** £2billion clean energy investment in UK in 2019 - record commitment in UK by ScottishPower ** ScottishPower announces plans for large-scale battery storage at UK windfarms ** New public electric vehicle charging business to start installations in 2019 Investment plan will support 300 new ScottishPower jobs in 2019 ScottishPower has announced it will spend up to £2billion in the UK in 2019, the company's biggest ever investment in the country in a single year. The announcement came as ScottishPower updated its investment plans following the sale of its thermal generation business and transition to 100% renewable energy in 2018.
The Highland Council's Depute Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Resources has announced his intention to retire this summer in June 2019. Derek Yule has worked with Highland Council for the past 8 years first as Director of Finance and then as Depute Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Resources.
A very controversial subject recently the formal testing of P1 children. A website for practitioners may be useful to anyone interested whether teachers, management boards, parent councils and or parents.
Professor Stephanie Kelton to join group of economics advisers to new MMT Scotland group New Scottish economics group to argue for Modern Monetary Theory policies for independent state. Some of the worlds most influencial MMT advocates to join advisory panel, including key Sanders 2016 campaign adviser Prof Stephanie Kelton.
Analysis of responses to the deposit return scheme for Scotland consultation. Between 27 June and 25 September 2018, the Scottish Govenment undertook a public consultation to explore options for establishing a deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland.
The Scottish housing market once again proved its resilience in the face of both domestic and international political issues, with sales breaching the £18 billion barrier in 2018. During a year dominated by Brexit uncertainty, markets remained busy, with the country enjoying its best spell of growth since the financial crash in 2008.
The 2019 Inverness Half Marathon and 5K events take place on Sunday 10 March and the Council is advising drivers that temporary traffic restrictions will be in place in and around the city during the event. The following routes will be affected: Bught Avenue closed between its con-junction with Bught Drive and its junction with Bught Road, from 12:00 hours to 15:30 hours on Sunday 10 March 2019.
The cost of Police Scotland's junked phone hacking kiosks is likely to rise again as the force considers taking legal action to prove it did not breach privacy laws. It spent £370,684 last April on 41 of its cyber kiosks, which let officers copy data from mobile phones, but the plans were shelved following an outcry from privacy campaigners, The Times reports.
The Scottish Government recently appointed Savills and Inherit to undertake research on Rural Planning Policy to 2050. The research aims to establish an evidence base to inform the future preparation of National Planning Framework (NPF) and Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), exploring how planning policy can help to support strong and vibrant rural communities and economies in the coming years.
Highlands & Islands Regional MSP, Rhoda Grant, who wrote to the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport condemning the proposal to do away with the free TV licence concession for those over 75,has received a response from Margot James MP the Minister for Digital and Creative Industries. "I am advised by Margot James, that her Department are continuing with this concession until June 2020 at which point the responsibility passes over to the BBC" said Rhoda Grant.
Home Economics included for first time. Career changers can now apply for a £20,000 bursary to support them while training to fill high-demand teaching roles in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.
In the latest development concerning employment status and the rights of those working in the ‘gig economy', courier giant Hermes has reached agreement with the GMB Union to offer its couriers the option of being classified as ‘self-employed plus', writes Katie Spearman. ‘Self-employed plus' entitlements In what the GMB describes as a ‘ground-breaking agreement', couriers who choose to opt-in to the self-employed plus arrangement will receive additional employment rights and benefits such as: entitlement to paid holidays (pro-rata up to the 28-day statutory minimum); individually negotiated hourly pay rates, (at least £8.55 per hour over the year); full GMB representation access, should they join the union.
Changing Places Toilets offer larger, supported facilities that address the needs of people for whom current accessible sanitary accommodation is inadequate. These facilities enable people with complex care needs to take part in everyday activities such as travel, shopping, family days out or attending a sporting event.
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group will today seek permission from the Court of Session to move billions of pounds of investment business to the Netherlands as part of its Brexit plans. According to The Herald, the taxpayer-owned bank is planning to move a third of its investment bank clients from the UK to its new post-Brexit hub in Amsterdam.
*** Consumers save £477 each year by haggling***. *** Nine in 10 consumers now haggle with their service providers***.
A Alfred Banks, born Kirkwall, Orkney 13 May 1931 died St. Margaret's Hope, Orkney, 26 January 2019.
Police Scotland can confirm that two men have been charged in relation to two vehicles detected travelling at 131mph on the A9. The two vehicles were seen by road policing officers near Arpafeelie on the Black Isle north of Inverness shortly after 11.15pm on Wednesday, February 20.
The Eurasian or European beaver will be added to the list of European Protected Species of Animals, protected under Scottish law. This means that from 1 May 2019 shooting will only be allowed under licence, which will be managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Health boards are being supported to drive down the length of time patients wait for procedures through an investment of almost £27 million. This funding is the initial tranche of investment allocated through the £850 million Waiting Times Improvement Plan that aims to substantially and sustainably improve waiting times for outpatient and inpatient appointments and day cases by Spring 2021.
Drugs with a street value of more than £820,000 have been seized throughout the Highlands & Islands during a four week period of enforcement in January and February. Officers have been carrying out targeted activity aimed at removing illegal drugs from the streets - while causing extensive disruption to those intent on trafficking and dealing.
