News Archive

25/3/2023

 
UK And Albania Outline £4 Billion Ambition For Closer Export Ties

Tim Reid, CEO of UK Export Finance, the Albanian Prime Minister and Finance Minister will today outline their £4 billion ambition for a closer export relationship.   This could deliver a minimum of £800 million in value to businesses across the UK.  

25/3/2023

The RAF Are Continuing To Take The Fight To Daesh In Iraq And Syria.

Tuesday 20 December 2022 - a Reaper struck a Daesh target in northern Syria.   Royal Air Force aircraft have continued to conduct armed reconnaissance patrols against elements of the Daesh terrorist network in Syria, as well as supporting, as required, the Iraqi authorities' efforts to keep Daesh out of their country.  

25/3/2023

Funding Boost For The Marine Sector - Support package of up to £14 million announced

Seafood businesses and marine organisations in Scotland's coastal communities are set to benefit from a new year of funding through Marine Fund Scotland.   A total of up to £14 million of funding will be available in 2023/24 to encourage the sustainable use of marine resources for economic growth, support livelihoods and jobs whilst preserving the health of marine and coastal ecosystem.  

25/3/2023

 
Highlands And Islands Fuel Change Challenge Launched

Skills boosting sustainability challenge launched for young workers in the Highlands and Islands.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Zero Waste Scotland, and business transformation enterprise, Fuel Change are teaming up to launch a region-wide sustainability challenge to boost young workforce skills.  

25/3/2023

 
Overseas Travel And Tourism: October And November 2022 Provisional Results Visits To The UK By Overseas Residents, Visits Abroad By UK Residens

Visits to the UK increased from 3.0 million in September 2022 to 3.2 million in October 2022 and remained at 3.2 million in November 2022.   Spending by overseas residents visiting the UK rose from £2.6 billion in September 2022 to £2.7 billion in October 2022; spending decreased in November 2022 to £2.1 billion.  

25/3/2023

 
UK Hosts Thanked On First Anniversary Of Homes For Ukraine Scheme

Ukrainian Ambassador thanks British people for standing ‘shoulder to shoulder' with Ukraine.   The government has hailed the British public's generosity and their enduring commitment to freedom one year on from the first Homes for Ukraine arrival.  

24/3/2023 : Auctioneers

Dingwall And Highland Marts Ltd - Young Farmers Sale - 22 March 2023

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (March, 22nd) sold 16 Young Farmers over-wintered cattle at their annual sale, kindly sponsored by John M Munro Butchers, Craiglands Quarry, Cloy Farm & Animal Health Highland.   Bullocks (7) averaged 342.3p and sold to 539.0p per kg and £2,400 gross for the Overall Supreme Champion, Haltered Champion and 1st Prize Purchased Haltered Bullock a 445kg British Blue cross from Tilly Munro, Invercharron Mains, Ardgay.  

24/3/2023 : Auctioneers

Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 22 March 2023

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (March, 22nd) sold 874 store cattle, 73 OTM cattle.   Bullocks (480) averaged 288.8p per kg and sold to 340.2p per kg for a 485kg Limousin cross from Invercharron Mains, Ardgay and £1,900 gross for a 330kg Limousin cross from Teandalloch, Beauly.  

24/3/2023

Bank Rate Rise To 4.25% Announced By Bank Of England - Up One Quarter Percent

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment.  At its meeting ending on 22 March 2023, the MPC voted by a majority of 7-2 to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4.25%.  

24/3/2023

Technophobia threatening the future of SMEs

Small and medium UK businesses are being held back post-pandemic by a reluctance to adopt new technologies, experts have warned.   Experts from TelephoneSystems.Cloud have warned that the future of many SMEs is at risk after the pandemic accelerated technological change across the wider business sector.  

24/3/2023

 
New Income And Poverty Statistics For Scotland - Initial Thoughts

Arport by Emma Congreve.  Emma is Deputy Director and Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute.  

24/3/2023

Poverty Levels Broadly Stable - Poverty Levels Broadly Stable

The latest poverty statistics, covering the period to March 2022, show little recent change in poverty levels for children, working-age adults and pensioners.   Two out of the four child poverty measures in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act (relative and absolute poverty) are broadly stable.  

24/3/2023

Crack Your Easter Childcare Costs With Tax-free Top Ups 

With the Easter school holidays nearly here, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding families in Scotland not to miss out on UK Government help to pay for childcare.   Tax-Free Childcare can pay for any approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or 16 if the child has a disability.  

24/3/2023

Bank Hands Are Tied

Jo Thorne of Wealth club comments on the latest interest rate rise.   Rates rise 0.25% to 4.25%.  

24/3/2023

Supporting Scotland's Small Producers - New Fund To Help Grow Local Supply Chains

Small scale producers are set to have access to a range of new support designed to create more localised supply chains and cut food miles.   The Scottish Government's Small Producers Pilot Fund aims to help individual small producers increase their resilience and enhance their contribution to the rural economy.  

24/3/2023

 
New UK Law To Boost Seafarer Pay

The new law is designed to protect those working on vessels operating an international service from being paid less than the National Minimum Wage.   act designed to boost the pay of seafarers with close ties to the UK receives Royal Assent, as government continues to crack down on unfair practices.  

24/3/2023

 
Sellafield robotics: Using spot more for spotless nuclear clean-up

Spot the dog and its fellow robots are transforming the future of clean-up work at Sellafield.   Spot the dog has become a regular feature at Sellafield and a great mascot for the range of robotic tools and innovations that are transforming the way we work.  

24/3/2023

New Compensation Scheme Opens For Postmasters Who Exposed Horizon Scandal

Postmasters who first took High Court legal action against Post Office over the Horizon IT system and exposed the scandal can now apply to a new compensation scheme.   New scheme will make sure these postmasters receive full and fair compensation.  

24/3/2023

 
Why Mortgage Rates Will Not Return To Recent Lows Any Time Soon

The Bank of England base rate has increased steeply from 0.25% in January 2022 to 4.25% in March 2023.  More than 4 million UK households now have significantly higher mortgage costs as a result, while also dealing with the impact of soaring prices for other items such as food and energy.  

24/3/2023

 
UKAEA And Kyoto Fusioneering To Advance Fusion Materials

Collaboration agreement signed by UKAEA and Kyoto Fusioneering to advance materials for commercial fusion energy.   Japanese fusion company, Kyoto Fusioneering (KF) and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have signed a collaboration agreement to develop fusion related technologies.