Jenna Forbes (21) from Westerdale beat off strong competition to win £1000 prize money for the Best Student Idea in the UHI Business Ideas competition recently held in Inverness. Jenna, an HNC Business student at The North Highland College UHI pitched her idea to the judging panel at Inverness College UHI’s Longman Campus.
The Chairman of the north’s Regeneration Partnership has welcomed the interest shown this week by local people in the developments planned for the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters. Sir Anthony Cleaver, independent Chairman of the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, said “I’m delighted to hear that the first of the two Information Days held by the Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters Leadership Forum in Caithness and Orkney has proved to be a success, bringing local people in to hear about progress directly from Scottish Power Renewables and Meygen, as well as from a range of key supporting agencies such as National Grid, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd, HIE, Highland Council, Crown Estate and Marine Scotland.
Man reported following warrant executed at registered firearms dealer in Wick. On Thursday 29 November 2012, officers from Northern Constabulary executed a search warrant at a registered firearms dealer in Wick, Caithness.
The Caithness & North Sutherland Fund recently awarded its 4th round of grants for 2012. Six community groups were awarded funding totalling over £114k for community projects that help to improve the attractiveness of their area as a place to live, work and invest.
Highland Councillors are united in their condemnation of the far-reaching nature of Welfare Reform changes proposed by the UK Government in a bid to find savings of £18 billion by 2014/15. Councillor Alasdair Christie, Chairman of the Council’s Welfare Reform Working Group, led the criticism of the proposals, which he predicts will seriously affect the wellbeing of the most vulnerable members of the community.
An expert team will help Scottish green energy projects secure funding from the Green Investment Bank as it is launched today. The team, to be led by Marcia Campbell, former Group Operations Director of Standard Life, will identify and support potential Scottish bidders to make the strongest possible case for funding from the £3 billion publically funded Green Investment Bank.
Tighter controls on taxi licensing to crack down on rogue firms and support responsible businesses are being consulted on. The Scottish Government today launched a consultation on the plans in response to concerns about the influence of criminality within the trade and the working of the current licensing regime.
Finance Secretary John Swinney has today outlined to Parliament the Scottish Government’s continuing commitment to public service pensions that are affordable, sustainable and fair, as he responded to UK reform of public sector pensions. Mr Swinney confirmed Ministers’ objections to the UK Government’s decision to use pension reform as a cover for deficit reduction and to place constraints on Scotland’s ability to negotiate long term reform with public sector workers.
New legislation will support better job chances for college leavers and ensure more students from poor backgrounds go to university. The Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill, published today, will drive forward regionalisation of colleges, the most fundamental change to the sector for two decades.
Mackays Hotel is delighted to announce in collaboration with Richards Garage car hire vehicles will be available from the hotel outwith normal working hours, including Saturday and Sunday. Murray Lamont, of Mackays Hotel, commented that he felt there was a gap in the market and particularly on a Sunday when there was no public transport to John O'Groats.
Local people in and around Caithness are being invited to an evening reception by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in the Pentland Hotel, Thurso, at 7pm on Wednesday 5 December. Scottish Natural Heritage is the Scottish Government's advisor on the management, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of Scotland’s wildlife, natural habitats and landscape.
Week Commencing 19th November 2012 Energy: A reminder that this Wednesday (28th November) there will be an opportunity for members of the public to catch up with current activities in the wave and tidal sector when the Pentland Firth & Orkney Waters Information Day is held in the Pentland Hotel, Thurso. The event will be open from 2pm til 8pm, with a number of stands from bodies such as Marine Scotland, The Crown Estate, National Grid, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd and wave/ tidal developer companies, as well as HIE, Highland Council, Skills development Scotland, North Highland College and Caithness Chamber of Commerce.
Visitors to Orkney and Shetland will no longer need photo identification to board Serco NorthLink Ferries, Managing Director Stuart Garrett announced today (Thursday 22 November 2012). The move sees the services to Orkney and Shetland fall into line with other domestic ferry services.
A series of events is underway to provide information and advice to anyone interested in woodland crofts. The Scottish Crofting Federation, the Community Woodlands Association and the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust have joined forces to form the Woodland Crofts Partnership.
The Highland Council is reviewing polling places used by voters at the UK Parliamentary elections and also the boundaries of their polling districts. The Council is eager to ensure that its network of 218 polling places is viable and complies fully with disability legislation.
A fund designed to increase the number of business conferences being held in Scotland is expected to have a positive economic impact of £56m, according to new VisitScotland figures which also suggest that for every public sector pound invested the return will be £53. Tourism Minister, Fergus Ewing updated MSPs on the Conference Bid Fund during today’s debate on business tourism in the Scottish Parliament.
Call for businesses to support economic health check for Highlands and Islands. Businesses and social enterprises are being invited to play their part in a quarterly temperature check of the region’s economy being gathered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Network Rail has begun work on the new station at Conon Bridge. The station and car park, which will be completed by early February next year, is being delivered by Network Rail and ScotRail in alliance with Transport Scotland, HITRANS and The Highland Council.
Businesses and social enterprises are being invited to play their part in a quarterly temperature check of the region's economy being gathered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The results will provide an ongoing picture of business confidence, growth aspirations, access to finance and the labour market to help inform the business community on challenges and opportunities facing the area.
The Highland Council has been awarded a further £60,000 of funding by the Scottish Government to deliver the Universal Home Insulation Scheme in the Highlands, bringing the total budget to £590,000. The extra funding has allowed the Council to target households in The Highland Council Wards of the Black Isle as well as Culloden and Ardersier.
