Scotland's GDP increased by 1.5% in May, after the sharp falls of 18.9% in April and 5.5% in March, according to statistics announced today by the Chief Statistician. Although output has picked up slightly in May, it remains 22.1% below the level in February, prior to the direct impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Advice on physical distancing and school transport published. Scientific advice for the safe re-opening of schools and resumption of school transport has been published today (Thursday 16 July).
60 new jobs at ODx. ODx established the medical testing business on Inverness Campus in August 2019, with up to £1.75m investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement on coronavirus. Good morning, In the two weeks since I last addressed you from this podium, I am pleased to report that we have continued to make steady progress in our collective effort to beat the coronavirus.
Elgin based Hunted Cow Studios is creating innovative new games and is currently searching for new talent to join the existing team of 24 people. A £45,707 grant was secured from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) last year for the expansion project and it expects to increase its annual turnover by 80%.
The closest images ever taken of the Sun, captured by the UK-built Solar Orbiter spacecraft, was released on Thursday 16 July. Built in Stevenage by Airbus, backed by the UK Space Agency and launched in February 2020, Solar Orbiter will provide images of the Sun from inside the orbit of its nearest planet, Mercury, closer than ever before.
Nine innovative projects that apply big data, AI and robotics to UK farming will help establish a more efficient system of food production. Innovative agri-tech projects across the UK, including fruit picking robots and autonomous crop systems, to benefit from £24 million government investment.
Allocations confirmed for individual councils in England to help deliver essential services for residents during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Individual councils in England have funding boosts confirmed Direct funding to councils to help with pandemic spending reaches £4.3 billion.
Loans aim to maintain cash flow for farmers and crofters during COVID-19 crisis. A loan scheme to support farmers and crofters through the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has been announced by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing.
Additional £1m available through new Agricultural Transformation Programme. Farmers and crofters are being offered £1 million in funding to diversify into forestry and help with the fight against climate change.
Tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned. tyres aged 10 years and older to be banned to help improve road safety clearly visible date of manufacture mandatory on each tyre, ensuring older tyres are easy to spot latest action follows years of work by the government and determined efforts of campaigners Tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned from lorries, buses and coaches on roads in England, Scotland and Wales in a boost to road safety, Roads Minister Baroness Vere announced on 15 July 2020.
Decision follows a technical review by the National Cyber Security Centre in response to US sanctions. Buying new Huawei 5G equipment banned after 31 December 2020.
Members of The Highland Council's Recovery Board have welcomed proposals that will enable them to scrutinise progress being made on the Council's Recovery Action Plan from the coronavirus pandemic at any time they choose in ‘real-time’. Chair of the Recovery Board, Depute Leader Alasdair Christie said: "I am delighted that Members will soon be able to look into the Recovery Action Plan in real time through the Council’s performance management system to see what the progress is on the plan.
The first meeting of Highland Council's new Tourism Committee was held virtually today (16 July 2020). Cllr Maxine Smith was appointed as Chair and Cllr Gordon Adam as Vice Chair.
The government has delivered an unprecedented package of measures to provide the critical support needed by individuals, families and businesses, through the economic disruption caused by COVID-19, and set out a plan to support jobs as the economy reopens. This has necessarily increased the government's financing requirement compared to that set out at Budget 2020.
Results from the British Chambers of Commerce's Quarterly Recruitment Outlook, in partnership with Totaljobs, reveal the impact Coronavirus has had on the jobs market, with the two organisations calling for further action from government to protect businesses and jobs. 29% of businesses expect to decrease the size of their workforce in the next three months 28% decreased size of workforce in Q2 but 66% kept their workforce constant, reinforcing the success of the Job Retention Scheme The two organisations call for a cut in employer National Insurance Contributions to protect businesses and jobs.
New figures show the extent of UK Government coronavirus support for Scottish jobs and self-employed people. Figures show, until the end of June, nearly 900,000 jobs across Scotland have been supported by the UK Government's unprecedented package of coronavirus support.
Extracts from the Report from the Office for National Statistics published today 16 July 2020. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic took hold, the labour market weakened markedly, but that rate of decline slowed into June, though this is before recent job losses were reported.
Police Scotland and Highland Council Environment Health Officers were out-and-about in Inverness today visiting businesses and raising public confidence demonstrating that the city centre is doing all it can to ensure public safety as lockdown restrictions are eased. On 15 July, and on the 22nd July - Police and Environmental Health are conducting checks and issuing advice and assistance to business and the public in the city centre.
Government to relax planning legislation to make it easier to construct large batteries to store renewable energy from solar and wind farms across the UK. Government changes planning rules to maximise UK's renewable energy storage and create hundreds of new green jobs.
