News Archive

21/12/2007

Shopworkers To Report Employers

Scottish Shopworkers urged to report retailers if they're forced to work on New Year's Day Usdaw, the retail union, is urging Scottish shopworkers not to suffer in silence if they are forced to work on New Year's Day.   "This is one of the most important days in the Scottish calendar and I repeat my call to Scottish retailers to respect it," said Usdaw General Secretary, John Hannett.  

20/12/2007

 
Professional Development Award In Renewable Energy

Open Letter Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company Community Groups Dear Community Groups, We are pleased to advise you that Lews Castle College have led the development of the Scottish Curriculum for training in Renewable Energy.  Lews Castle College have recently been validated for the delivery of unique training in Renewable Energy at HND and BSc level available from August 2008.  

18/12/2007

ACTION PLAN LAUNCHED FOR NORTH HIGHLANDS

A three year 50-point action plan for regenerating the Caithness and North Sutherland economy has been agreed by key stakeholders.   The plan has been developed from the regeneration strategy which went out for consultation a year ago, and input from the Caithness Conference in September.  

16/12/2007 : Food & Drink Products

 
LOCAL BUTCHER OFFERS A QUALITY CHRISTMAS COURTESY OF MEY SELECTIONS

Staff at Harrold Bros, based in the High Street in Wick, have been particularly busy over the past few weeks, preparing a mouth-watering array of Mey Selections meat and accompaniments in time for the Festive Season.   As Neil Harrold explained, "Every year we aim to offer the finest meat but this year we feel we have surpassed ourselves in that not only, as the Mey Selections licensee in the area, can we offer excellent beef and lamb, but also a vast range of the company's other products - all guaranteed to make the Christmas and New Year celebratory meals ones to remember." Preserves and chutneys, crunchy oatcakes, biscuits and shortbread, as well as traditional clootie, are just some of the temptations for sale at this local Wick shop.  

16/12/2007

12 Tips for Christmas Shoppers

Trading Standards Officers of The Highland Council have provided 12 handy tips to help the public avoid the pitfalls of Christmas shopping.  They are: - 1.  

12/12/2007 : Other Public Services

Dounreay Bulletin - Issue 16

FIRST OF DOUNREAY FUEL PLANTS IS DEMOLISHED Demolition has started on the first of Dounreay's redundant nuclear fuel plants.  The fuel fabrication facility manufactured more than 10,000 fuel elements for research material test reactors in the UK and abroad, until it was shut down in 2004.  

12/12/2007

 
'MAD FRIDAY' BUS SERVICE SPONSORED BY LOCAL COMPANIES

UKAEA Dounreay and its contractors are again generously sponsoring a free bus service on the evening of 'Mad Friday', to help party goers to get home safely.   Everyone is welcome to use the buses, whether you work at Dounreay or not.  

11/12/2007

Highland Council To Consider Fair Trade Status

Highland Councillors will be asked on Thursday to confirm their corporate commitment to Fair Trade by progressing work already underway to gain council-wide Fair Trade status.   Inverness, Ullapool, and Dornoch already have Fair Trade status and can call themselves Fair Trade towns and it is being recommended that the Council agrees to show support by forming a small Working Group to expand Fair Trade status for the local authority.  

9/12/2007

THE BUTCHER, THE BAKER, THE CANDLESTICK MAKER.....

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) invites entries for its British Small Business Champions (BSBC) Awards 2008, from thriving, well run small businesses, that are highly regarded by customers and staff.   Graham Barnard owner of the Happy Hutch Company based in Hull, BSBC 2007 northern area winner and national overall champion said: "Entering BSBC is a good exercise for you and your business.  

8/12/2007

New Park Part Of Successful Consortium For New Contract

New Park part of the successful consortium awarded The Scottish Enterprise Energy Technology Centre (ETC) programme.   Following from a successful two-year pilot phase, Scottish Enterprise has awarded a 3 year business development, commercialisation and technical services contract for its Energy Technology Centre (ETC) to a consortium being led by TUV NEL which includes New Park Management who own and operate Forss Business & Technology Park.  

8/12/2007

Calling All Road Transport Operators To Save Costs

Road transport, including haulage and private use, is a major emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.K., and is set to remain so in the foreseeable future.  However, typically, tyres are 10% under-inflated which uses an extra 2% in fuel.  

8/12/2007

Carers lose £11,000 a year in earnings

New statistics, published to coincide with Carers Scotland's Carers Rights Day, Friday 7 December 2007, show that the average loss in earnings last year by carers who had either to give up their job, reduce their hours or take a more junior position in order to care for sick, frail or disabled relatives or partners, was £11,291*.   There are 376,203 carers of working age in Scotland.  

6/12/2007

Dingwall & Highland Marts - Sale 6 December 2007

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (December, 6th) sold 1,676 sheep of all classes.   Lambs (1,220) sold to £32.30 for Mules from Lairgandour, Daviot, and Texel crosses from No.  

4/12/2007 : Food & Drink Products

 
Mey Selections Delivers The Luxury Of Christmas On The Web

Mey Selections, the brand inspired by HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay and created by a group of farmers in the North Highlands of Scotland, has launched a range of luxury hampers on its new website www.mey-selections.com in time for Christmas.  They are available for all to purchase from selected retail outlets or by telephone.  

4/12/2007 : Other Public Services

 
Dounreay Bulletin Issue 15

4th December 2007 SHAFT ISOLATION PROJECT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE Dounreay's shaft isolation is currently one month ahead of schedule.  The project team has completed 75 per cent of the drilling and grouting required to construct the isolation barrier around the shaft.  

4/12/2007

Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 4 December 2007

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (4th December 2007 ) sold 54 prime cattle.   Prime bullocks (22) averaged 123.4p and sold to 133p per kg for a 620kg Limousin from Tore Farm, Culbokie, and £858 gross for a 715kg Simmental cross from Redhill, Allanfearn, both to Woodhead Brothers, Turriff..  

4/12/2007

Tourism Seminar Focuses On Community Initiatives

Highland tourism business operators and community tourism groups will gather tomorrow (Wednesday 5th December) in Inverness to discuss how they can work together to improve their tourism product and attract more visitors.   Delegates at The Highland Council's 6th Annual Tourism Seminar will hear speakers from Alness, Invergordon, Crieff, Castle Douglas and Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire.  

4/12/2007

Will the internet ever take off?

Senior managers across Scotland are missing easy opportunities to hone their skills, as they fail to make use of the online resources available to them.   Figures, published today, show that technological and cultural barriers have hindered widespread uptake of online learning in Scotland, despite recognition of the business benefits it brings.  

3/12/2007

A9 Perth to Inverness - Economic Appraisal Study

HITRANS and Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) A9 Perth to Inverness - Economic Appraisal Study Strategic Impact Assessment and EALI - Final Report Scott Wilson Page 1 October 2007 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY E.1 Background E.1.1 The A9 is the main trunk route from the central belt to the Highlands and Islands and as such has been assessed as having the highest level of functionality of any transport link in the region, accounting for almost all passenger journeys and freight movements between Inverness and the central belt along the corridor.  It is a lifeline route for the island communities of Orkney, Lewis and Harris for supplies and business links and is an essential route for tourist trips visiting the north of Scotland.  

2/12/2007

SEVEN WAYS TO AVOID DEBT THIS CHRISTMAS

Despite the global credit crunch, the festive season is set to lure consumers to splash out again this Christmas.  So the Credit Services Association (CSA) ­ the official body representing the UK debt collection industry ­ has re-launched its seven point plan to help consumers avoid the pitfalls of debt over the festive period.