undermined government decision making.
Rishi Sunak needs to draw a line under a failed approach to settling strikes and reconsider what pay deals the government can offer. With industrial action showing no sign of easing, Stuart Hoddinott says Rishi Sunak needs to draw a line under a failed approach to settling strikes and reconsider what pay deals the government can offer A few weeks ago it looked like the government might finally have brought an end to widespread public sector strikes after a breakthrough on NHS and teachers pay.
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited reports significant year-on-year passenger numbers increases across its 11 regional airports. Leading regional airport operator, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), has reported a 38.7% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers for 2022/23, with the figures now approaching pre-pandemic levels.
Inverness-based Munro and Noble has acquired Caithness-based firm Georgesons Solicitors, which comprises both Georgesons Solicitors and Georgesons Estate Agents. The newly acquired business will operate under the name Munro and Noble incorporating Georgesons.
Phil Anderson Financial Services has once again been named the Best Financial Adviser to work for at the Professional Adviser Awards in London. The prestigious award was collected by independent financial adviser Andrew Scouller, who accepted it on behalf of the entire firm.
We're excited to see the John o' Groats Trail appear on the small screen with Landward on Thursday 27th April 8.30pm on BBC Scotland, as Ken and Jay from the Trail take Dougie and the team around some of the Trail's most scenic sights. If you miss us then don't worry, you can catch the show on Friday 28th at 7.30pm, and then again Sunday BBC2 UK at 9am.
It's ten years since the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza building near Dhaka, Bangladesh, which killed at least 1,132 garment workers and injured several thousand more. The collapse of the eight-storey building on April 24 2013, which housed five factories making clothes for western high street brands like Accessorize, Primark and Walmart, was the worst of its kind in the world.
A campaign designed to promote the UK's thriving tech sector to American entrepreneurs and investors has been launched in Silicon Valley. New campaign launched in US - with billboards across Silicon Valley – to encourage tech experts to invest in the UK and help deliver on priority to grow the economy.
