News Archive

6/7/2020

Socialising Safely - Restrictions on outdoor hospitality industry eased

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.  

6/7/2020

Supporting Outdoor Hospitality

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.  

6/7/2020

Majority Of Children No Longer Need To Shield - UK Government

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.  

6/7/2020

Face-to-face Assessment Suspension Continues For Health And Disability Benefits

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).  

6/7/2020

 
HMRC Latest Covid-19 Support

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.  

5/7/2020

 
Don't Rely On Temperature Screening Products For Detection Of Coronavirus (covid-19), Says MHRA

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.  

5/7/2020

Hm Treasury Extends Tax Cut To PPE Costs

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.  

5/7/2020

 
NHS Louisa Jordan to help health service recovery

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.  

4/7/2020 : Food & Drink Products

 
Highland Seaweed Firm Embarks On Expansion After £1.7m Investment

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.  

4/7/2020

 
New Buses Replace The Interdecks That Many Complained About In Caithness

Stagecoach welcomes new look vehicles to the Highlands.   Stagecoach Highlands has welcomed the first of their new-look vehicles to Inverness.  

4/7/2020

High Street Shops In Trouble As More Closure Announcements Nationwide

Th number of stores closing around Scotland and the UK is now rising sharply.   Administrators are being called in to many businesses.  

4/7/2020

Mobile Testing Units - Scottish Ambulance Service to take over sites

.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.  

4/7/2020

Travel restrictions lifted

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.  

4/7/2020

Lifeline Support For Performing Arts Venues - Dedicated £10 million fund announced

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).  

4/7/2020

Communities offered tourism expertise to support local recovery

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.  

4/7/2020

Promoting Skills And Employment

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.  

4/7/2020

 
£1.5m investment in satellite launch vehicle development programme

£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.  

3/7/2020 : Local Authority

 
Digital Learning success for Highland Council schools and staff

The Highland Council was one of the first local authorities in Scotland recognised to develop a Schools Digital Learning Hub, which provides a resource for staff, parents and pupils to support home learning.   Prior to Covid-19, we had an estate of 27,000 Chromebooks that were already a part of our ICT in Learning Strategy.  

3/7/2020

 
UK Shared Prosperity Fund From The EU - Uncertainty Over Replacement Funding

You may know little but huge sums of money about EU funding came to the UK from the EU.   Highland in particular gain funds under several headings.  

3/7/2020

SRUC Unveils Refreshed Vision And Mission Focused On Sustainable Natural Economy

Natural evolution.   A focus on the sustainable natural economy is at the heart of a refreshed vision and mission for Scotland's Rural College (SRUC).