News Archive

Funding to address challenges around salmon stocks

Around £700,000 will be spent on work to help address the range of pressures related to the decline of Scottish wild salmon stocks.   The support will include £500,000 for research and activities, and includes a new national programme of local sampling which will help to count the numbers of juvenile salmon in rivers, before they leave to become adults at sea and return, and monitor their abundance.  

Scotlands First Agricultural Shared Apprenticeship Scheme Announced

Students from Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) are set to benefit from the country's first agricultural shared apprenticeship scheme.   Launched to coincide with Scottish Apprenticeship Week (5-9 March), the collaboration between SRUC and Ringlink (Scotland) - the UK's largest business ring - will see more than 30 students take up placements at a number of host farms in Aberdeenshire.  

Knoydart Landslide Repairs Progressing Well

Following the landslip on the Knoydart Peninsula last Autumn work is progressing well and every effort is being made to get the affected section of single tracked road open to traffic for the Easter weekend.   Following the failure immediate steps were taken to re-establish pedestrian and quad bike access, and this has been maintained throughout the works.  

Presentation on potential satellite vertical launch centre site at Sutherland County Committee

As part of the Sutherland County Committee on Tuesday 27 February 2018 members will be given a presentation from HIE about a potential vertical launch centre for satellites in Sutherland.   The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is currently considering a number of potential sites as a vertical launch centre for satellites.  

Businesses take action to improve productivity and competitiveness

A survey of more than a thousand businesses in the Highlands and Islands has shown that almost all of them (95%) have taken action in the past 12 months to become more productive and competitive.   This is according to the findings of the latest business panel survey published today (Wednesday 21 February) ) by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).  

Firm Appointed To Create Scotland's First Newton Room In Thurso

Young people in Caithness will be the first in Scotland to benefit from new Norwegian style learning centres.   A network of ‘Newton rooms' in Norway and one in Denmark are used to inspire more young people into careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).  

City Region Deal funding for new homes across the Highlands

The Highland Council has agreed to use City-Region Deal funding to part fund new mid-market housing projects throughout the Highlands.   The affordable housing projects will be developed by Albyn Housing Society and Highland Housing Alliance in Ullapool, Fort William, Alness, Inverness, Aviemore, Grantown, Drumnadrochit and Newtonmore and will deliver 61 new homes targeted at young people working in the area.  

Highland Council Has Agreed A Budget For 2018-19

Highland Councillors agreed a council tax increase of 3% which will mean an increase of £35.93 per annum on a Band D property.   Overall, the budget gap of £15,146 million has been met by a package of savings which includes increasing Council Tax income by £3.448 million, increasing income by £3,059 million, setting a target of £2,250 million to be saved through Redesign and reducing expenditure by £5.1 million.  

Road closure B871 Syre - Kinbrace

Motorists are being advised of a partial road closure of the B871 Syre - Kinbrace road in Sutherland, North West Highland.   A 9km stretch of the B871 is closed for an estimated period of 6 weeks to enable contractors to undertake emergency repair works to the partially collapsed Lonigall Bridge which has made the road impassable.  

Local MSP Urges - voices Rarely Heard - To Speak Out On Scotlands Economy

Households, workers, the unemployed, and small and large businesses in the Highlands and Islands are being called on by local MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston to share their views as the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee launches its inquiry into the performance of Scotland's economy since 2007.   In a year marking a range of anniversaries, including a decade since the financial crash, 20 years since the devolution vote; and the tenth anniversary of SNP Government, the Committee will scrutinise Scotland's economy, looking at issues such as the main drivers of growth and challenges to future growth; as well as average disposable income, and average weekly pay in Scotland.