Dunnet Bay Distillers from Caithness are celebrating after being named winner of the Best Distilled Drink category at the Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards. The Highlands & Islands Food & Drink Awards celebrate passion, quality and innovation across the region.
Industry and Research Community Consultation sought for this new £40M national facility. Within the recent Nuclear Sector Deal, £40m was announced for a UK national thermal hydraulic research and testing facility, as part of the Nuclear Innovation Programme.
Weeks commencing 17th September- 1st October 2018. Energy & Business Services: CNSRP partner Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in association with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Scottish Government, has launched a programme called "Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR)." This is a service to help the UK supply chain get ready to bid for work in the offshore renewable energy sector.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf is to chair a dedicated task force to improve victims' experiences of the justice system. The task force will drive delivery of government commitments to ensure victims' voices are heard, to streamline their journey through the criminal justice system, and to provide wide-ranging support and accessible information through the process.
EU citizens in Scotland worried by the impact on their residency following the UK's exit from the EU are to be offered an advice and support service by the Scottish Government. The service will be available at locations across Scotland to help those affected by changes in the immigration rules as a result of leaving the EU.
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published the Rural Scotland Key Facts 2018. The publication brings together previously published statistics on a range of key policy areas, providing comparisons between remote rural areas, accessible rural areas and the rest of Scotland.
Here is a photo of Hamnavoe (02.10.2018, c. 10;30 am) about to 'come to the end' of her unusual route via Pentland Firth's Inner Sound and head generally Northwards past (i.e.the the East of ) the prominently-seen Stroma lighthouse towards Scapa Flow via Hoxa Sound and on from the former towards her destination of Stromness.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (October, 5th) sold 135 rams at its annual show and sale of Blackface rams, sponsored by Animal Health (Highland) Ltd. The overall champion was a ram lamb from Mr N.
The Highland Council has submitted a planning application for a low head hydroelectric development at the Torvean Weir on the River Ness at land 430m south west of Highland Rugby Club, on Bught Road, Inverness Using an Archimedes screw the hydroelectric scheme will have a generating capacity of up to 100kW and an average annual renewable energy output of approximately 600,000 kWh per annum. The renewable energy generated will return an income to the Council through the Feed in Tariff mechanism and be connected to the local Archive Centre and leisure centre.
Six Highland projects, including two Highland Council projects, will receive £1,101,147 of funding from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund in addition to Council and LEADER funding for new facilities to help meet the needs of growing visitor numbers. Chair of The Highland Council's Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Allan Henderson welcomed the investment.
NHS Highland plans to hold drop-in sessions prior to public meetings about the health and social care service consultation proposals to be held in Wick and Thurso next month. There are two public meeting planned in November.
Longer term budget planning to protect patient care. A "new deal" for health boards will give them more flexibility to continue delivering quality care, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has said.
More than 75,000 carers have received the Carer's Allowance Supplement. Carers are getting an additional payment of £442 this financial year, in two payments of £221, equivalent of an extra £8.50 per week and an increase of 13% on the current Carer’s Allowance.
Payments worth more than £241 million will begin to arrive in farmers and crofters bank accounts in the coming days. Eligible farmers and crofters will receive up to 90% of their CAP Basic and Greening 2018 payment under the national loan scheme announced earlier this summer.
Joint operation identifies poor standards of food safety and staff living accommodation. Highland Council Environmental Health Officers were required to take formal enforcement action regarding poor standards of food safety during a recent multi-agency operation led by Immigration Enforcement.
Highland Council residents are being urged to remember to recycle when they visit Recycling Centres. Historically, the general public have viewed Recycling Centres as the ‘dump' or the ‘tip’, however times have changed and with the need to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill and increase how much we all recycle, the Council would like encourage householders to take the time to separate their items before they go to a Recycling Centre.
The Auditor General has reported to the Scottish Parliament that NHS Highland and NHS Ayrshire and Arran face significant financial challenges, which are likely to continue in the years ahead. The reports note that these boards are unable to deliver services within budget, savings targets have not been met and it will be difficult to achieve financial sustainability in future.
The Scottish Government's announcement of a consultation on the introduction of a visitor levy ("tourist tax") has been welcomed by The Highland Council. Convener Bill Lobban recently gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee, where he emphasised the importance of tourism to the Highlands.
Highlands & Islands Regional MSP Rhoda Grant commenting on the RBS independent review on bank closures said " out of the 62 earmarked for closure by RBS only two have been reprieved. This highlights what we all knew and that was that they were merely getting a stay of execution.
David Morrison of the Energy Saving Store can give you advice on changing or upgrading your heating systems as well as reporting to you on what government help is available to reduce your energy bills. Give him a call and he will put your home through an MOT to see whats needing done and how to pay for it.