* 84 turbines will provide 588MW of power once operational in 2019. * New windfarm expects to provide an average annual gross employment i Scotland of over 890 jobs during construction and is one of Scotland's largest private infrastructure project.
News that the Highlands and Islands helped make 2015 a record breaking year of inward investment in Scotland has been welcomed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The latest annual survey by EY shows a record level of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects won by Scotland; up by 51% and job creation up 52% in 2015.
Confirmation that SSE is to go ahead with its investment in the Beatrice Offshore Wind project has been welcomed by both of Scotland's economic development agencies. The project is expected to deliver billions of pounds of investment during construction, installation and longer-term operation and maintenance of the windfarm.
An external review team visited NHS Highland this week to examine paediatric and neonatal services at Caithness General Hospital in Wick and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. During the visit, the team met a wide range of clinicians and managers at both hospitals as well as staff from Scottish Ambulance Service.
Week Commencing 16th May 2016 Energy & Business Services: One of the main project focal points for partners over the past three years has been the potential to attract the operations and maintenance base for the Beatrice Offshore Wind development to Wick, and news this week that this moves ever closer with a piece in the RE News online feed regarding the Final Investment Decision for the project. http://renews.biz/102675/sse-to-unleash-beatrice/ Following this week's movement of large transformers from Scrabster harbour to the new Thurso South electricity sub-station, this coming weekend will see JGC Engineering moving three very large support modules to Scrabster Harbour.
Highland Council has appointed Councillor Jaci Douglas as the Council's representative to serve on the Board of NHS Highland. Cllr Jaci Douglas currently chairs the area District Partnership for Badenoch and Strathspey and chairs the Highland Council's Working Group on Dementia.
24 May 2016 to 25 May 2016 Where: Nairn Location of this event may be changed depending on registrations, to allow for a more central venue for all participants. Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with Scottish Development International, is running a FREE two day workshop on how to successfully prepare your business to trade overseas.
Deadline extended by one month. The deadline for submitting Single Application Forms (SAF) for farm funding has been extended by one month to June 15, 2016.
CalMac Ferries Limited has been announced as the preferred tenderer for the next contract to operate the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) network by the First Minister. CalMac's bid makes almost 350 commitments to improve the service, aiming to help drive economic growth, improve customer service and make sure the company delivers value for money.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May, 17th) sold 31 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (9) averaged 198.7p (+9.7p) and sold to 215p per kg and £1,360.95 gross.
Highland voters who wish to vote in the Referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union on Thursday 23 June 2016 are being alerted to the ‘Notice of Referendum' published on The Highland Council’s website at www.highland.gov.uk/eureferendum The question on the referendum ballot paper will be: 'Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?’ The choices on the ballot paper will be one of the following: • Remain a member of the European Union • Leave the European Union Voters will mark their choice using a cross (X). Steve Barron, Chief Executive of The Highland Council will be the Counting Officer for the EU Referendum in Highland Council’s area.
A £19m initiative by the University of the Highlands and Islands, to develop a school encompassing health, social care and wellbeing, has secured a £4 million investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The new school will enable the university to develop and align its curriculum and research at all levels to meet the needs of the health and social care sectors across the region, but also including areas of life science and health service management and administration.
Highlands & Islands (Labour) MSP David Stewart has welcomed the announcement from the SAC Consulting, Edinburgh, that the delivery of Veterinary Disease Surveillance in Scotland will continue from an Inverness facility. David Stewart said " I championed the cause for Scotland's Rural College ( SRUC) to keep the post-mortem facility in Inverness and working with concerned staff and the farming community we put up a very good case for the need for such a facility to be based here within the Highlands.
The Scottish Government will put opportunity for all at the heart of its agenda as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon completed her ministerial team with key appointments in childcare, education and employment. New ministers will take responsibility for delivering key priorities in the Scottish Government's programme.
Improving public safety by tightening access to air weapons. No licence.
The Highland Council is to purchase a specialised state of the art road repair vehicle in its bid to dramatically reduce the number of surface defects present on its road network. The machine, which uses a spray injection patching process, can be operated by a single operator and can fill a pothole in about 5 minutes.
Are You Towing Legally? If you passed your driving test on or after 1st January 1997 and you now want to tow certain trailers, a horsebox or caravan, you may, by law, have to pass a specific practical test. This would give you a B + E entitlement on your driving licence.
Economic development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), has reported a successful year of investment and job creation in the region for 2015/16 - its 50th anniversary year. Year-end figures compiled by HIE show an estimated 855 jobs are expected to be created or retained in the region, as a result of HIE's investments last year, 87 of these in Caithness and Sutherland, 17 of which are in fragile areas.
A Commission on democracy in the Highlands is to be launched in June. The Commission will investigate the current state of democracy in the region, and start conversations about the kind of democracy we want to have.
The Highland Council is re-designing the way it delivers Employability Services to offer more comprehensive support to people who find themselves experiencing unemployment. In line with similar developments across Scotland, the Council has adopted a Skills Pipeline which has become a key element in Highland's employability and employment strategy.