New category in the prestigious business awards to celebrate firms which have an inclusive culture. The government has launched a new ‘Promoting opportunity through social mobility' category in the prestigious Queen's Awards for Enterprise, recognising businesses that promote a sustainable and inclusive culture.
A first for social security in Scotland. The Scottish Government is to actively inform families that they may be eligible for Best Start Foods and the Best Start Grant.
Funding of £37.6 million was allocated to support people and families on low incomes in times of need in the 12 months to 31 March 2020 - an increase of 7% on the previous year. Scottish Welfare Fund payments included £12.9 million in Crisis Grants – up 24% - and £24.7 million on Community Care Grants.
More than 300 patients treated at NHS Louisa Jordan. A successful pilot at the NHS Louisa Jordan has seen 315 patients receive orthopaedic and plastic surgery outpatient consultations since the start of July.
A scheme that offers recognition and acknowledgement to survivors of historical childhood abuse in care has made payments of £10,000 each to 417 people in its first year. The Advance Payment Scheme provides redress payments to those who were abused in care in Scotland and who are terminally ill or aged 68 or over.
Four-legged friends can now travel with their owners between the Scottish mainland and Orkney and Shetland - thanks to new pet-friendly cabins on NorthLink Ferries passenger vessels MV Hamnavoe, MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey. Each ship has two pet-friendly cabins available which have en-suite facilities, side-by-side lower twin bunks and tea and coffee making facilities.
Ness-side councillor Ron MacWilliam has called for tough new local byelaws to deal with the recent surge in excessive littering, outdoor toileting and motorhome chemical waste tipping. Reports of inconsiderate waste disposal have flooded in from every corner of the Highlands in recent days and in Inverness locations such as the Merkinch Nature Reserve have also been plagued by the problem.
Parents in Scotland are being urged to claim Child Benefit, even if they have not yet been able to register the birth of their new-borns, to ensure they don't miss out. Between April and July 2019, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received 49,637 more new Child Benefit claims compared to the same period in 2020.
Over the past three months, independent charity Crimestoppers has received a record number of reports from the public across Scotland on domestic abuse, drug dealing and child harm and neglect. In response to lockdown across Scotland, the charity ran a series of public awareness campaigns to highlight the increased risk of harm and abuse some people would experience.
GMB Scotland has today (Monday 27 July) warned the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that Donald Trump's tariff war on whisky will be a "jobs killer" on both sides of the Atlantic and urged the UK Government to "get in the game" and defend the industry. Responding to the USTR's consultation, Concerning the Enforcement of US WTO Rights in Large Civil Aircraft Dispute, the union for Scotland’s whisky and spirits workers said: “On both sides of the Atlantic this tariff war will strangle hopes for economic recovery.
Small businesses experience a significant boost to confidence across the UK, but overall levels of confidence in Scotland are still below the UK average. The FSB Scottish Small Business Index (SBI) increased 144.7 points to reach -10.1 in the second quarter of 2020.
Notice issued on 25 July 2020. If you arrive in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland from Spain on or after 26 July 2020 you will need to self-isolate.
It may be along time until we know the final results of what has been done to stem the pandemic. There have been some huge mistakes and estimates - eg sending elderly people out of hospital back to care homes with infection in order to keep the beds empty for more cases.
A funding package of £10 million has been established to help the events sector recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Funding streams will be set up to provide direct support to organisers of cultural, community, and sporting events, as well as to supply chain firms facing hardship, to help keep them in business while restrictions on events are still in place.
From 29th June, Highland Council Registration Offices resumed birth registration. As birth registrations were suspended since late March, The Highland Council's Registrars are now working through a backlog and it is important that they register births in date order wherever possible.
Supporting people to move towards and maintain a healthier weight may reduce the serious effects of COVID-19 on the population, PHE report finds. Being obese or excessively overweight increases the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, a new Public Health England (PHE) report confirms.
Ride Free is a free online training course that you should complete before taking your moped or motorcycle compulsory basic training (CBT). The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced the launch of Ride Free - a free online training course that moped and motorcycle riders should complete before taking their https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-cbt CBT course.
Public health measures lifted for more travellers. Travellers from an additional five countries will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Scotland.
Lockdown has led to Scotland becoming a nation of online shoppers - with millions in Scotland and across the UK planning to continue their digital spending spree despite restrictions being lifted. In fact, 87% of Scots - nearly 9 in 10 - are planning to shop online at the same level, if not more, as restrictions ease, suggesting that Scots are committed to online shopping for the long haul.
Immediate changes to help those who urgently require a passport to travel. The necessary public health measures taken to suppress the spread of COVID-19 have had an impact on provision of passport services.