Sixteen ambitious students, bringing fresh ideas for business development to companies across the Highlands and Islands, are gathering to prepare their own dragons den style pitches at a residential training course this week. The students, who come from across the UK and abroad to work for eight weeks with local businesses, are part of the TalentScotland Summer Placement Programme managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
ScotRail today confirmed it is to provide a taxi-on-request service for customers holding a 'through ticket' between the rail network and Orkney, to transport customers between Thurso railway station and Scrabster pier. It is hoped to launch the service in early September.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 2nd) sold 54 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (22) averaged 197.8p and sold to 209p per kg and £1,379.40 gross.
The Highland Council will complete a phased introduction of new opening hours at its network of 35 Service Points next week. Opening hours have already been amended at Fort Augustus, Grantown, Hilton (Inverness), Golspie, Brora, Tain, Invergordon, Alness, Kingussie and Aviemore.
Digital TV switchover in Scotland is now complete, extending coverage and choice to an extra one million viewers previously unable to receive digital television through an aerial. Paul Hughes, National Manager of Digital Uk said "I'm delighted to say that Scottish viewers responded extremely well and coped with these changes without any great difficulty.
Young people across the Highlands and Islands are to be encouraged and inspired to take qualifications in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), thanks to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). HIE has been successful in its bid to secure a new 45 month contract with STEMNET, a national organisation that creates opportunities to inspire young people in STEM.
An innovative new approach to planning will guide future major development in the Highlands and in particular the Inverness and Inner Moray Firth areas. The Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have been working to produce guidance on 'green networks' to complement the Highland-wide Local Development Plan.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (July, 27th) sold 77 OTM cattle and 22 breeding cattle. Bulling heifers (13) sold to 217.4p per kilo and £1000 gross for a 460kg Simmental cross from Mains of Househill, Nairn.
The Highlands will get a welcome boost towards the end of the summer tourist season when 120 delegates from across Europe gather in Inverness for a conference looking at promoting sustainable tourism in mountain communities. The Mountain Communities Leading Europe in Finding Innovative Solutions Conference is being organised by Euromontana in partnership with The Highland Council to put the spot light on current issues surrounding developing tourism in mountain areas across the world.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (July, 26th) sold 47 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (24) averaged 197.8p (+3.3p) and sold to 215p per kg and £1,376.00 gross.
The Board of NHS Highland has always had a strong commitment to involving local people in many aspects of the work carried out by the organisation. This includes members of the public on many of the Board Committees and other individuals who participate in a wide range of Working Groups and other activities.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (July, 20th) sold 1,373 store cattle at the Anniversary show and sale. The Judge, Mr James Brown of Gaindykehead Farm, Airdrie, chose as his Overall Champion in the T.S.H.
New businesses are always starting up in Caithness and Gwen's Rosettes was discovered by us as we walked about the Caithness County Show on Friday evening. Gwen Atkins from Thrumster started her business over a year ago and perhaps is not yet widely known outside the large hors folk of the county.
Marigold Stewart the author of Kenny's Bairns is from a big family and was brought up in rural Caithness. Her new book Kenny's Bairns gives an insight into many aspects or rural life in an area of the far north of Scotland.
Highland householders are being urged to seek advice from the Home Energy Scotland Hotline to insulate themselves from rising fuel prices. The Home Energy Scotland Hotline, funded by the Scottish Government, can provide energy saving advice and assistance to help households save money and keep their homes warm.
The Highland Council is working with the Office of Fair Trading to warn the public of doorstep visits from rogue traders offering to carry out home repairs and gardening work. They are urging householders to be extra careful when accepting building and maintenance repair offers from cold callers.
From Eann Sinclair Programme Manager Week commencing 11th July: Energy: Together with representatives from Highland Council, Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Thurso & Wick Trades Council and Dounreay Stakeholder Group I met this week with consultants engaged by one of the companies involved in the Dounreay PBO Competition. They have been asked to help identify ways in which a new PBO at Dounreay can best add value to the economic and socio-economic future of the area.
The Highland Council has appointed a corporate property asset manager to spearhead its plans for maximising the benefits of its property portfolio. He is Graham Bull, a property manager with the Council's Housing and Property Service, who is a Chartered Surveyor with degrees in both Architecture and Building Surveying.
The latest 'zero tolerance' campaign by The Highland Council is proving that the message is getting across to people to not drop litter. During the two week campaign (4-15 July) covering Nairn, Grantown, Aviemore, Alness, Invergordon, Tain, Wick, Thurso, Dingwall, Fort William and Inverness only seven fixed penalty Notices were issued.
Convener of The Highland Council Councillor Sandy Park has welcomed the announcement by the UK Government that the future of RAF Lossiemouth is secure following a major defence review. Convener Sandy Park, a member of the Task Force, said: "This is great news for the Inner Moray Firth area and I'd like to congratulate everyone who has played such an active role in campaigning for the retention of this important air base.
