News Archive

17/2/2026

 
Fiscal Reality Hits Holyrood: Higher Taxes or Service Cuts on the Table For Scotland

Funding more generous provision will increasingly need some combination of higher devolved tax revenues and more efficient public service delivery.   The Scottish Government received 26% more per resident for devolved public services from the UK government than is spent on comparable services in England in 2024-25.  

17/2/2026

Cracking the Cocoa Code: Will Falling Bean Prices Sweeten Easter or Leave Us with a Hollow Egg?

After a year of sticker shock in the chocolate aisle, there's finally been some movement behind the scenes.  Cocoa prices the raw ingredient at the heart of chocolate have fallen sharply from their record highs.  

17/2/2026

 
Businesses urged to "lock the door" on cyber criminals as new government campaign launches

A new campaign to provide practical ways for organisations to protect themselves from common online threats.   New campaign supports business owners to protect themselves against cyber threats to safeguard jobs and growth.  

17/2/2026

Crimes least likely to see sustained follow-up - Do We All Need CCTV Now?

Low-value theft and shoplifting may not be investigated by police unless there is good evidence.   Small thefts (especially under a few hundred pounds) are frequently recorded but not actively investigated.  

16/2/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Funding boosts STEM opportunities for young people in Caithness and Sutherland

Primary school pupils in Caithness and Sutherland will have the chance to dive into engaging science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) activities, thanks to a new funding agreement from NRS Dounreay.   The three-year commitment will enable the Science Skills Academy (SSA) to deliver practical STEM learning at the Newton Room in Thurso, helping young people aged 10-14 explore how STEM connects to real-world applications.  

16/2/2026

 
The Great Unravelling: How the UK's High Streets Are Emptying: and Why Scotland Is Being Hit Hardest

Walk through almost any town centre in Britain today and you'll see the same pattern.  Shuttered windows, fading signage, empty units that once housed familiar names.  

16/2/2026

How HFSS Marketing Harms Rural Communities: Why junk?food advertising hits places like Caithness harder than anywhere else

Walk through any Scottish supermarket, scroll through social media, or sit through a commercial break on TV, and you'll see the same thing.  A relentless parade of burgers dripping with cheese, fizzy drinks fizzing in slow motion, chocolate bars snapping seductively, and energy drinks promising power, focus, or rebellion.  

16/2/2026

How to Eat Healthily the Easy Way: Using natural foods, fruits and vegetables — without spending hours in the kitchen

Healthy eating doesn't need to be expensive, time‑consuming or fancy.  In fact, the simplest meals like the ones your grandparents would recognise are usually the healthiest.  

16/2/2026

Scottish Secretary Trade & Defence Mission to the Indo-Pacific

Trade opportunities and international security will be at the heart of Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander's programme as he embarks on a week-long visit to the Indo-Pacific region.   Mr Alexander will meet government ministers and business leaders across Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.  

16/2/2026 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Highlands and Islands Business Survey Shows The Challenges

Businesses in the Highlands and Islands have continued to perform well over the past six months despite having experienced significant challenges.   This is according to the latest business survey commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).  

16/2/2026

The Unravelling of Scotland's High Streets - A Caithness Perspective on a National Collapse

Walk down the high street in Wick today and you can feel it — the quiet unravelling.  Not a dramatic collapse, not a single moment you can point to, but a long, slow loosening of the threads that once held the town together.  

16/2/2026

£30?a?week healthy meal plan that actually works in places like Caithness, Orkney, the Highlands

A realistic, rural‑friendly £30‑a‑week healthy meal plan that actually works in places like Caithness, Orkney, the Highlands or any part of Scotland where food is expensive, shops are limited, and you need meals that are cheap, filling and simple.   This is not a starvation plan.  

16/2/2026

UK to champion how AI can supercharge growth, unlock new jobs and improve public services at AI Impact Summit in India

UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide at AI Impact Summit.   UK and international partners to redouble efforts for AI to transform public services, create jobs and drive renewal for people worldwide, as talks get underway at India AI Impact Summit 2026.  

16/2/2026

The Most Profitable Micro?Businesses You Can Start in Caithness for Under £1,000

We asked AI to analyse this question.  The answers may surprise you and more thought needs to be given before starting anything and you need a business plan and do some research before starting up.  

16/2/2026

Is the United States at Risk of Falling Behind on Next-Generation Flu Vaccines?

The recent decision by the U.S.  Food and Drug Administration to decline review of an investigational mRNA-based influenza vaccine has reignited a long-standing debate about how innovation, regulation, and public health intersect.  

16/2/2026

Pensions and Divorce: The Hidden Asset with Big Consequences

There is evidence that pensions are playing a more significant role in divorce settlements than they have historically, although how that trend shows up in official data depends on the measure you look at.   Here's a balanced summary of what recent research and reporting shows (with a focus on the UK, where most recent data is available): Trends pointing toward pensions becoming more relevant Some reports show increases in pension sharing orders in the past.  

16/2/2026

The Politics of Place: Why Rural Scotland Needs a New Deal

For decades, political and economic debates in the UK have revolved around national identity, constitutional reform, and macroeconomic policy.  Yet one of the most persistent and under-addressed challenges is spatial inequality shown in the uneven distribution of economic opportunity across places.  

16/2/2026

Government to Crack Down Harder: No platform gets a free pass

The Government will give parents and carers greater clarity and support as the Prime Minister announces immediate action to make the online world safer for children.   PM announces new powers to act within months to keep children safe amid rapid technology changes.  

16/2/2026

Why Landlords Set Up A Limited Company

The surge in landlords incorporating isn't random — it's a direct response to tax changes, especially Section 24, which removed full mortgage‑interest relief for individual landlords.  Limited companies are not affected in the same way, which is why incorporation has exploded in recent years.  

16/2/2026

Why Healthy Food Is Harder to Access in Caithness and Sutherland: And What We Can Do About It

In the national imagination, the Highlands are a place of clean air, rugged beauty, and wholesome living.  But anyone who has lived in Caithness or Sutherland knows the truth is more complicated.