The ongoing COVID-19 crisis poses a significant financial threat to the UK higher education sector. Universities will experience large income losses from falls in student enrolment, especially of international students, as well as lockdown-related losses of income from student accommodation and conference and catering operations.
The opportunity to contribute to Thurso's Active Travel Masterplan by letting the team know what you think would improve walking/cycling routes in Thurso and help to identify problematic areas and barriers, this can be done through the projects webpage at the link below. https://thursoactivetravelmap.commonplace.is/ Earlier information about the project In 2010 HITRANS commissioned an active travel audit for Thurso, which looked at existing provision for walking and cycling and suggested a number of routes connecting different parts of the town and out to Scrabster.
Operational permits are being sought for disposal and discharge of radioactive waste, operation of standby power supply systems, and discharges of cooling water and liquid effluent. The Environment Agency is seeking feedback from the community and national stakeholders on applications for three environmental permits required for operation of the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station.
People are being encouraged to socialise safely as beer gardens and pavement cafes across Scotland re-open. As the hospitality sector gradually eases out of lockdown new measures to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff will be in place including the collection of customer's contact details to allow contact tracing if necessary.
Helping businesses adapt to physical distancing measures. Pubs, restaurants and cafes in Scotland will have greater flexibility to make use of outside spaces, as outdoor hospitality resumes from 6 July 2020.
The majority of children currently considered extremely clinical vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19) will be able to be removed from the shielded patient list. Evidence from paediatric clinicians shows COVID-19 poses a low risk to children and young people.
Recent changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme mean you can now bring previously furloughed employees back to work to suit the needs of your business. From August, the level of the grant will be slowly reduced and employers will be asked to contribute towards the cost of employees' wages.
Face-to-face assessments to remain suspended, but kept under review. Some review and reassessment activity to gradually resume from July 2020 for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency warning that thermal cameras and other such "temperature screening" products, some of which make direct claims to screen for COVID-19, are not a reliable way to detect if people have the virus. The Agency is telling manufacturers and suppliers of thermal cameras that they should not make claims which directly relate to COVID-19 diagnosis, and is reminding businesses to follow Government advice on safe working during COVID-19.
The temporary scrapping of VAT on PPE has been extended until the end of October - saving care homes and businesses dealing with the coronavirus outbreak £155 million, the government announced today. temporary scrapping of VAT on personal protective equipment (PPE) for infection extended until the end of October the three-month extension will save care homes and businesses an estimated £155 million comes after VAT on PPE was temporarily zero-rated at the beginning of May and import duty on PPE was removed The decision - which will make it easier and cheaper for care homes, charities and businesses to acquire the vital kit - comes after a temporary zero-rate of VAT was applied to PPE sales for an initial three months from 1 May 2020 to 31 July 2020.
Hospital will support planned non-COVID healthcare and staff training. Some planned healthcare that was delayed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will now be carried out at the NHS Louisa Jordan to help NHS Scotland recover.
SHORe the Scottish Seaweed Company (SHORE), the trading name of the Alness based seaweed processing company New Wave Foods Ltd, has expanded its product range having secured a £1.7million finance package. The company has one of its bases at the industrial estate near Wick airport.
Stagecoach welcomes new look vehicles to the Highlands. Stagecoach Highlands has welcomed the first of their new-look vehicles to Inverness.
.The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) will take over the running of Scotland's coronavirus (COVID-19) mobile testing units from the start of September. Currently operated by HM Armed Forces, the mobile units will pass to SAS, where they will continue to support the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the management of localised outbreaks.
Th number of stores closing around Scotland and the UK is now rising sharply. Administrators are being called in to many businesses.
The tourism sector is to benefit from the further lifting of restrictions under Phase 2 of Scotland's route map out of lockdown. From today, the five mile travel distance limit for leisure will be lifted.
A targeted £10 million fund to support Scotland's performing arts venues has been announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop. Created as part of the Scottish Government's £185m Business Support Fund, the Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund will help venues who cannot yet reopen to their audiences due to the ongoing impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).
A programme to help community development organisations and social enterprises support the recovery of rural Scotland's tourism sector is being launched today. People working in community development with an interest in tourism, can apply for one of 15 places in the ‘Communities Leading in Tourism' initiative starting in late September and running until December.
£1.5 million support from HIE for Orbex. The funding will support the further design and development of Orbex Prime, an innovative new space launch vehicle that will transport small satellites into space.
A group of industry experts have submitted an action plan to limit unemployment caused by the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19). The report from a sub-group of the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board, with representatives from business and Scotland's skills agencies, was commissioned by the Scottish Government in May.
