News Archive

2/3/2019

 
New Scheme To Support Town Centres

A £50 million fund to help boost town centres has been launched.   The Town Centre Fund, which has been set up in partnership with COSLA, is supporting councils to ensure their high streets are more diverse, sustainable and successful in the face of changing and evolving retail patterns.  

2/3/2019

Support For Venezuelan Migrants In Colombia

Funding to support refugees displaced from Venezuela has been announced by International Development Minister Ben Macpherson.   It has been confirmed that £220,000 will be made available from the Scottish Government Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF).  

1/3/2019 : Other Public Services

 
Dounreay Communities Fund - Closing Dates For Applications In 2019

The fund is provided by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and administered by Dounreay in association with the Dounreay Stakeholder Group.   Community organisations or charities that benefit people in Caithness and North Sutherland may be eligible for assistance from the Dounreay Communities Fund.  

1/3/2019 : Other Public Services

 
Nuclear Decommissioning - Demolition Starts On Windscale Chimney

The first blocks of concrete have been removed from the top of one of the world's most recognisable chimneys.   This marks the start of the demolition of Sellafield's Windscale Pile One stack.  

1/3/2019 : Local Authority

 
2019/2020 Council Tax In Highland Rates and Reductions

At the meeting of The Highland Council on 14 February 2019 it was agreed to increase Council Tax by 3% from 1 April 2019.  Council Tax bills for 2019/2020 will be issued over the coming weeks.  

1/3/2019

 
Vehicle Funding and Provision Advice Coming to Caithness

Paul Cutress, Harry Fairbairn BMW & Mini Business Product Consultant, will be available for individual, informal discussions and advice regarding your vehicle funding and provision requirements in Wick and Thurso on March 19th and 20th 2019.   If you provide cars to your employees as part of their remuneration package OR You have business cars as employee tools for their job or pool cars for employees to use as and when required.  

1/3/2019

 
New random number generator - ERNIE 5

Premium Bonds take a quantum leap as new random number generator, ERNIE 5, picks two new jackpot winners for March 2019.   ERNIE has regenerated for the first time in 15 years, and is using quantum technology to generate random numbers.  

1/3/2019

 
HS2 Set To Boost Opportunities For Businesses In Scotland

CEO of HS2 Ltd, Mark Thurston, told Scottish businesses today how they can take advantage of thousands of contract opportunities, and become part of Europe's biggest infrastructure project.   Businesses in Scotland are already benefiting from contracts with HS2, and more are being encouraged to get on board with the project, creating jobs and skills opportunities for people in Scotland.  

1/3/2019

 
Despite record employment, nearly 10% of adults have never done paid work

While UK employment is at record levels, there are still millions of people across the country who have never had a paid job.  What are their reasons for not working?.  

1/3/2019

 
Millions Of Nuisance PPI Calls Lands Director With 8-year Ban

Carmarthen director has been banned for eight years after causing two companies to make almost 221 million unsolicited nuisance PPI phone calls.   Richard Jones (31), from Carmarthen, Wales, was the director of Miss-Sold Products UK Limited and Your Money Rights Limited, the two companies at the centre of investigations by the ICO and the Insolvency Service.  

1/3/2019

 
One Month To Go Before Introduction Of Making Tax Digital For VAT

Businesses are being urged to get ready as over 2,000 businesses are signing up for Making Tax Digital for VAT each day.   Almost 1.2 million businesses have one month to go before the introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) - a new way of keeping business records and submitting digital VAT returns.  

1/3/2019

 
Young People Not In Education, Employment Or Training - NEET

Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: February 2019.   For October to December 2018:.  

28/2/2019 : Visitor Attractions

 
Highland Council In Talks To Reopen Caithness Horizons

Talks have taken place on the possibility of reopening Thurso's Caithness Horizons which closed last week due to financial problems.   The operators of the museum and art gallery said increasing running costs and reduced income had made the running of the site "unsustainable".  

28/2/2019 : Educational Institutions

 
Scottish Apprenticeship Events in Thurso and Wick

North Highland college have two information evenings next week for Scottish Apprenticeship week to promote the Foundation Apprenticeships available to pupils in Thurso and Wick at North Highland College UHI.   Entry is FREE..  

28/2/2019 : Other Public Services

 
New Keep Safe Locations In The Highlands

Police Scotland and the I Am Me charity have welcomed new members to the network of Highland premises which have agreed to make their premises a Keep Safe place for people to go if they feel frightened, distressed or have been the victim of crime.   Nairn Citizens Advice Bureau and the Co-ops in Golspie and Brora have joined the initiative, which is delivered in partnership between I Am Me and Police Scotland.  

28/2/2019 : Educational Institutions

 
Finance For Non Finance Managers

This course is designed for managers and businesses owners to develop their skills in interpreting business documents to use them for business planning.   9.00AM Fri 22 March 2019 to 4.30PM Fri 22 March 2019 Cost £135 Finance for Non Finance Managers:.  

28/2/2019

 
NHS Highland Medical Director Stepping Down

NHS Highland announced today that Dr Rod Harvey has decided to step down from his position of Board Medical Director and take retirement with effect from the 31st August 2019.   By the time of his retirement he will have worked continuously in the NHS for thirty seven years, but nevertheless intends to return to a period of frontline clinical care as a consultant physician before stopping work altogether.  

28/2/2019 : Auctioneers

 
Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sheep sale - 28 February 2019

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (February, 28th) sold 2,516 sheep of all classes.   Lambs (1,449) averaged £54.49 and sold to £80 gross twice for pens of Texel crosses from Wester Moy, Urray and 134 West Langwell, Rogart.  

28/2/2019

 
Establishment Of Scottish National Bank Takes Step Forward

Legislation to support the establishment and capitalisation of the Scottish National Investment Bank has been published by the Scottish Parliament.   The Bill grants the necessary powers to set up the Bank which will provide financing for businesses through their whole life cycle and for important infrastructure projects to catalyse private sector investment.  

28/2/2019

 
NHS Highland Chairman David Alston Resigns

Widely reported today that the chairman of NHS Highland has resigned just weeks after the Chief Executive Elaine Mead resigned.   Scottish Labour's Shadow Health Minister, and Highlands and Islands MSP, David Stewart, said: "While I wish David Alston all the best, the appointment of well-respected Boyd Robertson heralds a new chapter for NHS Highland which has not had its troubles to seek in the past few years.