Audrey McIver HIE's director of energy and low carbon reflects on the benefits to the Highlands and Islands of recent announcements for the sector. This is a very difficult time for virtually all industries, and energy is no exception.
President Trump picked an international fight over cheap e-commerce imports into the USA last year. For some companies using the US Postal Service for final delivery, this means the cost has gone up by over 100%.
UKEF guarantee will boost Ford of Britain's export activities, promote investment into reducing vehicle emissions and secure thousands of British jobs. International Trade Secretary visits Ford engine production centre in Dagenham to announce new export finance.
From the Office For Budget Responsibility. The budget deficit continues to rise sharply.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces £350 million is being made available to cut emissions in heavy industry and drive economic recovery from coronavirus. Around £350 million made available to cut emissions in heavy industry and drive economic recovery from coronavirus.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (July 21st) sold 14 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (3) averaged 229.3p and sold to 241.0p per kg and £1,403.00 gross.
Travellers arriving from mainland and islands exempt from quarantine requirements. Border health measures requiring people to quarantine for 14 days on arrival into Scotland are being lifted for those arriving from Spain.
Authors Jonathan Cribb and Xiaowei Xu. From the Institute for Fiscal Studies One in nine workers today is solo self-employed - a sole trader with no employees - up from one in eleven in 2008.
David Phillips writing for the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The UK Government is spending big on supporting public services and the economy through the COVID-19 recovery and beyond.
Among the tens and hundreds of billions of pounds the government has been spending to support the economy in the midst of the current crisis, you might have missed the odd £17 billion that it is planning to shell out to rectify a major cock-up. This particular cock-up relates to reforms to the pensions provided to public sector employees.
Almost £2 billion of fraud and overpayments detected since National Fraud Initiative launched. A government scheme designed to tackle fraudsters has identified almost £2 billion of fraudulent benefits claims and overpayments.
Scotland's live event sector will be given the green light to hold drive-in entertainment from Wednesday (22 July 2020). Live concerts, comedy nights, theatre productions and local bingo events are among the experiences organisers have been ‘reimagining’ right across Scotland.
Investment of up to £50 million by the Scottish Government in the Falkirk area will drive inclusive and sustainable economic recovery and growth across the region as part of the Falkirk Growth Deal. The money, which will be invested over 10 years, will fund targeted economic development activity across a range of themes, including infrastructure, transport, innovation, energy transition and skills.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published draft guidance for firms setting out its expectations for banks, building societies and credit unions when they are considering closing branches or ATMs, or converting a free to use ATM to pay to use. The FCA wants to ensure that firms treat their customers fairly when closing a branch or ATM, including considering what alternatives they can provide their customers.
Children under the age of five who are displaying potential coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms will be eligible for testing from Wednesday 22 July. Currently, children under five who have potential COVID-19 symptoms are not routinely tested and a test is only carried out if there is a pressing clinical need to do so - for example a young child who needs to be admitted to hospital and whose condition may be due to COVID-19 or a young child who is in hospital for some reason whose condition unexpectedly deteriorates.
Police pay will rise by 2.5% in 2020 to 2021, providing officers with an increase above inflation for the second year running. It matches the 2.5% rise awarded last year, which gave forces the largest pay increase since 2010.
The Highland Council can now confirm that the Bulky Uplift Service is being re-instated from today, Monday 20 July 2020. The service was suspended on the 23rd March due to the COVID-19 National Emergency and the need to prioritise staff to provide essential waste and recycling collections.
The biggest employer in Caithness is now the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA). The annual report and accounts 2019 - 2020 gives lots of information and detail about operations.
Following the Council's announcement that contract work valued at over £60 million for new housing development projects across the Highlands has resumed, the Chair of the Housing and Property Committee has confirmed that capital investment works for the Council's current housing stock will be re-starting shortly. Contractors have supplied The Highland Council with detailed work plans for safe working, encompassing social distancing and following all guidance relating to Covid-19.
The Highland Council today announced the completion of the purchase of the South Tower of Inverness Castle, following the move of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to the new Inverness Justice Centre in the city earlier this spring. With the entire Castle now in the ownership of The Highland Council, the project to transform the building to become a visitor attraction is ready to progress to the next stage.