News Archive

9/4/2026

 
Government approves UK's largest power-producing solar farm

800 MW Springwell Solar farm given approval - the largest solar project in the UK terms of power generation.   Marks the 25th nationally significant clean energy project approved by the government since July 2024 - enough clean energy to power the equivalent of over 12.5 million homes.  

9/4/2026 : Local Authority

Important information on 2026/27 Non‑Domestic Rates

The Highland Council is issuing important updates regarding Non‑Domestic Rates for the 2026/27 financial year.   All ratepayers are urged to review the changes, as they may affect liability and the amount payable.  

9/4/2026 : Local Authority

 
Spring jobs without the scams: how to choose safe, reliable traders in the Highlands

With the clocks now forward and planning for home improvements getting underway, residents are being reminded that this is the time of year when rogue traders and doorstep are becoming more active.   To help people stay safe, Highland Council Trading Standards is highlighting simple steps households can take - and promoting the Highland Trusted Trader (HTT) scheme as the easiest way to find reputable local trades.  

9/4/2026

When Will the UK Run on Alternative Energy? A Rural Story About Targets, Timelines, and Reality

Most headlines talk about the UK "going green" as if it's a single switch waiting to be flipped.  But for people living in rural Scotland from Caithness to the Western Isles the question isn't abstract.  

9/4/2026

 
UK exposes covert Russian submarine operation in and around UK waters

The British military has exposed a covert Russian submarine operation in and around UK waters, forcing the vessels to retreat back to Russia.   UK reveals Russian submarine operation in and around British waters.  

9/4/2026

When Waiting Becomes a Journey: How NHS Delays Hit the Highlands Hardest

In the central belt, a delayed appointment is an inconvenience.  In the Highlands, it can feel like a threat to your health, your livelihood, and sometimes your dignity.  

9/4/2026

Should the UK Treat the Energy Crisis Like a Wartime Effort?

A Rural Perspective on Speed, Survival, and the Cost of Delay.   There's a growing feeling across the UK and especially in rural Scotland that the country is drifting through an energy crisis that demands far more urgency than it’s getting.  

9/4/2026

The UK "Mansion Tax" and Its Impact - With a Focus on Scotland

In recent years, the UK government has introduced plans for what is commonly referred to as a "mansion tax." While not always officially named as such, the policy refers to additional taxation on high-value residential properties.  The aim is to increase tax contributions from the wealthiest homeowners while leaving the vast majority of households unaffected.  

9/4/2026

Trading Standards - Energy Supplier Impersonation Scams

Rising fuel prices have led to an increase in scam calls and messages posing as energy suppliers.   Scammers may ask you to take urgent action to avoid having your energy supply disrupted or being charged a fee.  

9/4/2026

 
The Petrodollar Is Breaking - What Happens Next?

The petrodollar system has quietly shaped the global economy for decades.  It enabled the US government to borrow cheaply and maintain global financial dominance.  

9/4/2026

Markets update: Crude rises amid Iran ceasefire concerns, causing jitters

Brent crude has headed back above $97 a barrel.   Israel's strikes on Lebanon have sparked accusations of a violation of ceasefire terms.  

9/4/2026

The Impact of Rising Jet Fuel Costs on Travel and Holidays Including the Hidden Cost of Baggage

In recent years, rising jet fuel prices have begun to significantly reshape the cost of travel and holidays.  Fuel is one of the largest expenses for airlines, and as prices increase, airlines pass these costs on to passengers.  

9/4/2026

 
When the Bank of England Hesitates: How Rate Uncertainty Lands in Rural Scotland

In London, interest‑rate decisions are discussed in the language of markets, gilt yields, and inflation expectations.  In rural Scotland, the conversation sounds very different.  

9/4/2026

ScotRail celebrates bumper Easter passenger numbers

New figures released by ScotRail show that more than 800,000 passenger journeys were made during the Easter weekend.   The train operator recorded 802,367 passenger journeys between Friday, 3 and Monday, 6 April 2026 - up four per cent on Easter 2025 when 772,040 journeys were made.  

8/4/2026

When the World Shakes, the North Feels It First: How Fertiliser Costs and the Iran War Threaten UK Food Prices

In most of the UK, food inflation is something people read about in headlines.   In Caithness, it's something you feel in the aisles of Tesco, in the shrinking range at the Co‑op, and in the weekly shop that somehow costs more every month.  

8/4/2026

New Women's Employment Ambassador role announced as millions of working women set to benefit from landmark workplace health drive

Leading women's health campaigner and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup has been appointed as the Government's Women's Employment Ambassador, a newly created role to support working women across the country.   Mariella Frostrup has been appointed as the new Women's Employment Ambassador to champion women’s health in the workplace.  

8/4/2026 : Auctioneers

Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 7 April 2026 - Many Prices

DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (April 7th) sold 29 Prime Cattle.   Prime Bullocks (16) averaged 359.7p per kg and sold to 391.0p per kg and £2,650.50 gross.  

8/4/2026

New enforcement body marks welcome milestone for employment rights but Government must give it more powers to protect all workers

New enforcement body marks welcome milestone for employment rights but Government must give it more powers to protect all workers The establishment of the Fair Work Agency is an important step towards better enforcement of employment rights, but to be a success it needs adequate powers and funding, the Resolution Foundation said on Tuesday.   The Fair Work Agency (FWA) comes into existence (7 April 2026), the day after new provisions in the Employment Rights Act on sick pay and parental leave take effect.  

8/4/2026

How the West Slept Through China's Magnet Revolution — And What Happens When America Finally Joins the Game in 2027

For more than forty years, China built the world's most powerful rare‑earth and magnet industry in plain sight.  It wasn’t a secret.  

8/4/2026

Britain's innovators backed with around £100m of new investment

Entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups are to receive a boost as a package to unlock private investment and double tax reliefs is brought into force.   £100 million of new investment a year unlocked as entrepreneurship tax relief package comes into force.