News Archive

12/3/2019

 
Moneybarn reveals the popularity of motorbike ownership by region

The South East has the most motorbike owners, while the North East has the fewest.   March 2019 - Recent analysis of government data* by vehicle finance provider Moneybarn, reveals the South East is the biker capital of Great Britain, with the area currently home to 17% of the UK's licensed motorbikes.  

12/3/2019

 
Weather Helps Farmers With Winter Planting

The weather in 2018 has caused mixed fortunes in agriculture.  Mild weather at the end of 2018 helped increase the area of winter-planted crops and the warm summer led to more production of hay.  

12/3/2019

 
Boost For Computing Lessons In Scottish Schools

Teachers from nearly 70 per cent of Scottish schools have signed up for BT tech literacy programme.   A programme to help teachers bring computer science to life in the classroom has already reached nearly 70 per cent of Scotland's primary schools, according to new figures.  

12/3/2019

 
Thinking of buying a new car - Think Credit Union

Many folk plan a new or second hand car upgrade as we approach summer.   Finance often comes to mind as part of the planning and it is well worth looking around for the best deal especially if its spread over a few year as interest can rack up.  

12/3/2019

 
4% rise in number of new build homes completed in Scotland

There were 18,750 new build homes completed across all sectors over the year ending September 2018, an increase of 4%, or 635 homes, on the previous year.   Scotland's Chief Statistician today released the latest Quarterly Housing Statistics for Scotland, which present the latest quarterly information on new build housing and affordable housing supply.  

11/3/2019 : Local Authority

 
Finding out how to foster and adopt made easier in Highland

People living in The Highland Council area can now find out how to foster and adopt in the comfort of their own homes.   Alison Gordon, Highland Council's Fostering and Adoption Resource Manager explained: "We have created this website to try to make it easier for anyone living in the Highlands who is considering fostering or adoption and we have tried to make the process of applying easier.  

11/3/2019

 
Offshore Wind Offshored - BBC Business Editor Spells It Out

Douglas Fraser, Business/economy editor, Scotland has set out the tale of woe and history of The Saudi Arabia of Wind power that never seems to happen.   A comprehensive view of many statements and potential that never happened with a very few that did.  

11/3/2019

 
New Report Highlights National Importance Of Highlands And Islands' Marine Resource

The Highlands and Islands has enormous potential in developing the marine economy according to a new study.   Entitled ‘Maximising the Marine Economy in the Highlands and Islands' (MAXiMAR), the study focuses on supporting the growth of aquaculture, energy and marine biotechnology which are the most highly innovative sectors.  

11/3/2019

 
Will UK investment bounce back?

Published by the Bank of England today 11th March 2019.   Speech given by Jonathan Haskel, External Member of the Monetary Policy Committee.  

11/3/2019

 
Council launches new tool for publishing Business and Industrial Land data for Highland Areas

The Highland Council has today (Monday 11 March 2019) announced the release of a new mapping tool for available business and industrial land across the Council area that is aimed at supporting investment in the Highlands.   The Business and Industrial Land Audit (BILA) measures the availability of land allocated in the Local Development Plan(s) for business and industrial uses and grades it according to how quickly the land can be made available and prepared for use.  

11/3/2019

 
73,000 Breakdowns Expected This Week As Severe Wind And Rain Set To Affect The Uk

With wet and windy weather set to hit the UK this week, breakdown cover provider Green Flag is predicting 135,000 callouts and 73,000 breakdowns on UK roads between Tuesday and Friday.  This amounts to 13 breakdowns per minute over the course of the week.  

8/3/2019

 
Holyrood Committee Endorses Proposed New Enterprise Agency For The South Of Scotland

The creation of a new South of Scotland enterprise agency has been given full support by the Scottish Parliament's Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee.   The findings come in a Stage 1 report on the South of Scotland Enterprise Bill.  

8/3/2019

 
DF Barnes Celebrates Getting Bifab Back To Work

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands joins senior executives from DF Barnes on visit to the Arnish yard DF Barnes is celebrating its first contract win with the creation of 82 jobs at its yard in Arnish less than a year since taking over BiFab.   BiFab has been awarded a contract by GeoSea to produce piles worth up to £26.5 million as part of the Moray East Offshore Windfarm development.  

8/3/2019

 
New Digital Exhibit Celebrates Inspirational Women Across Scotland

A new digital exhibit that celebrates the lives and achievements of one hundred women across the country has gone on display at the Scottish Parliament.   As part of the Scottish Parliament's 20th anniversary, and to coincide with International Women's Day, the free exhibit is a digital touchscreen-based interpretation of the sculpture called Travelling the Distance by Glasgow-based artist Shauna McMullan.  

8/3/2019

 
New Modern Apprentice Target

More than 29,000 people will benefit from Modern Apprenticeship opportunities next year in a continued effort to support youth employment, Fair Work Minister Jamie Hepburn announced.   The 29,000 target includes Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships and puts Scotland on course to reach a longstanding commitment to 30,000 new apprenticeship starts each year by 2020.  

8/3/2019

 
Scottish Labour Conference: USDAW says it's ‘time for better pay’

Usdaw's delegation to Scottish Labour Conference, which starts today 8 March 2019 in Dundee, will be raising deep concerns about the continued growth of in-work poverty and the Scottish Government's failure to tackle this issue.   Stewart Forrest - Usdaw Divisional Officer for Scotland says: "Too many jobs in Scotland are insecure, without guaranteed hours or income.  

7/3/2019 : Veterinary Services

 
Online Calculator Adds To SRUC Success To Help Farms

An online tool which has helped thousands of UK farms to reduce their carbon footprint has won a major industry award.   Scotland's Rural College beat entries from Volvo Group and the Scottish Government's Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme to top the Low Carbon and Energy category at the inaugural CeeD Industry Awards in Glasgow.  

7/3/2019 : Local Authority

 
Caithness Horizons Position - Paper To Highland Council Meeting 7th March 2019

The report presented to Highland council gives background leading up to the closure of Caithness Horizon in Thurso.   Talks are ongoing regarding the future of the museum.  

7/3/2019 : Other Public Services

 
Scottish Region Counter Terrorism Protective Security Update 7th March

The following has been issued nationwide today 7th March 2019.   Improvised Explosive Device Sent via Mail - 6th March 2019.  

7/3/2019 : Local Authority

 
Nuclear-free Highlands - Motion Debated At Highland Council Today 7th March

The motion was proposed at Highland council today 7th March 2019.   It was emotively opposed by Caithness councillors.