News Archive

15/7/2026

Gaelic Broadcasting at a Crossroads: The Long Term Pressures Reshaping Scotland’s Minority Language Media

Gaelic media in Scotland is entering a period of profound transition.  Declining BBC budgets, structural changes at STV, demographic shifts, and the rapid move toward digital platforms are combining to create sustained pressure on Gaelic broadcasting.  

15/7/2026

LNG Shortages and UK Inflation: Why Gas Market Stress Quickly Turns Into Higher Prices

The UK is unusually exposed to global LNG volatility.  When LNG markets tighten as they have due to Middle East conflict, Qatar’s export disruption, and intermittent closure of the Strait of Hormuz the UK experiences inflationary pressure faster than almost any other European economy.  

15/7/2026

State Pension Reform: What the UK’s Proposed Changes Mean for Future Retirees

The UK’s State Pension system is entering a period of major change.  Rising costs, an ageing population, and the long‑term impact of the triple lock are forcing the Treasury to rethink how and when future generations will receive their pension.  

15/7/2026

The Treasury and DWP Are Looking To Bring Forward Changes To State Retirement Age

The UK is entering a new phase of pension reform.  People born in 1977–78 are at the centre of the next State Pension age rise, and the Treasury’s long‑term fiscal pressures.  

15/7/2026

Deputy First Minister launches rollout of £50 million to prevent homelessness

Halfway through the first 100 days of the Scottish Government formed in May, the rollout of an expanded 10-year £50 million Homelessness Prevention Fund is underway.   £1 million is being made available for a second year to enable social landlords and third sector organisations to support tenants to stay in their homes.  

15/7/2026

Where Does the BBC Go From Here?

The steady decline in licence fee income has reignited a debate that is likely to dominate discussions ahead of the BBC's Royal Charter renewal in 2027.   Several options are now being discussed.  

15/7/2026

A Breath of Fresh Air: Positive Business Stories You Might Have Missed This Week

It’s been a tough stretch for global headlines energy shocks, rising oil prices, geopolitical tension, and inflation worries.  But beneath all that noise, there are real, meaningful bright spots in the business world.  

15/7/2026

UK Winter Heating Risk: How an LNG Shortage Could Hit Bills, Supply, and Energy Security

The UK is entering a period of heightened vulnerability to global LNG (liquefied natural gas) disruption.  The Middle East conflict — including damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facilities and shipping interruptions through the Strait of Hormuz — has already removed a significant share of global LNG supply.  

15/7/2026

How State Pension Age Changes Affect Private and Company Pensions

The headlines about raising the UK State Pension age possibly to 68 earlier, and even 69 for younger workers naturally make people wonder what this means for their private pensions, workplace pensions, and company schemes.   The good news is simple.  

15/7/2026

Europe’s Energy Strategy at Risk: How Middle East LNG Disruptions Expose Structural Weaknesses

Europe entered 2026 believing it had stabilised its energy system after the shock of losing Russian pipeline gas.  Storage was high, LNG imports were strong, and governments were confident that diversification had worked.  

15/7/2026

LNG Markets on a Knife‑Edge: Why the Middle East Conflict Makes Global Gas Supplies Unusually Vulnerable

The latest escalation between the United States, Israel, and Iran has created one of the most dangerous environments for global LNG supply in decades.   Unlike oil, which has multiple export routes and large global reserves, LNG is highly concentrated, infrastructure‑dependent, and far less flexible.  

14/7/2026 : Other Services

 
Does Your Business Need Help To Take On An Apprentice?

For Greg MacLeod of Precision Plumbing in Thurso, support from Caithness Business Fund helped reduce the pressure of taking on and training an apprentice, giving the business a safety net while investing in future skills.   “Support from Caithness Business Fund has been a huge benefit to our business.  

14/7/2026 : Local Authority

 
Do you want a say in the future development of Highland?

Share your ideas and help shape the places, spaces and communities of tomorrow.   The Highland Council is inviting people to share their ideas relating to the development or long-term land use in Highland.  

14/7/2026

Scottish Government Gives Final Approval to Major Battery Storage Project in Caithness

A major new battery energy storage project in Caithness has been given the final go-ahead by the Scottish Government, despite attracting significant objections during the planning process.   The decision highlights the growing importance of electricity storage as Scotland continues to expand renewable energy generation, particularly in the north of the country, where vast amounts of wind power are already produced.  

14/7/2026

The ONS Dashboard Reveals Britain's Economy Isn't Booming – It's Simply Ticking Over

When politicians argue about whether the economy is growing or shrinking, they usually point to GDP figures, inflation or unemployment rates.  Those are important, but they are also backward-looking.  

14/7/2026

Update - As Donald Trump Changes His Mind No Fees - Protection Fee or Modern-Day Toll? Trump's 20% Hormuz Charge Raises Questions About Who Controls the World's Trade Routes

Update Today as Donald Trump changes his mind to remove threat of tolls.   The latest development is actually a rapid policy reversal.  

14/7/2026

If Andy Burnham Needs Another £4.7 Billion, Where Could It Come From?

Whenever a new political party prepares for government, one question always follows close behind.   "How will it pay for its promises?".  

14/7/2026

Why Oil Prices Rise Before the Oil Runs Out: How Fear, Insurance and Speculation Drive Energy Markets

When people hear that oil prices are rising, one of the first questions they often ask is: "But has the world actually run out of oil?".   Usually, the answer is no.  

14/7/2026

Insecure Shift: Why Millions of Workers Still Lack the Protection They Need

For many people, having a job is seen as the route to financial security.   But what happens when the job itself is uncertain?.  

14/7/2026

Rebuilding Living Standards: Why Many UK Households Still Feel Worse Off Despite Economic Recovery

For many people, the biggest question about the economy is not whether GDP is growing or whether inflation has fallen.   It is much simpler: "Am I better off than I was a few years ago?" A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) argues that, for millions of households, the answer is still no.