Scottish Local Authorities received 17,797 applications for homelessness assistance during the six months April to September 2017, 2% higher compared to the same period during 2016. However when looking over the whole of the last 12 months, there has been a smaller 0.3% (118 applications) annual increase from 34,746 applications in the 12 months to end September 2016 to 34,864 applications in the 12 months to end September 2017.
A new independent scrutiny body that will hold Scotland's social security system to account is to be created by the Scottish Government. Amendments to legislation currently going through Parliament would create a new Scottish Commission on Social Security that would independently scrutinise the new social security system and ensure it lives up to expectations, according to Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman.
Membership of the Single Market and Customs Union will mitigate the damaging effects of Brexit, External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop has said ahead of visiting Brussels. Following the publication of Scotland's Place in Europe: People, Jobs and Investment the Cabinet Secretary will meet MEPs and EU ambassadors in Brussels to set out the Scottish Government's position on Brexit.
Scotland will push ahead with a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and is calling on the UK Government to match its ambition, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has said. Ms Cunningham has already pledged that Scotland will back the EU's vision to phase out single use plastics by 2030 and urged the UK Government to do the same - "Brexit or no Brexit." Earlier this month, the Scottish Government became the first UK administration to announce plans to ban the use of plastic cotton buds, one of the items most often washed up on beaches.
More than 2,500 people take up Scottish Universal Credit choices The rational for introducing Scottish Universal Credit (UC) choices will be outlined by Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman when she gives evidence to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into the roll-out of UC. Over a seven week period 5,800 new applicants in full UC service areas were offered the Scottish UC choices.
Highland Council's Trading Standards team is reporting mixed findings from the age restricted sales test purchase programme it recently carried out in the Inverness and Easter Ross areas. During the recent exercise, while a total of 13 retailers correctly refused to sell, one business premises failed to prevent fireworks being sold to a young test purchase volunteer.
A Which campaign is highlighting the threat to Free cashpoints. Recent Which? research has identified more than 200 communities in Britain have poor access to free (or any) cashpoints.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has demanded that regional funding which supports the fragile economy of the Highlands and Islands is maintained by the UK government after Brexit. Speaking at Scottish Labour's Highlands and Islands conference in Inverness on Saturday (20 January) he said that it is vital the support currently received from the European Union is not forgotten during the Brexit negotiations.
IFAD President urges leaders gathering at World Economic Forum (WEF). Rome, 23 January 2018 - As an unprecedented number of government and business leaders gather at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos today to improve international collaboration in a 'fragmented world', the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) issued an urgent call to remember the world's poorest and most marginalized people.
The Highland Council and its Commercial and Procurement Shared Services partners Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils are running a series of events to help businesses supply to the public sector. Some of the events are hosted by other organisations and we will be signposting suppliers to these as well.
Week commencing 15th January 2018 Enabling activities: It is always great to see an innovative Caithness company being recognised - this time Norscot Joinery, whose partnership with Strathclyde University through the Interface programme, is up for Innovation of the Year in the 2018 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards. http://www.bqlive.co.uk/scotland/2018/01/11/news/scottish-knowledge-exchange-awards-finalists-announced-29865/ Business Gateway (managed in the Highlands by CNSRP partner the Highland Council) will be running two workshops for businesses interested in boosting their digital profile.
This report presents information on: the rationale, costs and benefits of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI); the use and impact of PFI, and ability to make savings from operational contracts; and the introduction of PF2. There are currently over 700 operational PFI and PF2 deals, with a capital value of around £60 billion.
This workshop is designed for people who want to deepen their understanding of how Facebook can be used to engage with their target audience in order to boost conversions. Facebook is an increasingly effective tool for reaching target audiences and engaging with them when they are in a responsive mode.
'Switched on @ Work' is an event to help employees and businesses identify the benefits of switching to ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs). ULEVs range from pure electric, plug-in hybrids and extended range electric vehicles.
Leader of the Highland Council, Margaret Davidson has moved to reassure communities about forthcoming budget decisions. She said: "No decisions will be made until the Council meets on 15 February.
Recent VisitScotland figures have highlighted that 62%* of holidaymakers to Scotland said trying locally sourced food and drink is an important part of their visit. Share In a bid to capitalise on the benefits of a close relationship between food and drink producers and the tourism sector, a range of industry representatives and public agencies are working together to develop a new strategy - the ‘National Framework to Grow Food Tourism'.
Proposed 50p minimum unit price for alcohol would increase prices of around 70% of off-trade alcohol purchases. The Scottish Government plans to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol on 1 May 2018.
Week Commencing 8 January 2018 Energy & business services: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy - the suppliers of the turbines for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm - are advertising several new roles to be based at the operations base in Wick. See http://forum.caithness.org/forumdisplay.php?22-Job-Vacancies.
What does this mean for future trade policy? Globalisation, and the accompanying internalisation of firms' supply chains that has occurred over recent decades, have changed the way we should think about trade flows and in particular the UK's trade with the EU. It is increasingly the case that countries' exports embody imports from abroad, whether in the form of imported raw materials, components or business services.
Wick High School 10th February 2018 10.00am - 2.00pm. See poster for details..