GBE‑N has secured its Electricity Generation Licence from Ofgem, marking a key step toward delivering new nuclear power for the UK. Great British Energy - Nuclear (GBE-N) has successfully obtained an Electricity Generation Licence from the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), representing a landmark moment in its mission to deliver Europe's first Small Modular Reactors.
Rachel Hunter reflects on the Highland Women Growth Summit, highlighting the challenges facing women in business, celebrating progress, and marking the launch of HIE Impact Women. I had an absolutely energising day at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness last Friday where over 100 women business leaders and policy makers gathered at the first ever Highland Women Growth Summit.
New terrestrial timing signal will ease reliance on satellite systems for digital infrastructure, like mobile phone networks and online banking. A new cutting-edge timing network for the UK will help keep critical services like phone networks and bank transactions up and running.
The conflict in the Middle East is not just a military crisis. It is rapidly becoming a global economic shock.
The Bank of England meets on 19 March to decide on interest rates. Many commentators now say rates cannot fall because war in the Middle East could push up oil and gas prices and increase inflation.
The UK has revealed for the first time its maintenance, repair and overhaul systems (MRO) facilities in Ukraine, with four operational and a fifth planned. The UK has revealed for the first time its maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Ukraine.
Tehran is moving to restrict - or effectively close - the strait of Hormuz to shipping, as part of the latest escalation in the war involving Iran. Markets have reacted to the global impact of closing this incredibly busy shipping channel, focusing on the risk to oil and gas flows, the prospect of higher crude prices and the inflationary pressures that would follow.
Whenever geopolitical tensions rise in major oil-producing regions, the ripple effects can quickly be felt thousands of miles away. The recent escalation involving Iran has pushed global oil prices upward and raised concerns about whether households and drivers might begin stockpiling fuel or heating oil in anticipation of higher costs.
The government plans to crack down on illegal underage sunbed use to cut cancer risks to teenagers. Unsupervised sunbed use by young people to be banned as part of National Cancer Plan.
Stamp prices in the UK are rising again, and the latest announcement confirms significant increases from 7 April 2026. The changes affect both First Class and Second Class stamps, and they reflect Royal Mail's ongoing struggle with falling letter volumes and rising delivery costs.
Despite 73 new charities registering in The Highlands during 2025, 83 closures reveal growing pressure on third sector organisations. Charities across The Highlands entered the new year facing a complex operating environment, as Scottish Charity Register data reveals more organisations were removed from the register last year than were newly established.
The £135 de minimis customs duty exemption—the current "minimum limit" for parcels imported into the UK—is scheduled to end by March 2029 at the latest. Platforms like Shein and Temu have used the £135 threshold to ship billions of items duty-free, giving them a significant price advantage over UK high street stores.
Small businesses across the UK have been struggling with rising energy costs, but the pressures are especially acute in Caithness and the wider Far North. The combination of a colder climate, rural isolation, and a hospitality sector built on small, independent operators means that energy price volatility hits harder here than almost anywhere else.
Travel insurance premiums are likely to rise because the Middle East conflict has increased global risk levels, disrupted shipping and aviation routes, and pushed insurers to reprice policies to reflect higher exposure. The shift is already visible across several parts of the insurance market, and the same pressures that are raising business and logistics insurance costs will spill over into consumer travel insurance.
Airlines can raise fuel surcharges substantially when oil and jet‑fuel prices spike, and the current Iran‑related disruption gives them both the motive and the market conditions to do so. There is no legal cap on how high surcharges can go, so the limits are set by competitive pressure, customer tolerance, and how long the fuel shock lasts.
Global gas prices have jumped sharply again, largely because of the escalating conflict involving Iran and risks to energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Here's how that affects UK electricity and gas bills.
Gold has reacted the fastest and most dramatically. When US-Israel strikes hit Iran, gold shot past $5,464 per ounce, breaking all‑time records.
Strength of tech ecosystem highlighted as FM opens new Dundee hub. Scottish tech founders raised £257 million in investment since joining Techscaler, Scotland's national tech scaleup programme - an increase of £139 million on the previous year.
New legislation has been passed giving greater legal protection to digital assets. By clarifying rights to ownership, the Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill enables individuals and businesses to trade and invest with more confidence.
My Highland Future showcases ambitious plans for employment and apprenticeship growth. My Highland Future's ambitious plans to boost employment, apprenticeships and skills development across The Highland Council are being highlighted throughout Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026 (2-6 March) with a commitment to expand the Council's in-house apprenticeship and career development pathways, while encouraging and supporting Highland businesses to get involved.
