News Archive

3/4/2019

 
Free Insulation For Certain People - Worth Checking?

Insulation Kings are working in Thurso and surrounding areas , we offer Free Room In Roof insulation to Home owners who are off mains gas, have a room in roof (slopes coombes in upstairs room ) , fixed staircase leading to it then they will qualify.   This work will save up to 25% on annual energy bills & add value to property! All work is regulated and company is fully insured.  

3/4/2019

 
Lochaber High School leads the way in Highland for digital learning and teaching

Lochaber High School in Fort William has become the first secondary school in Highland and the twelfth school in Scotland to receive a ‘Digital Schools Award'.  The school joins a group of innovative secondary schools nationwide to receive the prestigious award recognised by Education Scotland.  

3/4/2019

 
New Social Enterprises Set To Flourish

Seven social entrepreneurs from across the country have been announced as the latest participants in LaunchMe, the social enterprise accelerator.   Innovative social enterprises across Scotland have gained a funding boost.  

3/4/2019

 
Scotland's Prison Population Drops By Four Per Cent

The Scottish prison population fell by 4.1 per cent between 2016 and 2018 while the overall imprisonment rate in Europe fell by nearly seven per cent, new figures reveal.   The Council of Europe's Annual Penal Statistics for 2018 (SPACE), published yesterday, reveals that a downwards trend in European prisoner figures which began in 2012 has continued.  

3/4/2019

 
Roadshow To Grow Level Of Specialist Employee Ownership Advice Available To Businesses In Scotland

The Law Society of Scotland, The Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS) and Co-operative Development Scotland are joining forces to promote employee ownership amongst Scotland's professional advisers.   The partners are coming together to host a unique series of events on employee ownership for members of the legal, accounting and banking professions.  

2/4/2019 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council supports national anti-littering campaign

The Highland Council is supporting the 2019 Keep Scotland Beautiful Clean Up campaign and is encouraging as many communities, businesses, schools and individuals as possible to get involved in a local community clean up.   £53 million of public money is spent addressing litter and flytipping in Scotland each year.  

2/4/2019 : Auctioneers

 
Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 2 April 2019

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 2nd) sold 12 prime cattle.   Prime bullocks (1) averaged 218.0p (+6.0p) and sold to 218.0p per kg and £1,329.80 gross.  

2/4/2019

Brexit Uncertainty Continues As Supply Chain Worries

Brexit is no Y2K because we STILL don't know what we're facing, say supply chain leaders.   An eleventh-hour debate for leading supply chain professionals reveals continued uncertainty is more damaging for business than a no-deal Brexit.  

2/4/2019

 
Fighting The Throwaway Culture

Deposit Return Scheme progressing.   Industry expertise and advice on the implementation of a Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland is to be sought.  

2/4/2019

Over 50,000 applications to the EU Settlement Scheme on opening weekend

Over 50,000 applications to the EU Settlement Scheme were received on the opening weekend of the scheme going live, the Home Office has today confirmed.   The EU Settlement Scheme was launched on Saturday 30 March following both private and public testing of the application process which began in August 2018.  

2/4/2019

SPAA comments on confirmation of strike action at Glasgow Airport

Staff at Glasgow Airport have announced a 24-hour strike on 16 April.   Unite members at the airport were balloted on strike action in a row over pay and pensions and 95% voted for industrial action.  

1/4/2019 : Engineering & Metal Goods

 
Towheads/Large Structures Travelling Through Wick

Subsea 7 will be moving three towheads for the Equinor Snorre Project from Wick Harbour to Wester Site in the next 2-3 days.  It is planned that the towheads will travel along the route through town as in the photograph.  

1/4/2019

New Minimum Wage Rates From Today

1.8 million workers earning the National Living Wage will receive an additional £690 over the year from today.   These rates are for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage.  

1/4/2019 : Local Authority

Expansion Of Free Personal Care

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Health Secretary Jeane Freeman visited the Capability Scotland Edinburgh Hub ahead of the extension of free personal care to people of all ages who are assessed as requiring it.   The expansion of free personal care - which was previously only available to those aged over 65 - comes into force on April 1 2019 and is often referred to as ‘Frank's Law’ after the former Dundee United footballer Frank Kopel.  

31/3/2019

Tightening Law On Home Detention Curfew

Amendments proposed to Management of Offenders Bill.   Police could be given new powers of entry and search to apprehend a person unlawfully at large from home detention curfew (HDC) or temporary release as part of proposals to strengthen electronic monitoring.  

31/3/2019

Funding to support low carbon projects

A project to help people in social housing get solar panels is one of the projects getting a share of £13.4 million of low carbon funding.   The smart storage project in Aberdeenshire will enable residents in social housing to make the best use of solar panels.  

31/3/2019

Poverty And Income Inequality Increasing

The latest statistics indicate rising poverty and income inequality in Scotland in recent years.   The incomes of low-income households fell further behind those of middle and high income households, pushing more people into poverty, and increasing income inequality further.  

30/3/2019

 
Stornoway Port Authority Awards Milestone Marina Contract

Work is about to start on a milestone development to create a new marina at Stornoway as part of an ambitious long-term vision for the town's harbour.   The Port Authority revealed that firm RJ McLeod Contractors Ltd has won a £5 million contract for the marina which will be the anchor project on the site as part of its 20-year Master Plan for the harbour.  

30/3/2019

 
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Business Plan 2019 To 2022

The consultation on our 2019 to 2022 draft Business Plan ran from 3 December 2018 to 4 February 2019, receiving 17 formal responses.  We have considered feedback and made appropriate changes to amend the document since the draft was published.  

29/3/2019 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

Week Commencing 25th March 2019 SpaceHub Sutherland: The team's weekly presence in Tongue continued this week, and June Love from the team also delivered a presentation on the project to members of the Thurso & Wick Trades Union Council at its meeting this week.  I attend all of the Trades Council's meetings, so it was good to hear the unanimously positive reaction to June's update from members (see Communications below for feedback on my discussion with members).