Scotland's GDP increased by 1.6% in September, according to statistics announced today by the Chief Statistician. This is the fifth consecutive month of increasing GDP, but output remains 7.6% below the level in February prior to the direct impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic In September there has been growth in all of the main sectors of the economy, but at a slower rate than seen over the summer months.
From 25 November - 10 December 2020, more than 13 organisations across the Highlands and Islands will be developing and sharing daily content to raise awareness of the impact of gender-based violence in our communities, with a specific focus on sexual violence. The campaign, which is part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, will also call on the general public to post on social media ‘what they would like to see change for women and girls' using the hashtag #ChangeHerStory.
What will the future of transport look like? Government seeks views on how digital innovation can help people to plan, book and pay for travel. call for evidence launched to find ways to boost rural transport connectivity.
New legal duties on telecoms firms to increase the security of entire UK network. New powers for government to remove high risk vendors such as Huawei.
The fourth round of the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, opening late 2021, will aim to double the capacity of renewable energy compared to the last round and expand the number of technologies supported. Government sets out next step towards green industrial revolution as plans for next round of renewables support scheme published aims to deliver up to double amount of renewable energy from previous round and lower costs for consumers alongside plans to support UK manufacturers.
A fund to help residential outdoor education centres mitigate the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis opens for applications today. Centres which are facing financial challenges can apply for funds to help with running costs and to enable staff to deliver outdoor learning in and around schools.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has published the government's COVID Winter Plan for England. National restrictions to end on 2 December, with England returning to local tiers.
Children's Hearings advocacy service. A national advocacy service has been launched to reinforce the rights of children involved in the Children's Hearings system.
East Lothian to move down a level but Midlothian remains in Level 3. Success in suppressing coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in East Lothian will see the local authority move down a protection level tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6am.
Flyer from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, to businesses about actions they need to take from 1 January 2021. The flyer from the Business Secretary was sent to businesses.
A project to replace one of the two submarine electricity distribution cables connecting Orkney to mainland Scotland is now complete, ensuring strengthened resilience of electricity supply to the islands ahead of winter. Teams from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) connected the new 37km subsea cable to the main electricity network on Thursday 5 November to ensure a robust and reliable supply of electricity to homes and businesses across the isles.
Drone technology is being used by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to monitor towers on over 64,000 kilometres of overhead power lines across its central southern England patch; helping to maintain a secure network and keep the power flowing for its 3.1 million customers in the south. Traditionally engineers would be required to physically climb towers to assess the condition of critical infrastructure.
SSEN Transmission and its principal contractor for all civil works, BAM Nuttall, will begin construction of the Caithness HVDC Switching Station on the 30th of November; marking a key milestone for the Shetland HVDC project. Once complete the Caithness HVDC Switching Station will play a key role in facilitating the connection of renewable energy from Shetland to the GB transmission system via a 250km subsea cable.
For every £1 invested in UKAEA, approximately £4 is pumped back into the economy. The British economy has gained £1.4 billion from the Government's direct investment in fusion energy over the past decade and an average of 4,000 jobs each year.
The UK Government and the Devolved Administrations have agreed on joint arrangements for an easing of social restrictions that will allow friends and loved ones to reunite over the Christmas period. The UK Government and the Devolved Administrations have today agreed on joint arrangements for an easing of social restrictions that will allow friends and loved ones to reunite over the Christmas period.
The Scottish National Investment Bank has officially opened for business with the completion of its first major investment. It is the UK's first mission-led development bank and it is being capitalised by the Scottish Government with £2 billion over ten years.
The Council is inviting communities to come forward with expressions of interest for projects that, if successful, could receive a share of funding aimed at supporting coastal communities throughout Highland. The Highland Coastal Communities Fund has been set up by the Council following an allocation of over £3 million from the Scottish Government of Crown Estates revenue funding.
An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across England, Scotland and Wales. Following a number of confirmed cases of avian influenza in the UK in recent weeks, on Monday 11 November an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was declared across England, Scotland and Wales to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading.
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency {MHRA}, Chief Executive Dr June Raine said: We are pleased to have received further data for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine candidate. It is our job now to rigorously assess these data and the evidence submitted on the vaccine's safety, quality and effectiveness.
Are you aged 35 or under? Do you work in a business less than three-years old? Well don't click away as you will want to keep reading - this is something you definitely need to know. We are delighted to be back supporting IMPACT 30 as they recruit their next cohort! IMPACT 30 are looking to help new and upcoming businesses - and we can definitely vouch for the fact that this is invaluable support as Cecilia Grigor (MD) of Planit Scotland received advice and support to grow our business.
