Project expected to support thousands of jobs and generate millions for regional economy. [A photograph is attached.
The Be the Boss scheme for ex-service personnel is being expanded to include all Service-leavers. The initiative offers business start-up training, grants and loans up to £30,000 as well as mentoring.
The Shetland Times ran a story on 16th November 2011 that shows the offshore energy industry is making leaps and bounds towards interconnecting the country. Change of plan makes windfarm grid connection much cheaper.
Residents in Orkney, Caithness and North Sutherland are being invited to evening talks to hear the latest news on the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters projects, the first commercial wave and tidal stream energy schemes in the world. The talks follow public exhibitions hosted by The Crown Estate in November 2010, which were attended by over 700 people, and are being held to give an update on progress over the last year.
At the meeting of The Highland Council's TEC Services Committee last week, Members had an early opportunity to discuss the Scottish Government consultation on rail services that was announced two days ago. Although a full response to the 80 page consultation will be considered by the TECS Committee in January, the chairman, Councillor John Laing, welcomed the opportunity today to raise this important issue for the Highlands with members.
Construction of the ambitious European Marine Science Park is underway at Oban in Argyll, where a turf-cutting ceremony was held to mark the occasion Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is investing £7.5m to create the first phase - which will take advantage of significant opportunities in marine science, including in marine biotechnology and renewable energy. The 20,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space will support businesses in Scotland's growing Life Science and Energy sectors and has the potential to support up to 125 jobs.
Businesses will be given the power to design, develop and purchase the vocational training programme they need under a £250 million plan announced today by the Prime Minister. The move is designed to boost economic growth and ensure that the UK workforce has the skills that businesses require.
As the final stages of work take place on the £3.8 million community centre for Wick, Highlands and Islands Enterprise's most senior staff have enjoyed a sneak preview. As part of a two day programme of meetings with ambitious Caithness and Sutherland businesses and social enterprises, the HIE Board visited the Pulteney Centre due to open in the new year and paid tribute to the achievements of the Pulteneytown People's Project (PPP).
Another business has announced that from 8th November 2011 Torrance Partnership has opened a new office in Thurso. Torrance Partnership LLP 6 Princes Street Thurso Caithness KW14 7BQ Tel: 01847 890 112 e-mail: thurso[AT]torrance-partnership.co.uk They provide the following services:- property valuations ~ home reports ~ EPCs ~ new-build monitoring ~ quantity surveying ~ building surveying ~ project management ~ CDM co-ordination.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November,16th) sold 882 weaned calves and store cattle and 8 breeding cattle. Stot calves (420) averaged 205.3p and sold to 265.3p per kg for a 245kg Charolais cross from Lochdhu, Nairn and £900 for a Charolais cross also from Lochdhu.
"Watch out for fake goods and bogus websites this Christmas" warns Highland Council Trading Standards. The Highland Council Trading Standards Service is warning consumers not to be duped into buying counterfeit sports clothes and equipment from bogus websites, as part of the National Consumer Week 2011 campaign entitled "Good Sports Don't Fake it".
Rio Tinto Alcan has signed up to a pioneering partnership with local and national government as part of its plans for ongoing maintenance and expansion at its highland smelter and hydro power stations at Lochaber and Kinlochleven over the next five years. Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop, met with staff from the company along with representatives from The Highland Council and Historic Scotland to hear about how they have worked together to simplify the planning process associated with the modernisation currently being carried out by Rio Tinto Alcan at its Lochaber power station.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November, 14th) sold 179 adult head of breeding cattle. Bulling heifers (25) sold to £1,180 gross for a pen of Simmental crosses from Milldam, Meikle Ussie.
Tourist industry leaders and holiday home owners in the Highlands, Islands and North-east are teaming up with Scottish Water to ensure holiday properties are protected and prepared for winter. Last year's unprecedented Big Freeze - which included the coldest December on record - saw Scottish Water repairing around 2,000 bursts and answering more than 40,000 calls between Christmas Eve and New Year, when 7,500 calls would normally be expected.
Citizens Online is a national charity who believe participation in the digital world is a basic human right. As a result we are committed to promoting digital inclusion.
7,500 could be cut from incapacity benefits in the Highlands and Islands. MSP David Stewart has criticised the way that the government in Westminster intend to cut the number of incapacity benefit claimants.
Highland Youth Voice, the elected youth parliament for the Highlands, meets next week (17th - 19th November 2011) at Badaguish Outdoor Centre, near Aviemore. The conference has been planned by young people with a theme of "Get the Message" and will look at how young people can get their messages across and influence change in the Highlands. HYV members will hear from the Joint Committee for Children and Young People as they are hosting their meeting in front of the parliament, with the programme instigating a question time - where the Joint Committee will act as the panel.
Tourism experts from across Scotland are coming together this week in the first of a series of events taking place before the end of the year looking at how working together improves visitor experiences and business growth. The chairman of VisitScotland, Dr Mike Cantlay will host 'Making things happen for Tourism' in Wick on Friday.
Margaret Ann Beaton, who is responsible for the operation of The Highland Council's five school residences, has been chosen as the Council's Employee of the year. She received her prize at the Council's annual Quality Awards, held at the Town House, Inverness, on Thursday night.
This year's award for Local Government Politician of the year, sponsored by Improvement Service and Robertson Group, was won by the Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley, for his campaigning on issues such as the threat to coastguard stations and emergency tugs and for reform of the Crown Estate. Councillor Foxley received his award at a ceremony in Edinburgh, sponsored by the Herald newspaper.