News Archive

31/1/2019

 
Innovative employer accreditation programme pilot will ensure that women working in Scottish councils are Equally Safe at Work

www.closethegap.org.uk Close the Gap, Scotland's national expert on women's labour market participation, launching the pilot of an innovative employer accreditation programme which will support employers to advance women's equality in the workplace, and prevent violence against women.   The world-leading programme, Equally Safe at Work, will be piloted in seven councils across Scotland during 2019.  

30/1/2019

 
NHS Highland Board unanimously endorses Caithness redesign recommendations

The board of NHS Highland unanimously gave the green light to the next stage of its multi-million pound redesign of services in Caithness at a meeting on Tuesday 29th January 2019.   With the board endorsing the recommendations made by its Health and Social Care committee (HSCC) last week, the board will now seek the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport's approval prior to moving to start the business case process.  

30/1/2019 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 30 January 2019

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (January, 30th) sold 728 sheep of all classes.   Lambs (536) averaged £63.63 and sold to £83.50 for a pen of Cheviots from Davoch, Rogart.  

30/1/2019

Scottish Welfare Fund Statistics

From when the Scottish Welfare Fund scheme began on 1 April 2013 until 30 September 2018, 316,095 individual households have received awards totalling £181.6 million.   Scotland's Chief Statistician today released statistics on the Scottish Welfare Fund covering the period from 1 April 2013 to 30 September 2018.  

30/1/2019

 
Scottish International Exports Continue To Rise

Scotland's international exports (excluding oil and gas) increased by £1.9 billion to £32.4 billion in 2017, the highest annual growth rate (6.2%) since 2011.   The rise, revealed in today's National Statistics Publication: Export Statistics Scotland (ESS) 2017, was driven by an increase in manufacturing exports, including food and drink, while exports of services also increased.  

30/1/2019

Scottish Retail Sales Grow By 0.6% In 2018 Quarter 4

In 2018 Quarter 4, the quantity of retail sales in Scotland grew by 0.6 per cent compared to the previous quarter, according to statistics announced today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.   The Retail Sales Index Scotland (RSIS) for Quarter 4 (October to December) 2018.  

30/1/2019

Scottish GDP Quarterly National Accounts For 2018 Quarter 3

The Scottish economy grew by 0.2% during the third quarter of 2018, according to updated statistics announced today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.  The quarterly growth rate has been revised down from the first estimate of 0.3% published on 19 December.  

30/1/2019

Farm Income Falls Due To The High Cost Of Feed

Total income from farming is estimated to have fallen by £57 million in 2018, after increasing in 2017.   The Chief Statistician in the Scottish Government today published Total Income from Farming Estimates for Scotland 2016-2018, which contains near-final estimates of Total Income from Farming (TIFF) for 2017 and an initial estimate of 2018 TIFF.  

30/1/2019

New children's social services data report published

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) today published the Children's Services Workforce 2017 report, taking a detailed look at the children's social services workforce.   See https://data.sssc.uk.com/data-publications/194-the-childrens-services-workforce-2017 The data in the report supplements the information published in the SSSC's Scottish Social Service Sector: Report on 2017 Workforce Data.  

30/1/2019

Scottish Retail Sales Grow By 0.6% In 2018 Quarter 4

In 2018 Quarter 4, the quantity of retail sales in Scotland grew by 0.6 per cent compared to the previous quarter, according to statistics announced today by Scotland's Chief Statistician.   The Retail Sales Index Scotland (RSIS) for Quarter 4 (October to December) 2018.  

29/1/2019 : Local Authority

Landlord prosecuted for unlicensed HMO

Following an investigation by Highland Council Environmental Health Officers, a Fort William Landlord has been successfully prosecuted for operating a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without a licence.   An HMO is a property in which three or more unrelated adults are residing as their main residence and require to share kitchen, toilet or personal washing facilities.  

29/1/2019 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 29 January 2019

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 29th) sold 18 prime cattle.   Prime bullocks (6) averaged 208.1p (-2.9p) and sold to 212.0p per kg and £1,359.60 gross.  

28/1/2019

 
MSP and GP representatives meet Health Secretary over GP Contract

Two Highland GPs joined MSP Rhoda Grant for a meeting in Holyrood with Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.   Mrs Grant, Dingwall GP Miles Mack and Inverness GP Phil Wilson, also a Professor of Primary Care and Rural Health at the University of Aberdeen, outlined their concerns for rural and remote practices under the new GP Contract.  

26/1/2019 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Week Commencing 21 January 2019 SpaceHub Sutherland: The team working on this exciting project have now created a web presence at www.spacehubsutherland.com which will be a central resource for information about the project as it progresses.  And the team will be on the ground in Melness next week, continuing the series of engagement events with the local community.  

26/1/2019

 
Caithness entrepreneurs get pitch perfect

This February, entrepreneurs in Caithness have the chance to attend a workshop that will leave them pitch perfect.   Business leaders will develop and hone their business pitches thanks to a workshop organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) through its Entrepreneurial Academy.  

26/1/2019

Scottish Certificate For Personal Licence Holders (refresher) Course

4th March 2019, 09:30 - 12:30 at Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Thurso.   £75 inclusive of SQA registration & certification.  

25/1/2019 : Local Authority

Criminal Justice Service ‘contributing to reduction in offending'

The work of The Highland Council's Criminal Justice Social Work Service has been praised by Members of the Council's Care, Learning and Housing Committee.   Councillors were updated today (24 January 2019) on 3 key programmes being delivered by the Service and the impacts that this is having on persistent offenders, sex offenders, and domestic abuse perpetrators.  

25/1/2019

 
Scottish Water Supports New Tenant Farmers In Government Scheme

New farmers are being supported in developing their businesses by Scottish Water as part of a scheme to boost the rural economy.   And the first new tenant farmer has just taken up tenancy on land owned by the country's publicly-owned water utility.  

25/1/2019

 
Inverness Town House open to public

Inverness Town House will be open to the public on Saturday 9 February from 9am to 4pm to coincide with the Snowman Rally.   Locals and visitors are being invited to visit Inverness Town House and see for themselves the transformation of this public historic Grade A listed building following its award winning renovations.  

25/1/2019

 
Circular Economy - Fighting the throwaway culture

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has reiterated the Scottish Government's pledge to introduce a deposit return scheme as part of plans to further tackle plastic waste.   Deposit return will increase the quality of recycled materials collected in Scotland.