News Archive

20/8/2025

Housing prices in Highland - up 3.8% from June 2024

The average house price in Highland was £215,000 in June 2025 (provisional), up 3.8% from June 2024.  This was lower than the rise in Scotland (5.9%) over the same period.  

20/8/2025

 
Why landlords are draining Britain dry - Rents Rising - Richard Murphy

Rents in the UK are out of control.  In London, they now swallow more than 40% of income.  

20/8/2025

 
UK space sector bolstered with government reforms to boost growth and cut red tape

UK Space Agency to join the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April 2026, helping to streamline support for the UK's growing space industry.   UK Space Agency to join the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April 2026, helping to streamline support for the UK's growing space industry.  

20/8/2025

How we protected the UK and space in July 2025

July saw reduced levels of space activity with both uncontrolled re-entry and collision alerts at levels below the 12-month rolling average.   All NSpOC warning and protection services functioned as expected throughout the period.  

19/8/2025 : Advisory / Counseling Services

Contract awarded for design works at Inverness Campus

Architects have been appointed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to deliver design and consultancy services for a new phase of development at Inverness Campus, following a competitive tender process.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) awarded a contract to Andrew Black Design for design team services (RIBA Stage 4) for small business units on Plot 14 of Inverness Campus.  

19/8/2025 : Local Authority

Nominations open to become a Community Councillor - a chance to represent your local community - Try Again Thurso

Nominations are now open for individuals interested in becoming a Community Councillor for Community Councils that have fallen into abeyance or have been successful in submitting a request to re-establish.   This is an opportunity to ensure your community's voice is heard by The Highland Council and other public bodies.  

19/8/2025

 
Data centers consume massive amounts of water - companies rarely tell the public exactly how much

As demand for artificial intelligence technology boosts construction and proposed construction of data centers around the world, those computers require not just electricity and land, but also a significant amount of water.  Data centers use water directly, with cooling water pumped through pipes in and around the computer equipment.  

19/8/2025

Parents urged to extend their teen's Child Benefit claim online as deadline approaches

Extend your Child Benefit claim online to ensure payments continue in September.   As teenagers get their exam results, parents are urged to renew their Child Benefit claim by 31 August for payments to continue in September.  

19/8/2025

 
Millions to receive essential benefit payments ahead of August bank holiday

Millions of people will receive their essential financial support before the August bank holiday weekend, as the Government has confirmed that benefit payments will be brought forward to Friday 22 August.   Change to benefits payment date for millions of people will help them with their financial planning and providing peace of mind for those on low incomes.  

19/8/2025

 
The Shocking Rise of China's Energy Production!

China has been producing energy at an unprecedented rate.   In this piece we are looking at some of the most interesting graphs capturing the real dominance of China's energy production.  

18/8/2025

Vision for Inverness City Centre Transformation

The Highland Council is taking steps toward revitalising Inverness City Centre, building on the momentum of recent landmark developments including the Inverness Castle Experience, the Victorian Market, and the refurbishment of Inverness Townhouse.   The City Centre Review report presented to the City of Inverness Area Committee outlined a renewed strategic focus on enhancing the built environment, improving public spaces, and supporting a vibrant, welcoming city centre for residents and visitors alike.  

18/8/2025

Are more people over 50 claiming sickness benefits than in the past?

Over the last decade the number of people claiming sickness and health-related benefits in the UK has risen noticeably, and this increase is particularly pronounced among older working-age groups.   Official caseloads show millions of people now receiving incapacity or disability-related support: in early 2024 around four million people in England and Wales were recorded as claiming such benefits.  

18/8/2025

 
Government discounts for electric vans and trucks extended

Plug-in van and truck grant extended to at least 2027.   thousands of businesses and fleet operators will continue to receive crucial financial support after existing grant scheme extended.  

18/8/2025

 
STEP Fusion is 'amazing' for Greater Lincolnshire

Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns visits West Burton to see first hand how the UK's world-leading fusion energy programme will deliver for local people.   Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, visited the STEP Fusion site at West Burton on Thursday to see first-hand how the UK's world-leading fusion energy programme is set to deliver exciting new opportunities for Lincolnshire residents.  

18/8/2025

AI Is Fast Taking Over Jobs Making Choices Harder For Young People

AI is expanding rapidly in almost every aspect of the jobs market from self service checkouts in supermarkets to all types of clerical work where some young people used to get their early employment.   The NEET category has been increasing recently.  

18/8/2025

 
Why only taxing billionaires will never fix the UK economy - Richard Murphy

Many think a "billionaire tax" could solve the UK's problems — but there are only 156 of them.   The real wealth — and the real untaxed income — is spread far wider.  

18/8/2025

The Unemployment Number Are Rising But They Do Not Show The Full Picture - It's Worse

The unemployment numbers are rising modestly due to people being counted in other ways such as on sickness benefits or retired but effectively less people presenting for work.   Unemployment is defined narrowly: people without a job, actively seeking work, and available to start.  

18/8/2025

Credit card spending rises to £21.8bn and 47.5% of balances incur interest

Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, comments on the card spending statistics from UK Finance, out today.   "The latest statistics from UK Finance mean many borrowers are still incurring interest charges on their credit cards, which can be hefty.  

17/8/2025

AI to cut paperwork to free up doctors' time for patients but let's dig deeper as to who has your data - American companies?

Patients and frontline staff could see huge benefits from new AI helping people out of hospital quicker and slashing bureaucracy.   Patients and frontline staff could see huge benefits from new AI helping people out of hospital quicker and slashing bureaucracy.  

17/8/2025

HMRC is coming for your savings - Watch out for scams asking for your NI number

HMRC and the government are moving to make NI numbers routine for savers — ISA managers already must take them for new accounts, and banks/building societies will be required to collect NI numbers for (ordinary) savings accounts under rules being introduced for April 2027.   What that means for you ISAs: From 6 April 2025 new ISA applications must include the investor's National Insurance number (unless they're not eligible to have one).