New project aims to find marine energy hot spots A project to find the best new places to install marine energy devices in Europe was launched in Thurso today. Led by scientists at North Highland College UHI’s Environmental Research Institute, TURNKEY (transforming underutilised renewable natural resource into key energy yields) will bring together representatives from five European countries and use cutting edge technology to assess the locations with the best marine energy potential.
First course being run in Wick Wednesday 30th April 2014 This is a one day course and it covers all the usual first aid subjects, but from a boating perspective. It is aimed at anyone who goes afloat, whether on inland waters, rivers or at sea.
Relocated VisitScotland information service sees 55% increase in visitor enquiries. A full year on from the relocation of the Thurso VisitScotland information service to Caithness Horizons has seen a 55% increase in footfall.
Sam MacNaughton, The Highland Council’s Head of Transport and Infrastructure today (Friday) retires after 44 years service in local government during which time he has secured many millions of pounds of investment in the Highlands to improve the Highland transport network. Sam, who hails from Lochaber, is married to Anne and they have three daughters, Mairi, Sarah and Chirsty.
Week commencing 7th April 2014 Energy & Business Services: Atlantis Resources Ltd has announced an extension to its partnership with Chinese company Dongfang Electrical Machinery which will enable testing of the Atlantis AK1000 tidal turbine in China. As previously reported, Atlantis now owns Meygen Ltd., and Atlantis tidal devices will be deployed at the Meygen tidal site in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth following Scottish Government consent last year, and Atlantis’ successful raising of project finance.
Police to carry out test purchasing operations in Caithness and Sutherland in the coming weeks. Police Scotland Highland and Islands Division will be carrying out test purchasing operations in the Caithness and Sutherland areas of the Division in the coming weeks.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (April, 10th) sold 1276 sheep of all classes. Lambs (689) averaged £60.48 and sold to £109 gross for a pair of Beltex crosses from Caberfeidh, Upperton.
If you’re leaving school this year, planning a career change or would like to retrain, North Highland College UHI has a range of new courses to kick start your career. The North Highland College UHI is continually seeking to improve their range of courses and levels and modes of study.
DINGWALL, Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd, (April 9th) sold 25 Young Farmers over-wintered cattle at their annual show and sale, kindly sponsored by Messrs Home Farms, Inverness & Messrs Craiglands Quarry, Fortrose. Bullocks (16) averaged 246.6p and sold to 280.4p per kilo and £1,360 gross for the un-haltered champion and 1st prize un-haltered bullock, a 485kg Charolais cross from Scott Macrae, Shawpark, Glaickmore.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 9th) sold 735 Aberdeen Angus, native bred and continental store cattle in a special show and sale and 29 OTM cattle. Aberdeen Angus bullocks (283) averaged 229.8p and sold to 274.6p per kilo for a pen of five 346kg Aberdeen Angus crosses from North Calder, Halkirk, and £1,380 gross for a pen of 687kg Aberdeen Angus crosses from Hilton Farm, Tain.
The Inverness economy is set to receive a £500,000 boost when hundreds of biotechnology experts from around the world gather at the city’s Eden Court Theatre. Supported by the VisitScotland Conference Bid Fund, the Natural Product Biotechnology conference will see a number of academics discuss the industry’s role in products for the nutraceutical, functional food, and cosmeceutical markets, as well as in the development of new drugs.
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY'S MULTI-MILLION POUND BRAND-NEW 'FloWave TT' FACILITY IS A WORLD-LEADER THAT CAN SIMULATE ACTUAL PENTLAND FIRTH WAVE AND TIDAL SEA-CONDITIONS. One of the biggest and most complex scientific instruments ever devised and built in Scotland will be 'in commercial action' for the first time this Spring (2014) at its site near Blackford Hill in Edinburgh.
An award-winning Caithness company which develops cutting edge scientific equipment used across the globe has received a significant new order from the US Government space agency. KP Technology Ltd, based in Wick, has received an order from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) for its Kelvin Probe system.
The NHS Highland Pharmacy Practices Committee has unanimously rejected plans to open a pharmacy in Castletown. The applicant Sanjay Mahju made the application for his company Apple Pharmacy Group that already has a number of pharmacies in Scotland.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April, 8th) sold 47 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (34) averaged 208p (-4.4p) and sold to 225p per kg and £1,610.20 gross.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is delighted to announce Natural Retreats, a specialist leisure and travel company, as the new operator of Cairngorm Mountain, taking effect in June 2014. Natural Retreats are renowned for offering customers and guests high quality tourism based experiences in some of the most dramatic natural locations around the world.
Serco NorthLink Ferries is pleased to launch its brand new online booking system, with added features and increased user-friendliness. Customers are now able to book a number of services which were previously unavailable online, including meals, cots and kennels.
The Highland Council has welcomed the go ahead for its plans to build the Inverness West Link road, the final phase of the Inverness Southern Distributor Road which is aimed at removing traffic congestion in the city centre and allowing completion of the city’s outlying neighbourhoods. Planning permission was granted by the South Planning Application Committee at its meeting today (Tuesday) in Inverness.
The Scottish Government has finally yielded to Scottish Labour and popular pressure and made funds available to effectively end the Bedroom Tax in Scotland. With little fanfare, the Scottish Government wrote to councils a couple of weeks ago to tell them to grant all requests made for Discretionary Housing Payments.
Highland Councillors are united in their support for proposed new legislation aimed at cutting accidents on our roads involving young drivers. Leaders of all political groupings on the Council back the introduction of a Graduated Driver Licensing system for new drivers in Scotland, which would restrict their permissions in driving unsupervised until they have gained adequate experience.
