News Archive

11/7/2018

 
Wood Wins Dounreay Nuclear Design And Engineering Contract

Wood has won a framework contract to provide design and engineering services to the Dounreay nuclear site in Scotland, UK.   Effective immediately, it will run for up to four years, including two potential one-year extensions and has an estimated value of $3-4m to Wood.  

11/7/2018

 
Scotland's Household Numbers Rising

Scotland's household numbers projected to increase by almost a third of a million over 25 years.   Statistics published today by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that the number of households in Scotland is projected to continue to increase, rising by 317,000 between 2016 and 2041.  

10/7/2018

 
Beatrice Team Readying To Install First Wind Turbines

Wind turbine installation vessel Pacific Orca arrived at Nigg Energy Park on 28 June, according to the vessel's AIS data, as the Beatrice wind turbine installation team is set to start erecting the first Siemens Gamesa 7MW turbines at the project site in the Moray Firth near Caithness off the Scottish coast.   The project’s marine coordination team has issued a Notice to Mariners, saying that the wind turbine installation and commissioning works will commence offshore during July 2018, with finalisation of the installation in spring 2019.  

10/7/2018 : Local Authority

 
Advice on private water supplies

Highland Council is issuing a reminder to owners of private water supplies and landlords of tenants on private water supplies that it is their responsibility to arrange for the provision of water to their properties.   As a result of the prolonged recent dry weather Highland Council's, Environmental Health Team is receiving a few calls from individuals on private water supplies that are drying up.  

10/7/2018

 
Heavy Lift Vessel 'industrial Dart' In Pentland Firth Today

The massive heavy lift vessel Industrial Dart transited the P.  Firth W to E today pm 10.07.18 en route from Trinidad to the UK Cont.  

10/7/2018

Caithness: Medical practices successfully attract high-calibre clinicians

NHS Highland has successfully recruited six clinicians - three GPs, two advanced nurse practitioners and a ‘first contact' physiotherapy practitioner - to full and part-time posts in Caithness in the past two months.   Dr David Carson and Dr Mike Ruse are to join recent recruit, advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) Colin Armer, at the Riverbank Medical Practice in Thurso.  

10/7/2018 : Air / Bus / Rail / Ferry Services

Northern Isles pupils call for passengers' attention

Northern Isles school pupils are calling for passengers' attention with the introduction of refreshed safety briefing announcements on board NorthLink Ferries passenger vessels.   As part of the Scottish Government's Year of Young People 2018, the lifeline ferry service chose four students from Anderson High School in Lerwick for the announcement on MV Hjaltland and MV Hrossey and a further four pupils from Stromness Primary School in Orkney for the MV Hamnavoe recording.  

10/7/2018

 
Council Workers Step Up Pay Campaign

‘Wish you were ...  paying us properly'.  

9/7/2018 : Local Authority

Head Teacher appointments in the Highlands

The Highland Council is pleased to announce the recent appointment of 5 Head and 10 Acting Head Teachers across the region's schools.   All the new teachers will be in their posts by the new term in August 2018.  

9/7/2018 : Local Authority

Highland Licensing Board consults on new liquor licensing policy statement

The Highland Licensing Board has begun consultation on its next Statement of Licensing Policy for the period November 2018 to November 2023.   The aim of the Policy Statement is to promote consistency in decision-making on all types of liquor licence applications and to give applicants advance notice of the Board's likely approach to determining licence applications.  

9/7/2018

Regional Policy Paper Launched

The Highlands & Islands European Partnership (HIEP) has launched a position paper on Regional Policy.   After exiting the EU, UK regions will no longer be able to access EU structural funds.  

8/7/2018 : Food & Drink Products

 
Rock Rose Gin Secures New Listing With Sainsbury's

Dunnet Bay Distillers, the UK's most northerly mainland distillery, has secured its first nationwide supermarket listing, with its acclaimed Rock Rose Gin launching into 135 Sainsbury's stores this July.   The launch is the latest in a series of exciting developments for the craft distillery, which has significantly expanded to keep up with growing demand.  

8/7/2018 : Local Authority

 
Bridge Street, Inverness site purchase completed by Highland Council

The purchase of a significant site on the southern side of Inverness' Bridge Street was completed on Thursday 28 June 2018, it is confirmed by The Highland Council.  As announced at the start of June by Cllr Margaret Davidson, Leader of The Highland Council, and Mr Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, the purchase will support the development of Inverness Castle and the regeneration of the surrounding area of the city centre.  

8/7/2018 : Local Authority

 
Success for Highland Council at national awards

The Highland Council has been awarded two commendations and a first place at the 2018 Scottish Regional Energy Efficiency Awards (external link) for the Highland Home Energy Efficiency Programme.  These awards recognise the efforts made to eliminate fuel poverty and improve the energy efficiency of homes in the UK.  

8/7/2018 : Local Authority

 
Search Begins For New Highland Council Chief Executive

The Highland Council has approved the recruitment process for a new Chief Executive to replace Steve Barron when he retires in the autumn.   Applicants are invited to apply for this important top position to lead one of the largest local authorities in Europe, by the 31 July.  

8/7/2018 : Air / Bus / Rail / Ferry Services

NorthLink Ferries backs young people's journey to the future

In support of the Year of Young People 2018, and in partnership with Caber Coffee's Ethyco range, NorthLink Ferries is looking for two outstanding young people to apply for a travel bursary.   The bursary is intended to be used towards the cost of attending a significant cultural or leadership event.  

8/7/2018 : Local Authority

Multi-year Budget Agreed For Highland Council

The Highland Council has agreed to plan for a multi-year budget for the next 3 financial years (2019-22) to meet the challenge of a potential funding gap of up to £124.9 million.   Over the period 2013/14 to 2018/19 the Highland Council has already had to approve budget savings of £102.1 million as well as agree Council tax rises of 3% in each of the last two years in order to deliver a balanced budget.  

8/7/2018

 
Japanese Multinational Signs Scottish Deal

A major Japanese industrial corporation has signed an agreement that will see the world's first test of an autonomous underwater vehicle, undertaken in Scotland.   Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI) will carry out a verification test of a prototype AUV equipped with a robot arm for subsea pipeline inspection.  

8/7/2018

 
July Royal Bank of Scotland PMI® report - Scotland

The latest Royal Bank of Scotland PMI® report for Scotland shows that business activity has risen at strongest rate in four years.   According to the July Royal Bank of Scotland PMI®, private sector companies in Scotland increased output to the greatest extent in four years during July.  

4/7/2018 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Welcome for new Independent Chair of north partnership

Partners in the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership (CNSRP) have given a warm welcome to Ian Ross as he takes over the role of Independent Chair from Sir Anthony Cleaver.   Following a public recruitment campaign Ian Ross this week takes on a two-year contract as Independent Chair of CNSRP, as its partners continue to support the area's economy to transition away from dependence on nuclear decommissioning work.