Of the 24 new suspected cases announced today, only one is resident in Highland. Their clinical condition is not giving any cause for concern.
Swift action by the Scottish Government is helping households and house builders weather the economic recession, MSPs were told today. Housing Minister Alex Neil highlighted measures, backed by record investment, that are increasing the supply of good quality, energy efficient homes that people can afford.
The Business Gateway will be running the first of a series of Business Start Up courses tomorrow (Thursday 30 April 2009) to provide advice to people who are thinking of starting up their own business or who have just started trading. The free two day workshop, held at Ness Horizons Centre at the Beechwood Park in Inverness, will cover topics including personal and business planning, managing resources, VAT and tax requirements, setting sales targets and marketing.
The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) has today published their mid year estimates for 2008. They show that the population of Highland rose from 217,440 in 2007 to 219,400 in 2008, an increase of 1,960 or 0.9%.
The third annual Scottish Natural Heritage-run nature photography competition is underway with a request for people to showcase the amazing colours of nature in Caithness and throughout Scotland. This free contest celebrates Scottish Biodiversity Week which runs from 16-24 May 2009 and aims to show in vivid ways how biodiversity surrounds us.
Moves to end the Right to Buy for new build social housing in Scotland were formally published today. The reforms, part of the consultation on the Draft Housing (Scotland) Bill, are aimed at safeguarding social rented housing for future generations.
Networking Lunches - Open To Members and Non-Members Small Business Finance Seminar Led By John Thurso MP Friday 8th May - The Weigh Inn, Thurso at 1pm - buffet lunch included The Chamber is hosting a Small Business Finance Seminar led by John Thurso MP. The event will give businesses vital information on what is available and where to source it.
Rural communities throughout Scotland can now start to share ideas, experiences and information through the new Scottish National Rural Network. The network will promote national and regional events and be supported by an interactive website within which communities can share common problems, examples of good practice and development ideas.
Employers who recognise that now is time to invest in skills and training, despite the current economic downturn, are to be honoured at this year's National Training Awards. A new award category - aptly named "Now is the time"- has just been announced.
Dropping a large three metre stainless steel container from a great height might seem like a bizarre concept, but it's all in a days work for the PFR project team. Storage of the spent fuel from the former fast reactor needs to be safeguarded from all potentially hazardous conditions.
The by-election for a councillor to serve the Inverness West Ward (No 14) on The Highland Council has been won by Mr Alasdair Christie, Liberal Democrat Focus Team. Mr Christie was one of six candidates, who contested the vacancy, created by the death of Jimmy MacDonald (Independent).
Dounreay's industrial safety record during the last 12 months earned a £22,500 windfall for good causes locally. Every month the site goes without a lost-time accident earns a £2500 pay-out from UKAEA Ltd, parent company of Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd.
Commenting on the Chancellor's Budget statement, Trudy Morris Chief Executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said: "Businesses had a need to see some positive news out of the Budget and we are fairly encouraged by some of the measures announced. The Chancellor appears to have taken notice of some of the recommendations put forward by both the British and Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
The Highland Council has promised to work with the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) and NHS Highland to develop a programme of action to help Highland residents, whose homes have been identified as having high levels of the naturally occurring radioactive gas, radon. The move follows the publication by the Scottish Parliament of new radon maps for Scotland produced by the HPA.
The National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) has launched a free online information and recruitment initiative to help Scottish businesses find work placement students. Currently covering several areas including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Perth, Fife, Midlothian, Stirling, the Highlands and Hebrides, Find Me A Student! is available on work-experience.org.
As Scottish Water writes to 4,000 households and businesses across the north to continue to raise awareness of the problem of fat clogging the sewer system, residents of one Highland village are being praised for their help tackling the issue. Appeals have been made by Scottish Water over the past year in various communities - including Aviemore, Drumnadrochit, Nairn and Thurso - for people to consider what they pour down plugholes and drains, following a spate of serious sewer blockages caused by fat.
The Highland Council has awarded a contract for construction of a new footbridge which forms an important pedestrian link over the River Thurso, at Thurso Cemetery. The new bridge will replace the structure which was destroyed by river flood flow, in the storms of October 2006, and will re-establish the river crossing which is part of a popular local walking route.
The Highland Council has put in place interim arrangements in five Highland communities to replace postbus services withdrawn by Royal Mail on Thursday. These arrangements will continue until the Council has met with local communities to identify sustainable long term arrangements.
The Highland Council's Resources Committee is backing plans to investigate further the feasibility of creating a pan-Highland credit union to provide access to affordable credit across the Highlands. Committee members were presented with the findings of a study which examined the best way to provide affordable credit in Highland.
With just over a week to go until close of entries, HSBC Bank is making a last call to all new companies to enter this year's Start-Up Stars Awards - an annual search for the UK's most promising start-up businesses less than three years old and the inspirational entrepreneurs behind them. The HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards culminates with a glittering black-tie event at London's InterContinental on November 23, where the UK's top new businesses will hope to be crowned 'Start-Up Star 2009' and to walk away with a cheque for £25,000, courtesy of HSBC.
