News Archive

13/4/2023

NHS Highland Appoints Balfour Beatty To Lead Key Redesign Projects In Caithness and Lochaber

NHS Highland is pleased to confirm that Balfour Beatty Plc has been appointed as the Principal Supply Chain Partner for the Lochaber and Caithness General Hospital redesign projects.   Balfour Beatty will take on the role of managing contractor, leading the design and construction processes for the new hospital in Fort William and the refurbishment of Caithness General in Wick.  

13/4/2023

Trading Standards Scam Warnings - Investment Scams

Three people have this week been convicted for investment fraud, after scamming over £1.2 million from around 120 UK investors.   They made cold calls to members of the public, using pseudonyms, to convince them to invest with a fake company.  

13/4/2023

Trading Standards Latest Scam Warnings - Prize Draw Scams

Prize Draw Scams - Facebook.   Some Facebook users have recently received messages that appear to be from friends or relatives and encourage them to enter a prize draw.  

13/4/2023

Trading Standards Scam Warnings - Scam Ads On Search Engines

Consumer body Which? has warned that scammers are buying adverts that appear at the top of Google search results when shoppers look up popular retailers, such as Next, TK Maxx and Zara.   Clicking on these adverts leads you to a 'rewards' website using the branding of the genuine retailer, where you will be asked to complete a series of tasks in order to win a voucher.  

13/4/2023

 
Monetary And Financial Stability - Lessons From Recent Times

A speech by Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England -Given at the Institute of International Finance.   It is a great pleasure to be back in Washington.  

13/4/2023

House Sales Market Remains Downbeat Overall Although Some Stability Seen In Forward-looking Indicators

RICS Residential Market Survey, March 2023.   Metrics on buyer enquiries, agreed sales and new instructions all remain negative House prices still falling at the national level Twelve-month sales expectations point to a more stable trend emerging.  

13/4/2023

Scottish Bakers Dismayed At Delayed Apprenticeship Funding From Scottish Government

Scottish Bakers, a membership organisation which supports the bakery trade throughout Scotland and which is a major independent provider of apprenticeships to Scotland's food and drink manufacturing industry, has written to the Government to express dismay at the delay in confirming funding for new apprenticeships starts.   Chief Executive Officer Alasdair Smith said: Scottish Bakers received early confirmation of 481 places for registration during 2023/24.  

13/4/2023

Invinity Energy Systems Awarded £11million To Produce Largest Grid Scale Battery Ever Produced In The Uk.

Invinity Energy Systems plc has today been awarded £11 million in funding by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to build the largest grid-scale battery ever manufactured in the UK.   The Vanadium Flow Battery Longer Duration Energy Asset Demonstrator ("VFB LEAD") project will see a 30 MWh Invinity VFB system deployed at a key node on the National Grid.  

12/4/2023 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 11 April 2023

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April 11th) sold 10 Prime Cattle.   Prime Bullocks (1) averaged 292.0 per kg (+3.9p) and sold to 292.0p per kg and £1,795.80 gross.  

12/4/2023

Why you should care about bumper bank profits

The Bank of England has raised interest rates 11 times since December 2021 but, while this may boost bank profits, it is less likely to boost many people's bank balances.   Alongside the sharp spike in interest rates over the past year, many big names in the UK banking business have been reporting bumper 2022 profits.  

12/4/2023

Bird Flu - All Bird Keepers Must Maintain Scrupulous Biosecurity Standards

Scrupulous biosecurity is the most effective method of disease control and all bird keepers should apply enhanced measures to prevent future outbreaks.   Current situation Mandatory housing measures for poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across England and Wales to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 April 2023, the Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed following a latest assessment of the risk level.  

12/4/2023

Delivering Housing To 2040

Increasing and accelerating housing supply, tackling homelessness, ending rough sleeping and progressing Scotland's 20-year housing plan are key priorities for Housing Minister Paul McLennan.   On his first public visit as Housing Minister, Mr McLennan visited the Letham Mains housing development in Haddington and saw first-hand how Scottish Government funding is supporting local councils and housing associations to deliver energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of communities across Scotland.  

12/4/2023

Protections For Scotland's Cattle Industry

Farmers bringing cattle into Scotland will be subject to tighter controls in order to reduce the risk of spreading Bovine Tuberculosis (TB).   From 18 May, changes to legislation will come into force which will require stricter pre-movement testing of cattle, adding extra precautions for animals coming from areas of higher risk of infection.  

12/4/2023

New Crackdown On Fraud Introduced By Home Office

New offence will make it easier to prosecute a large organisation if an employee commits fraud for the organisation's benefit.   The new failure to prevent fraud offence will make it easier to prosecute a large organisation if an employee commits fraud for the organisation's benefit.  

11/4/2023

 
As Russia Sources Weapons For Its War, It Is Violating The Very Un Sanctions It Helped To Draft: Uk Statement At The Security Council

Statement by Deputy Political Coordinator Alice Jacobs at the UN Security Council debate on export of weapons and military equipment.   I'd like to start by congratulating Mozambique on their Presidency in March and also thank you to Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu for her briefing today.  

11/4/2023

 
Floating Solar Panels Ready In First For Scotland

Scotland's first array of floating solar panels will be installed this year as part of an innovative move to generate renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions.   First Minister Humza Yousaf toured the manufacturing facility of Nova Innovation in Leith where the panels are being tested before their launch.  

11/4/2023 : Visitor Attractions

 
John O'Groats Mill - Come Help Us Plant Some Trees!

The Mill has made significant progress towards our goal of creating a Must Visit place for Caithness folk and visitors.  Both the Mill and its landscape are important.  

11/4/2023

 
Investment In Telecoms Innovation And R And D

Substantial investments in telecoms and a new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy to put the UK at the forefront of science and technology, harness enterprise and innovation and drive economic growth.   The Prime Minister has set out his 5 priorities for this government - to build a better, more secure, more prosperous future for the UK, including growing the economy, and creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the UK.  

11/4/2023

Connecting Scotland's Worldwide Diaspora

A new framework to strengthen Scotland's engagement with global connections has been published.   The Scottish Connections Framework seeks to expand links and networks with: Scottish people living elsewhere in the world those with Scottish heritage people who have previously lived in Scotland, including alumni those with a professional, business, cultural or other links to Scotland The Framework outlines commitments to Scotland's global communities, recognising the benefits of international collaboration for both Scotland and the diaspora across the world.  

11/4/2023

Mother's Day Boosted Sales

The British Retail Consortium report Covering the five weeks 26 February - 1 April 2023.   UK Total retail sales increased by 5.1% in March, against an increase of 3.1% in March 2022.