NorthLink Ferries is now accepting bookings for travel to and from Orkney and Shetland for next year. The ferry operator will continue with its current timetable and fares as well as cater for popular events by providing a temporary revised schedule when required.
In excess of 60 businesses in Highland have now successfully applied for free Broadband Connection Vouchers, providing a boost to their broadband so they can now benefit from new IT opportunities and better productivity. The UK-wide scheme, which provides grants of up to £3,000 to help small businesses and charities on a first come, first served basis, has proved to be popular.
Sir Danny Alexander, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will this week give evidence to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee as part of its inquiry into the devolution of public finances. The Committee will question Sir Danny on a range of issues including.
The Digital Scotland roll-out of high speed fibre based broadband started around Loch Ness in October 2015. Here, some of the first businesses to order - the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition and Cobbs - talk about the potential benefits.
Six new treatment centres to be created across Scotland. Six new elective treatment centres to carry out procedures like hip, knees and cataracts are to be built, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today.
Commenting on today's announcement by the Deputy First Minister John Swinney, that Local authorities will be able to lower business rates in their area from 31 October 2015, Cllr Margaret Davidson, Leader of The Highland Council said: "Our ambition for Highland is to see much greater responsibility passed to the Council, as we believe decisions over local services are best taken at a local level. "While I welcome this announcement, what local government needs is the freedom to be able to vary business rates up and down.
£6 million to extend online booking and prescription ordering. Over £6 million will be invested over the next three years to increase the number of GP surgeries across Scotland offering digital services such as online appointment booking and online repeat prescription ordering.
Farmers and other land managers will begin to receive their share of £6.7 million of rural development payments from next week. Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed the Scottish Government's Rural Payment and Inspectorate Division (RPID) has begun processing more than 5,000 Land Managers Option (LMO) payments for the 2014 scheme year.
Seven per cent increase. Overseas and domestic tourism visitors to Scotland have both increased by seven per cent in the last year to the end of June 2015 according to figures published this morning.
Scotland's highest cereal harvest yield for 20 years has been welcomed by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead. According to the first estimates for the 2015 Scottish cereal and oilseed rape harvest, published today, Scottish farms are thought to have produced 3.3 million tonnes of cereals this year.
BAM appointed principal contractor for the £170m upgrade of the Aberdeen-Inverness line. The Scottish Government-funded enhancement will transform journeys on the route introducing a half-hourly commuter service between Aberdeen and Inverurie and additional peak services between Inverness and Elgin.
Energy & Business Services: This week has seen preparations taking place for the visit later this month of a potential inward investor to the area. A series of relevant visits have been arranged to highlight the business infrastructure in the area, and to promote existing business capabilities.
STORNOWAY, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 15th) sold 1,701 sheep. Store lambs (630) sold to £52 gross for Suffolk crosses from 13 Cross Skigersta Road, Ness.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 14th) sold 1630 weaned calves at their second annual district ballot show and sale. The judge, Mr G.
Work on the first stage of the Kinnairdie Link Road Scheme in Dingwall will begin on Monday when contractor, Pat Munro (Alness) Ltd will be on site to carry out improvements to the junction of the A862 Newton Road and the A834 Burn Place near to the Council Offices. The A862 will be widened to provide additional stacking length on the approach to the junction from the South.
HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, is spearheading a significant European-funded project to assist and develop rural and remote airports with use of new technologies. SPARA 2020, which stands for Smart Peripheral and Remote Airports, is a three-year €2.4 million Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme area project.
Dounreay has reached a significant milestone following commissioning of the new supercompactor at the Waste Receipt Assay Characterisation and Supercompaction facility (WRACS). The facility has now crushed its 1000th drum of low level waste since the plant's re-start in July.
Works start Friday 16 October 2015. Two locations on the A9 near Inverness are soon to be upgraded following an investment of £520,000 from Transport Scotland.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (October, 13th) sold 47 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (9) averaged 216.7p (-2.1p) and sold to 228p per kg and £1,459.35 gross.
The Highland Council is seeking public opinion on the future provision of school, public and dial-a-bus transport services across the region. A series of consultation meetings will be held across the Highlands to discuss with communities their required needs and views on future Council transport services.
