An exciting new business venture is set to open up opportunities for craft people in High Street, Wick. "Made In Caithness" is a new shop given entirely over to high quality craft items.
Today (1 May 2007) marks the first anniversary of the introduction of the digital tachograph to all new commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes registered in the United Kingdom. Since 1 May 2006 some 40,000 new lorries have all been required to fit and use the new technology following almost 25 years of the analogue tachograph since its progressive introduction in the early 1980s.
Inver House Distillers and North Highland Products launched the first ever North Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Barrogill, as part of the prestigious Mey Selections range of food and drink products, at the Castle of Mey in Caithness today. Mey Selections Barrogill Blended Malt Scotch Whisky takes its name from the history and heritage of the Castle of Mey, the most northerly castle on the Scottish mainland just a few miles from John o'Groats.
PUBLIC RESPONDS TO PARTICLES CONSULTATION The second stage of consultation on the options for dealing with radioactive particles in the marine environment has come to a close. The consultation focussed on the relative importance of the criteria used to assess the 11 combined options identified by a scoring panel as most likely to succeed following the first round of consultation.
The NDA North Highland Regeneration Fund Ltd., the loan fund company established by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to help entrepreneurs start up and grow in Caithness & Sutherland. Since the start of the year five local firms in the Dounreay travel to work area have benefited from investment by the NDA North Highland Regeneration Fund.
EatScotland has declared, The Captains Galley will receive one of the first Silver Awards for high standards in Scottish dining. The announcement comes as part of the launch of the organisation's much-anticipated Silver & Gold Award Scheme, which promises to raise the bar in Scotland's eating out scene and boost perceptions of Scottish cuisine worldwide.
FIRST MINISTER'S MESSAGE FOR DOUNREAY STAFF Scotland's First Minister is urging Dounreay workers to secure their own future by demonstrating they are the best in the business at decommissioning. Writing exclusively in the latest edition of Dounreay News, Jack McConnell says a workforce that can decommission safely the fast reactor experiment is a workforce that will be in demand.
Public Urged To Be On Their Guard Against Romanian Street Traders Selling Fake Gold Jewellery The Highland Council's Trading Standards Unit and Northern Constabulary are urging the public to be on their guard against Romanian street traders who are operating in the Highlands. Trading Standards officers within the Council's TEC Services and Northern Constabulary have received complaints regarding street sellers approaching members of the public and businesses offering "fake" gold rings, chains and bracelets.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Scottish Executive today launched a consultation exercise in a bid to find out how the current regulations governing waste management could be improved. The Better Regulation of Waste initiative aims to determine if existing guidelines are effective and support Scotland's commitment to increase recycling rates and reduce the reliance on landfill.
A range of new services for people who have recently moved into the Highlands from other countries has won support from the European Social Fund (ESF). Highland Wellbeing Alliance, a partnership of public sector organisations in the area, has secured ESF funding worth £260,500 to back initiatives which will help the area's new residents with issues such as improving their English language skills, gaining employment and finding out how to access services and advice.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is calling on land managers throughout Scotland to ensure that they are not missing out on potential income opportunities from land designated as a nature conservation sites. Under SNH's Natural Care programme land managers can earn extra financial support by signing up to agreements to ensure these important sites will be maintained in the best condition possible.
The first wave energy device to generate electricity for the National Grid is back on site for a new test programme at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. Developed by Edinburgh-based Ocean Power Delivery, Pelamis can meet the energy needs of more than 500 homes and is already feeding electricity into the grid once again.
Master Photographers Association Awards Local photographer John Baikie has added some more awards to his collection. On Sunday he attended the Master Photographers Association Scottish Annual Awards Night in Edinburgh for the first time.
The second stage of consultation on the options for dealing with radioactive particles in the marine environment has come to a close. The consultation focussed on the relative importance of the criteria used to assess the 11 combined options identified by a scoring panel as most likely to succeed following the first round of consultation.
The process for the development of a new Highland Council office in Wick took a step further forward this week when members of the Council's Resources Committee agreed to ask four developers to submit outline solutions for the development to the Council. At the end of 2006 and early 2007 the Council advertised its requirements for a new office to provide accommodation for between 150 - 200 staff currently based in a number office buildings in Wick.
North Highland Products, owners of the expanding Mey Selections brand, have appointed the Royal Bank of Scotland as their commercial bankers. Calum Dickson, office manager at North Highland Products, explained, "We have moved our banking to the Royal Bank of Scotland because it gives Mey Selections a local presence and the national support at corporate level that we need.
North Highland Products Ltd - which produces Mey Selections branded products - has received funds from the London-based Carbon Trust to investigate how farmers in the North Highland can reduce their carbon emissions. John Strak, Managing Director of North Highland Products, commented, "SAOS, (The Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society), asked us to join its project with several other partners in a project being financed by The Carbon Trust.
Plans to invest almost £375 million over the next three years in economic and community development across the Highlands and Islands have just been published by the area's enterprise network. The latest operating plan from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) details the key strategic projects which the development agency will be backing between now and 2010, along with a set of eight 'primary measure' targets covering many smaller-scale initiatives.
DOUNREAY SETS NEW RECORD FOR SAFETY PERFORMANCE As of Friday March 16, Dounreay had gone a record 184 days without a lost-time accident. This is equivalent to 2.18 million man-hours of work.
The prestigious BBC Radio 4 Food Programme paid a visit recently to Caithness, resulting in a 30 minute broadcast last weekend (March11) applauding the success of the Mey Selections brand and its parent company, North Highland Products. Sheila Dillon, the presenter of the programme, spent some time in the area visiting, amongst others, Mey Selections beef and lamb producers.
