Following the recent announcement that the UK Government is to clamp down on drink and drug drivers, alcohol and drug safety experts are urging companies to be more vigilant when it comes to their alcohol and drug testing policies. Drugs and alcohol cost British businesses in excess of £6 billion per year in lost productivity and in 2014 alone alcohol accounted for 5,650 accidents and 8,320 casualties on UK roads.
Week Commencing 18th January 2016 Energy and Business Services: Dounreay Trì Limited is proposing to demonstrate a floating offshore wind farm approximately 6 km NW of Dounreay. The proposal consists of two turbines, located on a single semi-submersible floating platform, with an installed capacity of between 8 to 16 megawatts (MW).
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed the next round of payments to farmers will start in the next few days. Payments have already been made to 3,500 farmers and further payment runs to thousands more will start in the next few days.
Drive for warmer homes and businesses. A £14 million fund will allow Councils across Scotland to make homes, public buildings and businesses more energy efficient, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil announced today.
Support for agricultural training opportunities. A £30,000 funding package has been agreed to provide agricultural training opportunities for young farmers and other young people working in the rural economy.
Call for fall in wholesale energy prices to be passed on to consumers. Leading energy suppliers should tell their customers when bills will start to drop, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said today.
First Minister urges confirmation of investment as matter of urgency. A multi-million pound city deal to support Aberdeens position as a global oil and gas hub should be agreed as a matter of urgency, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has told the Prime Minister.
Labour Market Statistics show record number of Scots in work. The latest figures show the highest employment level for Scotland on record, with a 21,000 rise in the employment level compared to the previous quarter, taking the number of Scots in work to 2,631,000.
Today, Living Streets Scotland welcomed the launch of a refreshed transport strategy for Scotland, the first since 2006 [1]. This update sets out the need for a more fundamental rethink on meeting Scotlands transport challenges, after the next election (May 2016).
What does the Empty Homes Advice Service do? Provide empty homes advice to empty home owners, neighbours and organisations interested in empty homes work. Make referrals to our network of local Empty Homes Officers working in Scotland's Local Authorities.
A Caithness entrepreneur is set to give his business a global boost after attending one of the worlds most renowned business executive development courses. Derek Campbell of Thurso battery and charger manufacturer Denchi Power, will be among 120 entrepreneurs from across the globe taking part in the Entrepreneurship Development Programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston at the end of January.
The Scottish Government has laid regulations to extend the requirement on public authorities to publish information on their gender pay gap and equal pay statements. If enacted, public authorities with more than 20 employees will be required to disclose gender pay gap information and statements on equal pay.
Land Reform Minister confirms intention to create public register. The Scottish Government plans to create a public register of who controls land in Scotland and is to amend the Land Reform Bill to make provision to do so.
-- Location Fee Donated to Local Charity NorthLink Ferries is set to make its debut in the BBCs successful Shetland series this month. Passenger ferry MV Hrossey will appear in the third series of the crime television programme, which stars Douglas Henshall as Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez, due to air from Friday 15 January 2016.
Week Commencing 11th January 2016 Energy and Business Services: Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd and independent energy company Danske Commodities have signed a 15-year power purchase agreement for the latter to manage 50% of the output from the Beatrice development to be built off the Caithness coast. As previously reported, CNSRP partners have been involved in helping Wick Harbour Authority as it discusses the opportunity for the operation and maintenance base for the BOWL development to be at Wick.
LOCHMADDY, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (January, 14th) sold 195 weaned calves and store cattle 10 OTM cattle. Bullocks (110) averaged 205.7p and sold to 260p per kg for a 250kg Limousin cross from 9 Malaglate, Lochmaddy, and £920 gross for a 445kg Charolais cross from 16 Tigharry, Lochmaddy.
Week Commencing 4th January 2016 Energy and Business Services: One of the key elements in transmitting power from renewables in the north - the Beauly-Denny electricity power line - went into operation just before Christmas. For an aerial look at the power line see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35146301 As the MeyGen tidal project enters a crucial year Atlantis Resources - the owner of MeyGen - has announced the onshore testing of its AR1500 turbine at the National Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) facility in NE England.
The Highland Councils Budget team, Councillors Bill Fernie, Alister Mackinnon, Ben Thompson and Matthew Reiss, have been working with Council Leader Margaret Davidson over the Christmas and New year period to discuss the way forward for the 2016/17 budget in the context of an extremely challenging grant settlement from the Scottish Government. On Wednesday 6 January 2016 the Budget Team met with the Councils Chief Executive and Director of Finance to explore wide areas where potential savings could be made.
Experts from Scotlands Rural College (SRUC) are alerting farmers that in light of this winters extreme weather, there is an increased risk of their cows suffering from magnesium deficiency. The condition is commonly known as grass staggers and often affects grazing cattle in spring, but magnesium tetany can also affect overwintered cows fed on silage.
Police Scotland are holding a Candidate Briefing Session on Saturday 16th January 2016 at Wick Police Station, Bankhead Road, Wick. Candidate Briefing Sessions are aimed at those who are interested in joining Police Scotland as a Regular or Special Constable.
