News Archive

22/2/2019 : Other Services

 
Brexit Drop-in Sessions - To Find Out About Your Citizen Status

Questions about Brexit? Citizens' rights and settled status? Drop in and talk to the Europe Direct Information Centre team who will be available to answer your questions and offer guidance on where to find reliable, up to date information.   Sessions in Thurso and Wick..  

22/2/2019 : Other Services

 
Brexit Business Breakfast

The Europe Direct Information Centre (EDIC) for the North Highlands & Islands, hosted by Caithness Chamber of Commerce, will be hosting a business breakfast on 1 March 2019 at the Pentland Hotel, Thurso to update you on the latest around Brexit and what it means for businesses in the North Highlands.   As part of our Europe Direct Information Centre (EDIC) contract, the Caithness Chamber will be hosting a business breakfast on 1 March 2019 at the Pentland Hotel, Thurso to update you on the latest around Brexit and what it means for businesses in the North Highlands.  

22/2/2019

 
Price Of Stamps To Rise

The price of standard first and second-class stamps will rise by 3p each at the end of March, Royal Mail has announced.   From Monday 25 March 2019, the price of a first-class stamp for a standard letter will rise to 70p, and the price of a second-class stamp for a standard letter will go up to 61p.  

22/2/2019

 
Access To Financial Support For Students Expanded

A major expansion of postgraduate funding has been announced, with funding for students on Research Masters courses to be made available for the first time.   This move will ensure that students can access all types of Masters study without financial barriers.  

22/2/2019

 
Scotland Keeps Free Prescriptions As England Raises Prices Again

The NHS prescription charges in England are to increase by 20p to £9.   The Government in England has announced that the price will increase from Monday 1 April 2019'.  

22/2/2019

 
NHS Highland Announces New Date For Annual Review

NHS Highland's annual review has been rescheduled for Tuesday 09 April 2019.  It will be held in the Centre for Health Science, Inverness with Jeane Freeman, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, in attendance.  

22/2/2019

 
Scottish Budget 2019-20 Passes

The Scottish Parliament has approved the 2019-20 Scottish Budget which provides £42.5 billion of investment in Scotland's public services and economy.   Local authorities will also be able to increase council tax by up to 4.79% rather than 3%, with the government also committing in principle to introducing a charge on disposable drinks cups - a so-called "latte levy".  

21/2/2019 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
Advice in Scotland 2017-18 - Increasing Demand

A summary of evidence gathered by the Citizens Advice network in Scotland about their work.   In total, Citizens Advice Bureaux assisted nearly 262,000 clients with almost 766,000 issues during 2017-18.  

21/2/2019

 
Caithness Horizons Museum To Close Today Due To Financial Difficulties

Budget cuts are beginning to bite harder as funding reduces across several sectors.   Caithness Horizons in Thurso will be closed down later today - Thursday 21 February 2019 - due to financial difficulties.  

21/2/2019 : Local Authority

 
Thinking of a career in Primary or Secondary teaching?

Anyone thinking of a career change and becoming a Primary or Secondary school teacher is being invited by The Highland Council to an information session to find out how they might become one of the next generation of teachers in Highland.   The information event takes place on Saturday 9th March 2019, at Doorways, Central Primary School, Kenneth Street, Inverness, IV3 5DW from 11am - 1pm.  

21/2/2019

 
New Social Security Jobs To Deliver Face To Face Benefits Service Across Scotland

100 staff to help those who need it most by the end of the year.   Social Security Scotland announced on 13 February that 100 jobs across Scotland will be in post by the end of the year.  

21/2/2019

 
Driverless Tractors and Automation For Some Farms Are On The Way

Automation and driverless technology are tipped as major growth areas in the HGV and passenger transport areas in the coming years, but there's one area of the motor industry that's years ahead of the mainstream commercial vehicle industry and is already making life easier for operators and drivers.   Electric Tractors and more - you better believe it.  

21/2/2019

 
Raigmore Hospital helipad receives upgrade

A program of work to upgrade the helipad at Raigmore Hospital has now been successfully completed with the helipad now fully operational and equipped to meet increasing demands.   With over 500 flights each year it's a common sight to see helicopters arriving and taking off from the helipad based at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.  

21/2/2019

 
Big Improvement In Public Sector Finances: January 2019

Deficit continues to fall sharply in 2018-19.   Report from the Office of Budget Responsibility.  

20/2/2019 : Local Authority

£1.5m Extra For Roads Across Highland - Caithness Share £164,400

Investment of an additional £1.5m for roads maintenance was approved as a priority area for the Council's revenue budget.   The additional money will help to boost the annual budget for pothole repairs, clearing culverts, and bridge maintenance.  

20/2/2019 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
New Opportunity For Young Business Leaders

Young business leaders in the Highlands are being offered a chance to join a dynamic and highly personalised business growth programme to help drive their businesses forward.   In October a chocolatier, an estate agent and a seller of Indian spices along with eight others became the first young leaders to be selected for IMPACT30.  

20/2/2019 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 20 February 2019

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February, 20th) sold 741 store cattle, 65 adult head of breeding cattle and 108 OTM cattle.   Bullocks (403) averaged 231.6p, and sold to 326.9p per kg for a 260kg Limousin cross from Croft Grant, Dalchalm, and £1,370 for a 750kg Limousin cross from Ashley, North Kessock.  

20/2/2019

 
Sleep-in Shifts And The National Minimum Wage

Some employers find it hard to know how to treat sleep-in shifts for workers who receive the National Minimum Wage, or who are close to the threshold.   HMRC's new presentation explains all you need to know.  

20/2/2019

 
Pentland Firth Electricy Production Rising With SIMEC Atlantis Energy

SIMEC Atlantis Energy Limited has stated that its turbines in the Pernland Firth has produced 12GWh (12 million kilowatt hours) since 2017 and exported it to the grid.   SIMEC Atlantis Energy Limited ("Atlantis"), a diversified sustainable energy generation company, is pleased to announce that it has awarded a contract to subsea engineering specialists ETA Limited for the manufacture and delivery of the world's most advanced subsea tidal turbine connection system which will underpin the MeyGen extension activities known as Project Stroma.  

20/2/2019

 
Reducing Single Use Plastic

Scotland is leading the way in tackling marine litter, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told international delegates attending Scotland's International Marine Conference today in Glasgow.   The First Minister announced a £175,200 campaign promoting the use of re-usable sanitary products to reduce the more than 100 billion pieces of sanitary waste disposed of every year.