Throughout September, Skills Development Scotland advisers will be carrying out the School Leaver Destination follow up. Throughout September, Skills Development Scotland advisers will be carrying out the School Leaver Destination follow up.
A new company has been established to distribute £4m funding from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) for community projects in the Dounreay travel to work area. The Community Benefit Fund has been provided in association with the construction of a low level waste facility soon to be built at Dounreay.
The latest batch of Dounreay's newly qualified skilled workers were encouraged to make the most of the exciting opportunities and challenges ahead. Giving her keynote speech at the annual prize giving ceremony on Friday, Lord Lieutenant of Caithness, Anne Dunnett, talked about her own ambitions to succeed as a solicitor when she too completed her apprenticeship against the odds.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has issued national guidance about the storage of higher activity wastes at its sites, including Dounreay. The guidance aims to standardise the arrangements for storage of this type of waste during the next 100 years.
Stuart Davidson from Nairn this week took up his new role as Highland's Youth Convener. His full-time post is a one year bursary, running until September 2012.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts, (September, 1st) sold 3,928 store and breeding sheep incorporating annual sale of HISHA accredited sheep and first sale on behalf of Lewis Livestock Producers. Store lambs (825) averaged £41.30 and sold to £70 gross for Beltex from Upperton, Glenurquhart.
Week commencing 22nd August: Energy: Graeme Rankin of the NDA Competition team and Anna MacConnell, the NDA's Stakeholder Relations and Socio-Economic Manager, updated several local stakeholders on current position with the Dounreay PBO competition. It was good to have the timetable for the remainder of the competition process laid out clearly, with the preferred bidder announcement due in late November and share transfer from current to new PBO scheduled for the beginning of April 2012.
Caithness National Mod Leads to Increased Frequency of Regional Mod in Caithness One of the direct benefits hoped for following the county's successful hosting of the Royal National Mod in October last year was an increase in the frequency of the regional Mod being hosted in Caithness. At the Annual General Meeting of the various committees representing the Caithness and Sutherland Mod, held in Bonar Bridge on Saturday (27th August) a proposal was put forward to increase the frequency of Caithness hosting the regional festival which attracts many visitors each year.
Everybody Online Caithness last week completed delivery of its second Internet for Beginners course in partnership with Lybster, Latheron, Clyth Community Development Fund. The Everybody Online project has been running in the Caithness area for 2 years now and is designed to encourage more people in Caithness to get online and benefit from everything the internet has to offer.
Recent adverse weather conditions have deterred most of the Caithness Countryside Volunteers taking on path maintenance work at the Wick Riverside. A couple of brave souls turned up on Sunday (28 August) but work had to be abandoned due to the gale force winds and torrential rain showers.
Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors? Every September, the national Doors Open Days offers free access to landmark buildings, private homes and usually private work spaces that the public never normally get a chance to see. The Highland programme is co-ordinated by The Highland Council and Inverness City Heritage Trust.
On the run up to its first Birthday, Ormlie Job Club is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a new series of employability workshops; focusing on a variety of topics including Enhancing CV's & Interview Skills, which strive to enhance Job-Seekers employability. To date nearly one hundred people have attended the Job Club, with many returning regularly to utilise the available resources, and attend related workshops - like the new series (see attached poster) which is due to commence this September.
Police detect seven uninsured drivers during weekend of enforcement Northern Constabulary detected seven drivers during an ACPOS led weekend of enforcement against uninsured motorists and vehicles. Officers ran the enforcement campaign alongside Scotland's other forces between 0700 on Friday 26 until 0700 this morning (Monday 29 August 2011).
The Low Carbon Skills Fund gives Scottish businesses with up to 250 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £12,500 towards employee training costs. It provides funding for up to 25 episodes of training provides 50% of training costs, up to a maximum of £500 per episode By increasing expertise in this growth area we can harness the opportunities offered by our natural resources to make Scotland a world leader in sustainable energy.
North American signal crayfish, a small lobster-like species that can have a devastating effect on native wildlife has been found in a pond in Ballachulish Quarry according to The Highland Council. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has confirmed the find.
The Highland Council has appointed a new Head of Planning and Building Standards. He is Malcolm MacLeod, the Council's Development Plans Manager.
Business Gateway hits the road to inspire Highland entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs across the Highlands will be able to access free expert advice and connect with other local business owners this autumn when the Business Gateway and Enterprise Europe Scotland's Connect, Inspire and Grow roadshow comes to town. The roadshows will offer new and existing business owners the opportunity to share ideas, tips and concerns with other local entrepreneurs.
Trading Standards Officers from The Highland Council are warning residents that a Council Tax scam may be operating in the region. The scam involves unsuspecting consumers receiving a phone call from an individual pretending to be from the Council or from the UK Treasury and offering a refund on their Council Tax.
Opportunity to Exhibit on the Scottish Pavilion at ESE Following the success again of this year's event, Scottish Development International and Highlands & Islands Enterprise are again offering the opportunity for Scottish companies to be part of the Scotland Food & Drink Pavilion at the European Seafood Exposition 2012 - now the world's premier fishing event. It takes place in Brussels from April 24th to April 26th and attracts 25,000 visitors from over 140 countries.
The freedom of working from home is fast becoming the next big thing for people involved in business services. Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) is keen to make sure that people in the Caithness and Sutherland area are ready to grasp the opportunities becoming available.