News Archive

1/8/2014

20.5 Million People Plan to Rely on State Benefits When They Retire

Just three per cent of the UK see saving for their retirement as a top priority.   One in three people have no pension provision at all.  

1/8/2014

Moneysupermarket Tells Energy Customers Still To Shop Around

MoneySuperMarket Comments on Ofgem's Announcement That the Big Six Energy Firms Will Double Profit Margins Over the Next Year.   Commenting on Ofgem's announcement that the Big Six energy firms will double profit margins over the next year, Stephen Murray, energy expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: "This news from Ofgem is yet another example of a failing energy market, at a time when UK households are still feeling the squeeze from high bills.  

1/8/2014

Over £0.7billion Left Unspent in Britain's Back Pockets

New research from Lloyds Bank reveals that Britons are letting the pennies slip when it comes to looking after their cash.  Overall, men have £20 and women have £10 unspent change each month, meaning we could be sitting on over £0.7bn that is left in our back pockets, houses, cars and offices.  

1/8/2014

Driving Licence Fees to Fall

Driving licence fees are set to fall by up to 32% under plans announced today by Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, and Transport Minister Claire Perry.   The proposals are contained in a public consultation on driver licensing fees.  

31/7/2014 : Marine Services

 
Wick Set To Become Beatrice Operation and Maintenance Base

Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL), a joint venture partnership formed between SSE Renewables (75%) and Repsol Nuevas Energias UK (25%), has announced that Wick Harbour is likely to become the future location of the Beatrice offshore wind farm Operation and Maintenance base (O&M).   A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been finalised with Wick Harbour Authority and BOWL this week.  

31/7/2014

Financial boost for start-up ventures in Highland and Moray

Entrepreneurs in Highland and Moray are now able to access personal loans to help start their own business thanks to the new government-funded Start-Up Loans scheme which is locally delivered by Business Gateway and Highland Opportunity.   For Moray businesses, this is an especially important development.  

30/7/2014 : Painters & Decorators

 
New tile and bathroom shop opening in Wick on 2nd August

J B Tiles & Mobility Solutions are proud to announce the opening of their new tile and bathroom showroom at 58 Henrietta Street in Wick.   John Budge said, We aim to supply and fit affordable quality tiles bathrooms and showers with assurance in a quality service from start to finish with over 15 years experience in bathroom design and fitting.  

30/7/2014

 
Rhoda Grant MSP Tells Tesco to Take Action

Highlands and Islands (Scottish Labour) MSP, Rhoda Grant is calling time on land banking by Tesco in Thurso on the Auction site development.   Mrs Grant visited the site with local Thurso Councillor Roger Saxon, a long term critic of the supermarket giant, to see first hand the lack of progress being made at the site.  

29/7/2014 : Auctioneers

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 29 July 2014

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (July, 29th) sold 27 prime cattle.  Prime bullocks (7) averaged 200.2p (-4.7p) and sold to 219p per kg and £1,479.00 gross.  

28/7/2014 : Other Public Services

Radioactivity Found In A Drainage System Near Dounreay

The Environmental Closure & Demolition department at Dounreay have found elevated levels of radioactivity in a manhole in a redundant offsite drainage system.   Samples of sludge were taken from the manhole which indicated elevated levels of alpha activity.  

28/7/2014

Police appeal for information following thefts from Wick Harbour

Between Friday 25 July 2014 and Sunday 27 July 2014 a number of local Wick fishing boats have had their Lobster Keepers, which were stored within Wick Harbour tampered with and the contents stolen.   It is suspected that a vehicle may have been involved and Police would be interested in hearing from anyone with any information or knowledge of the incident or of any vehicles seen acting suspiciously around Wick harbour between the specified dates.  

28/7/2014 : Other Public Services

NDA decommissioning supply chain event returns

The NDA estate's showcase event for suppliers is returning for a fourth year and is looking forward to welcoming even more visitors and exhibitors.   More than 1,000 delegates from across the country attended the 2013 event, including existing supply chain members and decommissioning newcomers.  

28/7/2014

"Undecided moving towards ‘Yes', but not enough to win referendum vote"

New data released by the British Election Study (BES) shows that previously undecided voters are more likely to say Yes on September 18, but are not enough in numbers to catch up with No voters.   The findings come from waves of data collected in March and June by BES and analysed by Professor Ed Fieldhouse from The University of Manchester, who Co-directs the study.  

28/7/2014

In Perpetuity Problem With Time Shares Follow You After Death

Most debts die with you.  But not Timeshare.  

26/7/2014

Gross Domestic Product Preliminary Estimate, Q2 2014

Change in gross domestic product (GDP) is the main indicator of economic growth.  GDP increased by 0.8% in Q2 2014, the second consecutive quarter on quarter increase of 0.8%.  

26/7/2014

Children Feeling Short Changed as Pocket Money Falls

* 8-15 year olds now receiving less pocket money than last year.   Despite increasing news coverage of the recovering economy, it appears children are not experiencing any green shoots, as the amount of pocket money parents are giving their children has dropped in the past year.  

26/7/2014

Lifting the Lid on Sneaky Fees and Charges

Which? launches a campaign to Stop Sneaky Fees and Charges on financial products, as our new research reveals that two thirds of consumers who have paid a fee agree companies use the charges to trick people.   Almost half the population have paid a fee or charge on a financial product or service in the last year, and two thirds (68%) of them agree that companies use separate fees or charges to trick people into thinking that the cost of their product or service is lower than it is.  

26/7/2014

The Currency Conundrum: How to Make the Most of the Strengthening Pound

As the pound continues to strengthen against the Euro and the US Dollar, British holidaymakers heading abroad are struggling to know when's the best time to buy their currency.   Leading travel money card provider, Ukash, is offering some tips to help travellers deal with the currency conundrum to get the best value for their pound.  

26/7/2014

The 'Gadget Generation': British Parents Spending Over £2 Billion a Year on Gadgets for Their Kids

UK parents are spending a combined £2.25 billion a year(1) on technology for their children, according to new research released today by E.ON(2).   The research, which has been conducted to explore gadget use in the home, also found: Gadget generation: Parents estimate they typically spend just under £300 a year (£292.20) per household, with children now owning an average of four gadgets each.  

26/7/2014

UK Economy Passes Pre-Crisis Peak

European Economist, Azad Zangana, comments on today's preliminary estimate for second quarter UK GDP figures: "The release of the preliminary estimate for second quarter UK GDP shows that the economy has surpassed its previous peak, set in 2008.   "GDP increased by 0.8% compared to the first quarter - in line with consensus estimates – and by 3.1% on a year-on-year basis.