Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) have commissioned economic development consultants, ekosgen, to carry out the work. Over the next few weeks the study team will be carrying out desk research and survey work, including interviewing principal stakeholders and a representative sample of businesses.
A Caithness engineering and design company has become the first to achieve national accreditation through the region's ‘Cyber Strong' initiative. Thurso based Envision Engineering & Design has been awarded government backed Cyber Essentials certification.
Openreach to recruit 400 trainee engineers across Scotland. Up to 400 trainee engineers are will be hired across Scotland during the next year as part of a UK-wide network expansion by telecoms group Openreach.
Ackergill Tower is delighted to announce a new addition to the Ackergill Tower Estate, ‘Smugglers Inn', their very own onsite pub! Opening on 30th March from Fridays to Sundays, the traditional Scottish pub is full of charm and ideal for lazy lunches or afternoons by a log fire; with a mixture of seating areas available and low level lighting, it is the perfect place to sit back and relax. With a fully stocked bar, serving local favourites including Northern Light Ale and Orkney and Pulteney Whiskies, they'll be on hand to serve drinks between 12pm-3pm and 5pm-midnight.
Community groups across Caithness and north Sutherland have gained more than £178,000 from a local fund's recent awards. The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund, which is provided by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), has held two funding rounds since October and awarded money to eleven projects.
By early 2019, clinicians across the North of Scotland will have access to an integrated digital view of a patient's health and social care data through a new web-based portal provided by Orion Health. Jointly commissioned by four boards in the North of Scotland, the new health and social care portal will see information shared from providers in NHS Highland, NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland.
Overseas Scottish food and drink exports were worth approximately £6 billion in 2017 - almost £570 million more than 2016. Food exports were valued at about £1.6 billion - a rise of 15% (£214 million) during the same period.
Provisional figures for vital events registered in Scotland during the fourth quarter of 2017 were published on 14th March 2018 by National Records of Scotland and show that 12,821 births, 15,198 deaths and 5,975 marriages were registered between October and December. At 12,821, the number of births registered was 172 (1.3 per cent) fewer than in the same period of 2016 and the lowest quarter four total since 2000.
The results of the December Agricultural Survey show drops in livestock numbers and in the area of winter-planted cereals. The Chief Statistician in the Scottish Government today released the latest results from the December Agricultural Survey.
Two bidders competing for £18 million road contract Transport Scotland has announced that two bidders will be competing to deliver the A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement project in Aberdeen. The two shortlisted bidders are Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd and Farrans Construction.
Farmers, crofters and land managers are being urged to submit their Single Application Form (SAF) online. This year's SAF window, where applicants submit claims for support under the Common Agricultural Policy's (CAP) Pillar 1 and 2 schemes, is now open and runs until midnight on 15 May 2018.
Key Points New Build Housing - All Sectors There were 4,018 new build homes completed between July and September 2017; a 9% increase (316 homes) on the same quarter in 2016. This brings the total for the year to end September 2017 to 17,601, up 5% (908 homes) compared to the 16,693 completed in the previous year.
The Government has confirmed that universal high speed broadband will be delivered by a regulatory Universal Service Obligation (USO), giving everyone in the UK access to speeds of at least 10 Mbps by 2020. This is the speed that Ofcom, the independent regulator, says is needed to meet the requirements of an average family.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 14th) sold 1047 store cattle, 7 adult head of breeding cattle and 83 OTM cattle. Bullocks (627) averaged 238.4p and sold to 288.1p per kg for a 354kg Charolais cross from Greenvale, Thurso and £1,280 gross for a 555kg Limousin cross from Kinchyle, Scaniport.
Autumn Budget 2017 launched a £190 million Challenge Fund to help roll out full-fibre to local areas - providing the fastest, most reliable broadband to more homes and businesses. Today's Spring Statement 2018 has allocated the first wave of funding, providing over £95 million for 13 areas across the UK.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 13th) sold 9 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (1) averaged 210.0p (-9.0p) and sold to 210.0p and £1,281.00 gross.
Grants to support 24 projects in disadvantaged and rural communities. Communities across Scotland will benefit from a share of £26 million to support local regeneration.
The information put out by HM Treasury today but it changes very little since the autumn budget. The Chancellor has presented his first Spring Statement to Parliament - here's a summary of what he said.
The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have secured a major partnership bid to the UK Government's the Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) programme for £4.7m funding to provide full fibre networks in Inverness Fort William Wick and Thurso. Local businesses will have the opportunity to benefit directly from the fund as a proportion of will include the provision of around 150 vouchers to the value of £3000 which will be aimed at encouraging businesses to adopt higher speed connectivity.