The latest Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) Quarterly Economic Indicator (QEI) survey for Q4 of 2019 shows that businesses are in a period of stasis with global and domestic factors all contributing to subdued levels of confidence and investment. The quarterly survey was carried out between November to December 2019, during the UK general election period which suggests political considerations will certainly have had some influence in how businesses responded to the survey.
If an employee falls sick or becomes a parent, do you know what payments they're entitled to, how to calculate them and whether they're reclaimable? You can find the answers with HMRC's live webinars, online guide and toolkit. Register now - it's easy.
Whistleblowing Champions have been appointed to health boards across Scotland in a move aimed at creating a more honest and open workplace culture within the NHS. A total of 19 appointments have been made by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, with them all taking up their posts from this week.
In Caithness - Cairhness West. Nominations are invited from people seeking election to 16 Community Councils across the Highlands that remained unformed after the elections held in December last year.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 4th) sold 13 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (2) averaged 199.0p (-9.6p) and sold to 200.0p per kg and £1,257.30 gross.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE: BREXIT Business as usual As you are aware legislation has now been passed in the House of Commons which ratifies the EU Withdrawal Agreement, taking the UK out of the European Union. As of 23:00 on 31 January 2020 the UK will be in an Implementation Period (also referred to as the transition period) where current EU rules and regulations (and any new legislation made during the course of 2020) will continue to have effect whilst the terms of our future relationship with European Union are negotiated through an EU UK Trade Deal.
This article was first published on the The Conversation web site on 23 January 2019. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The UK government has asserted that "employment is at a record high" with 32.5m people in work, the highest figure since 1971.
A large UK space sector delegation touches down in Singapore this week to explore new partnerships and seek valuable opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, supported by the UK Space Agency. More than 30 representatives from the UK space industry, universities and government will visit GeoWorks, ST Engineering, the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University, before attending the Global Space and Technology Convention on 6-7 February.
This statement sets out the Government's proposed approach to the negotiations with the EU about our future relationship. Further details on this and other trade negotiations will be made available to Parliament as the process develops.
Employees from across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group have been honoured at a prestigious national awards ceremony in London. The Women in Nuclear (WiN) Annual Awards recognises those who have gone above and beyond to promote gender balance and diversity across the nuclear sector.
Research reveals 400,000 job opportunities for a ‘Net Zero Energy Workforce', including nearly 100,000 roles across the north of England The UK will need to recruit hundreds of thousands of people into its energy sector if it is to meet its target to deliver net zero emissions by 2050. Research published by National Grid today reveals the industry will need to fill 400,000 jobs, bringing opportunities for skilled tradespeople, engineers and other specialists across every region of the country.
Emma Hart, Senior Lecturer in American History, University of St Andrews poses some thoughts on historical connections as we move to an American Trade deal. With Boris Johnson hailing parliament's vote towards Britain leaving the EU on January 31, there is a general consensus among the country's leaders that there will be an intimate trading relationship with the US after Brexit.
On 6th February 2020 the newly formed Economy and Infrastructure Committee of Highland Council will consider the way forward and approach to bring in parking charges in a number of areas including Wick and East Caithness. Item 7 on the agenda for the meeting is Off-Street Car Parking Policy - Update and sets out the way for ward for information and consultations.
A Caithness company is planning to invest more than £2m in its Wick plant, in a move that could see up to 40 new jobs created in the town over the next five years. Family-run Ashley Ann Ltd (AAL) designs and manufactures kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.
The latest particle find on the Dounreay foreshore was on 17th January 2020. See the updated list.
HI-Scot, the credit union for the Highlands and Islands, has vowed to make 2020 the year when saving and borrowing are even more accessible. With a focus on payroll deduction, allowing people to save directly from their pay packet every month via their employer, the credit union offers a viable alternative to high street banking in 2020.
Current chair, Professor Lorne Crerar CBE, leaves the post on 29 February. Deputy chair, Alistair Dodds CBE, will then assume the responsibility as an interim measure.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart told MSPs today that end of life care should be at the top of the political agenda but home care services for the dying in Scotland were patchy at best. He highlighted how one GP had told him that resources for supporting care to help patients who wished to die at home seemed to have been "designed out of the system." Mr Stewart, who is also Labour's Shadow Public Health Secretary, was speaking in the Scottish Parliament at his cross-party member’s debate on the ‘Right to Full Care to Die at Home’.
By IMFBlog In 2020, the IMF plans to assess the stability of twelve financial systems. Seven assessments are of jurisdictions with systemically important financial sectors (Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong SAR, Italy, Korea, Norway, and the United States), for which it is mandatory to undergo financial stability assessments every five years.
After a pause of a few months, the world's leading central banks are "printing" money again to try to bolster their economies. Commonly known as quantitative easing or QE, the European Central Bank (ECB) resumed its programme just before the turn of the year.
