Supporting innovation including developing floating windfarms. Companies in the offshore wind sector will benefit from £1.5m of funding to increase innovation, reduce costs and encourage further investment.
Engineering & Construction "Employability Essentials" course, which runs from 4th July to 5th August. Last year 100% of the attendees went onto into positive destinations (employment, modern apprenticeships or further education), and there are 4 places remaining of the course for this year.
Humbled and honoured was how Caithness, Sutherland and Ross SNP MSP Gail Ross summed up her feelings after been appointed as Deputy Convener of the new Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee in the Scottish Parliament. The Committee covers a wide range of issues which affect people in rural areas, including agriculture, broadband, transport, food and drink.
Week commencing 13th June 2016 Energy & Business Services: · The CNSRP Delivery Group met this week, and we took the opportunity to have a round table discussion on the likely actions needed to support the delivery of local economic benefit from the £2.6 Bn Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project. One of the strengths of the Partnership is the ability to bring partners such as HIE, Skills development Scotland, the NDA, Dounreay, Highland Council, North Highland College and Caithness Chamber of Commerce together with Wick Harbour Authority to ensure that a coordinated approach is taken to this process.
Police Scotland plans to enhance its armed policing capacity to deal with emerging threats have been welcomed by Justice Secretary Michael Matheson. Responding to plans to recruit a further 124 officers from across the service, Mr Matheson also told the Scottish Parliament that the move was not in response to a specific threat and that the uplift in numbers did not change how armed officers would be deployed.
The number of people living in private rented accommodation in retirement has soared by more than 200,000 in the last four years, according to a poll of private renters*. Overall, the poll shows that the proportion of retired private renters has grown by 13 per cent since 2012 - approximately 220,000** - as more and more people turn to the private rented sector.
Food Delivery Company ignored food safety rules. Officers from The Highland Council's Environmental Health Team are warning food businesses that frozen and chilled foods must be handled, prepared and transported within safe temperatures, and that failure to meet food safety requirements, may result in officers detaining or seize the food.
Week Commencing 6th June 2016 Energy & Business Services: · A further element of detail is added to the emerging picture of contract awards associated with the £2.6 Bn Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project, with the news this week that Tier 1 supply chain company Siemens has awarded the contract to install up to 84 turbines to Swire Blue Ocean. It is expected that installation of the 7MW turbines will begin in 2018.
New interest free loans for Scottish commuters, businesses and Hackney cab drivers. Environmentally conscious drivers have even more opportunity to go greener thanks to an electric vehicle funding boost from the Scottish Government.
The Recycling Centre at Seater Landfill Site will be closed to the public from Saturday 18th June 2016 to allow for the construction of landfill cells. Local contractor John Gunn & Son has been awarded the construction contract, which will involve building the final two landfill cells for the site.
Influential decision makers and buyers from creative industries around the world will meet Scottish businesses and individuals when they take part in XpoNorth in Inverness this week. Supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the European Regional Development Fund and Creative Scotland, XpoNorth is now firmly established as Scotland's leading creative industries festival.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (June, 7th) sold 15 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (8) averaged 198.6p (+2.2p) and sold to 211p per kg and £1,339.85 gross.
June 8th is World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2016 and Trading Standards are warning Highland consumers to beware of buying bogus imitation products. The theme for this year's event is "Fakes in the sports industries", to coincide with the EURO 2016 football.
Farmers and crofters urged to get their SAF and BES applications in as soon as possible. With just one week to go until the deadline of midnight on Wednesday 15 June 2016, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing is urging farmers and crofters not to leave it until the last minute to submit their Single Application Form - which is required to receive Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments - and their Beef Efficiency Scheme (BES) claim, which also closes on 15 June.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (June, 8th) sold 520 sheep of all classes. Lambs (148) sold to £65 gross for Suffolks from 3 Kirktonmuir, Bunchrew.
Design work for the A9 dualling scheme has stepped up a gear, with another significant contract award, worth close to a million pounds, to Soil Engineering Geoservices Ltd. Ground Investigation work on the 8.5 km Tomatin to Moy section of the A9 is expected to begin next month and last for around seven weeks.
Professor Sheila Rowan MBE to advise on science's impact. Award winning Professor Sheila Rowan MBE will be Scotland's next Chief Scientific Adviser, Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced today during a visit to the University of Glasgow.
The number of households in Scotland has continued to increase, though the rate of growth is smaller than before the economic downturn. There were 2.43 million households in 2015, according to figures published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS) in 'Estimates of Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2015'.
Funding will enable communities to buy out buildings and land. Communities across Scotland will now receive support to become land or buildings owners thanks to a £350,000 fund.
