News Archive

20/9/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
NDA Announces Multi-million Phd Bursary Commitment At Summit

At the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority biannual stakeholder summit, CEO David Peattie announced up to £5 million over five years to support around 20 PhDs.   On the 17th and 18th of September the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) hosted its biannual in person stakeholder summit, bringing together over 170 delegates from national and local government, the nuclear sector and site communities.  

20/9/2024

£4 million from Cayman? That will do nicely, thank you

Richard Murphy reveals a serious issue on the increasing sleaze.   As Open Democracy has revealed: The Labour Party's largest-ever donation came from a Cayman Islands-registered hedge fund with shares worth hundreds of millions of pounds in fossil fuels, private health firms, arms manufacturers and asset managers.  

20/9/2024

Reform Of Qualifications And Assessment

Less reliance on "high stakes" final exams.   The balance of assessment used for senior phase pupils in Scotland will change, with greater use of internal and continuous assessment to award final grades.  

20/9/2024

 
The Growth Mindset - Sizing Up The Government's Growth Agenda

Government plans to boost infrastructure and build more homes could feasibly get Britain halfway towards having the strongest economic growth in the G7.  But it will need to deliver these contentious reforms on the ground, and put growth at the forefront of other policy decisions on trade, skills and labour market reform, if it's to turn its growth ambitions into reality, according to new Resolution Foundation research published on Thursday 19 September 2024.  

20/9/2024

August Retail Sales - Consumer Spending Remains Robust

The Office for National Statistics has reported retail sales figures in Great Britain for August: Retail sales volumes rose by 1% in August 2024 following a rise of 0.7% in July.   ·Non-food store sales volumes rose by 0.6% in August, Food rose by 1.8%.  

20/9/2024 : Local Authority

 
Parking Penalty Charge Notice Scam Warning

The Highland Council Trading Standards service is urging motorists to be aware of a recent trend in scam texts aimed at tricking people into thinking they have to act quickly to pay a parking penalty charge notice (PCN).   The text asks you to pay the PCN which has been issued by "a local Council".  

20/9/2024

Health-related Benefit Claims Have Risen Substantially Across Every Part Of UK - But There Is Little Evidence Of Similar Trends In Other Countries

How do post-COVID claimants of health-related benefits compare with pre-COVID claimants? Where in the UK are they? How do other countries compare?.   The number of working-age people getting health-related benefits in UK has increased significantly since 2019.  

20/9/2024

 
Tradng Standards - Roof Coating Scams

As we approach the autumn and winter months there has been an increase in reports of rogue traders who go door to door and offer to carry out roofing repairs and to coat the roof with products they say will save the resident money on their energy bills.   In one recent case, cold callers offered to line a roof and coat it with a paint that would supposedly provide a defence against frost.  

20/9/2024

 
Today's Moneyfacts Average Mortgage And Savings Rates - 20.9.24

Average fixed mortgage rates, sourced from the Moneyfacts Mortgage Database, represent the mean average initial pay rate of residential fixed rate mortgages for terms of two years across whole of market.   Data is collated at the end of each business day and excludes Standard Variable Rate mortgage products as well as those designed for the adverse credit market and products that are only available for new build, self build and equity and shared ownership properties.  

20/9/2024

 
Trading Standards - Pension Scams

According to new research by LV=, approximately 7.3 million UK adults have been the subject of an attempted pension scam in the past year.   They were encouraged via unsolicited calls, texts and emails to transfer or release money from their pension.  

20/9/2024

Independent Review Of Qualifications And Assessment - Scottish Government Response: Education Secretary Statement

A speech to Parliament by Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth on 19 September 2024.   Presiding Officer, I am pleased to set out the Scottish Government's next steps on qualifications reform today in response to the recommendations from the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment.  

20/9/2024

 
Economic Growth Requires Breaking The Cycle Of Poor Work And Ill Health

The UK's workforce is facing a growing health crisis, with rising levels of long-term sickness affecting productivity and economic stability.  Aadya Bahl explores the relationship between health and work, highlighting the policy responses needed to tackle the issue.  

20/9/2024

 
Economists Have Urged Rachel Reeves To Loosen The Purse Strings - Here's Why It's Not That Easy

A group of economists has publicly urged chancellor Rachel Reeves to reverse her stance on public investment, and relax the Treasury rules that constrain it.  They argue in a letter to the Financial Times that low investment is the root cause of Britain's productivity stagnation, and that the government must invest more to enable private businesses to step up their own efforts.  

19/9/2024 : Advisory / Counseling Services

 
New Fund Announced To Support Growth In Life Sciences Sector

Up to 50% match funding grants of between £25,000 and £75,000 to help companies accelerate their growth plans.   Life sciences businesses in the Highlands and Islands that are looking to invest in capital growth projects will be able to apply for support through a new fund announced today (18 September).  

19/9/2024

There are 13 million women ‘missing' in Gulf states - here’s why it is holding their economies back

Email X (Twitter) Facebook27 LinkedIn Print When you think of modern, oil-rich Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), you may picture a life of luxury.  But beneath the shots of towering skyscrapers and splendid grand malls, there is a concerning reality: women are frequently missing from the economic picture.  

19/9/2024

US Interest Rates - the first cut is the deepest

The Fed cut interest rates to 4.75-5.00%.   The cut is the first in four years after holding rates at a 20 year high for a year.  

19/9/2024

Keeping The Promise to care-experienced young people

Progress made towards ‘Keeping the Promise' by 2030 has been set out in a new report.   The Promise is the outcome of the Independent Care Review and is a commitment to bring about the necessary changes to ensure all care-experienced children in Scotland grow up loved, safe and respected, with the ability to reach their full potential.  

19/9/2024

 
Scottish Secretary Responds To GDP For June 2024 And Q2, 2024

Ian Murray underlines government mission for growth, with Scotland playing a critical part in rebuilding UK economy.   Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said, "Scotland is critical in the UK Government's mission for economic growth, as the Chancellor underlines today in Glasgow where she'll meet with key members of the business community to turbocharge Scotland’s regeneration.  

19/9/2024

 
Frameworks For Effective Fraud Prevention Measures

Speech by Andrea Bowe, director of the specialist directorate, at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum Keynote Seminar.   Introduction Stephen Bush, a columnist for the Financial Times, recently wrote about the reason we have a visceral reaction to being defrauded.  

19/9/2024

Russia's Illegal War Continues To Be A Military Disaster - UK Statement To The Osce

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Russia's illegal war suffers further setbacks as casualties mount, and it loses its first submarine in combat since the second world war.   Thank you, Mr Chair.