Week of events to highlight opportunities in Scotland’s digital sector. Scotland’s ICT and digital technologies sector will be urged to make young people their business all next week (beginning March 10).
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Chief Executive Alex Paterson has been visiting a Thurso factory where two battery manufacturing firms are powering ahead under new ownership. HIE has supported the smooth change-over for new investors at AGM Batteries and ABSL Power Solutions, which were previously owned by US-based multinational Enersys Inc.
Highland employers help 16 to 19 year olds begin employment. HIGHLAND’S employers are among those backing a national work-based qualification to help young people secure employment.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 5th) sold 624 store cattle, 40 adult head of breeding cattle and 58 OTM cattle. Bullocks (360) averaged 242.8p and sold to 315.6p per kg for a 208kg Limousin cross from Lower Gartally, Drumnadrochit, and £1,460 gross for a 615kg Charolais cross from Druid Temple Farm, Inverness.
Following feedback from Highland food and drink producers and providers The Highland Council is to run a workshop on social media networking and launch a Think Local Facebook page to build business contacts and to promote local food and drink. Over the last few months crofters, caterers, hoteliers and shop owners have attended meetings throughout the Highlands as part of the council’s Think Local Highland Food and Drink project aimed at enabling better collaboration in this sector.
The public is being urged to comment on The Highland Council’s first green transport strategy. The deadline for responses is 30 April.
Energy efficiency measures to target fuel poverty. Households living in fuel poverty will benefit from a £60 million fund to make their homes warmer, more environmentally friendly and cheaper to heat, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess announced today.
Plan to ensure farmers’ and industry views are heard. Engagement with Scotland’s agriculture and rural sectors over radical changes to Scotland’s farm payment system is being stepped up.
Measures will help to tackle the gender gap. Entrepreneurial businesswomen are set to benefit from investment of £85,000, new women’s enterprise ambassadors and an action plan to tackle the gender gap in business, Finance Secretary John Swinney announced today.
Young people urged to consider a career in growing tourism sector. Training as a guide or instructor could lead to an exciting career in adventure tourism and the chance to spend time in some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes.
£10m to enable more patients to be treated at home. Patients in Scotland will have secure online access to their own health information by 2020 Health Secretary Alex Neil said today.
North MSP, Rhoda Grant has met with the Chair of Thurso Community Council, Bob Earnshaw at the Pentland Hotel last Friday (28th February) to discuss how best to support the campaign to establish a new postcode for Caithness and Sutherland. Chairman Bob Earnshaw, Cllr Roger Saxon and Rhoda Grant MSP agreed that the campaign should be carried forward and that Mr Earnshaw would raise the issue at the next meeting of the Association of Caithness Community Councils, which is due to take place on Tuesday 4th March.
The Highland Council has welcomed funding to enable people living in fuel poverty to make their homes warmer, more environmentally friendly and cheaper to heat. The amount of £2,055,346 from The Scottish Government for the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland is the fourth highest allocation in Scotland.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (March, 4th) sold 46 prime cattle. Prime bullocks (26) averaged 216.4p (+4.9p) and sold to 240p per kg and £1,693.20 gross.
It is the opportunity to forge a career somewhere unique. Skills Development Scotland, the national skills body supporting the people and businesses of Scotland, is holding an exciting careers event in Duthac Centre, Tain.
Scientists from across the UK will converge in Caithness this week to discuss the latest findings in peatland research. Organised by North Highland College UHI’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI), the ‘Research in the Flow Country’ conference has attracted over sixty attendees.
For the past three years the Scottish CAB Service has been campaigning against unfair delivery charges for online deliveries. Citizens Advice Scotland’s report ‘The Postcode Penalty’ analysed over 3,000 customer complaints and over 500 online companies, uncovering a ‘postcode penalty’ that sees some Scots having to pay an average of nearly £19 extra when buying goods online.
Trading Standards officers with The Highland Council are warning consumers to be wary of paying upfront fees to companies claiming to be offering services connected with the Government’s “Green Deal” scheme. Problems with one particular company have highlighted the dangers of upfront fees.
`Social Enterprise’ is an increasingly fundamental part of what makes the Highland tick and The Highland Council is looking for input to its strategy. Link To Draft Strategy A draft Social Enterprise Strategy for the Highlands covering the years 2014-2017 has been published for consultation by the Council and all interested parties are being asked to take part and help shape the future of this sector.
Work will start at the end of April on the year-long second phase of the River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme, Inverness. The council has confirmed the award of the £9.3 million contract to McLaughlin and Harvey Ltd, the company that recently built the new ferry terminal extension at Sconser, Skye.