Latest News
6/1/2025
Highland Council Highlights Commitment To Net Zero And Energy Investment
The Highland Council has released a short in-house video to highlight how it is delivering on its Net Zero ambitions. It also reaffirms the Council's vision as a centre for global renewable energy, by capitalising on natural resources to deliver alternative energy solutions, including developing solar, wind and wave solutions.6/1/2025
5.4 Million Yet To File Their Tax Return
Almost 25,000 taxpayers ‘celebrated' the New Year by filing their Self Assessment tax return. If customers miss the 31 January deadline, they could face a penalty.31/12/2024
Record Numbers Complete Nhs Couch To 5k App
The free running app has been downloaded over 7 million times since it launched in 2016, with 9.3 million NHS Couch to 5k runs started this year. Record numbers of people put on their running shoes and got fit-for-free this year with 8.7 million NHS Couch to 5k runs completed in 2024, new data revealed today (31 December 2024).25/12/2024
AI Won't Take Your Job - But That Doesn't Mean You Should Ignore It
Two influential tech CEOs have sparked a debate about AI's effect on jobs. Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski announced the buy-now, pay-later firm stopped hiring a year ago, claiming that AI can do most of the jobs that humans do.20/12/2024
Salmon Fishing - Proposed River Gradings For 2025 Season: Consultation Analysis
The number of non-surgical cosmetic procedures (NSCPs) being carried out across Scotland and the UK has risen considerably over the years and continues to do so[1]. Alongside the growth of this industry there has been increased concern about the safety of these procedures, especially, but not only, where they take place outwith a traditional healthcare setting.18/12/2024
Empty And Second Homes In September 2024
In Scotland there are 21,606 second homes and 43,538 properties empty for more than 6 months. The latest council tax data (in September 2024) shows there were 21,606 second homes, 43,538 properties that had been empty for more than 6 months, of which, 73% (31,596) were categorised as long-term empty homes (i.e.18/12/2024
English Classes For New Scots
Refugees, people seeking asylum and other forced migrants in Glasgow are benefitting from English classes to help them integrate into communities, supported by £500,000 in Scottish Government funding which will help 800 learners. The classes are helping people who have been forced to flee their country gain the language skills needed to rebuild their lives in Scotland, communicate confidently with people in their new communities and establish and strengthen their social connections.18/12/2024
Ending The Use Of Non-corporate Mobile Messaging Apps
The Scottish Government is to stop the use of mobile messaging apps, including WhatsApp, on official devices following the publication of an externally-led review. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes welcomed the review of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology and confirmed that access to these apps will be removed from government devices in spring 2025.18/12/2024
Local Authority Total And Vacant Housing Stock, Scotland, March 2024
There were 11,751 local authority housing stock units vacant as of 31 March 2024. There were 325,477 local authority housing stock units as of March 2024.18/12/2024
Consumer Price Inflation, Uk: November 2024 2.6%
The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.5% in the 12 months to November 2024, up from 3.2% in the 12 months to October. On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 0.2% in November 2024, compared with a fall of 0.1% in November 2023.18/12/2024
Progress On Scottish Government Workforce Reform
Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee has responded to the publication of the Scottish Government Workforce September 2024 statistics. Mr McKee said: "There has been a 2.3% reduction to the total Scottish Government workforce between March 2022 and September 2024.18/12/2024
Housebuilding And Affordable Home Statistics In The Year To End Of September 2024
There was a 12% decrease in all sector housebuilding starts and a 10% decrease in completions between 2023 and 2024 (year ending September). In the 12 months ending September 2024, there were 19,828 homes built and 14,768 new builds started.18/12/2024
Scottish Government Workforce Statistics September 2024
The latest quarterly Scottish Government Workforce Information statistics have been published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. These statistics cover the numbers of workers, staff sickness rates, and the diversity of staff up to the most recent quarter ending September 2024.17/12/2024
AI Was Supposed To Make The Uk Benefits System More Efficient. Instead It's Brought Bias And Hunger
A freedom of information request has revealed that an AI system used by the UK government for assessing benefits cases is apparently getting it wrong by a "statistically significant" amount. The admission to journalists at the Guardian emerged after a fairness analysis into universal credit claimants in February 2024.17/12/2024
Why Scottish Salmon's Rebrand May End Up Harming The Integrity Of A Top Export And Hurting Producers
Scottish farmed salmon was the UK's top food export last year, ending up in restaurants and on dinner tables all over the world. But also in 2023, the industry trade body Salmon Scotland sought to drop the word "farmed" from its protected geographical indication of "Scottish farmed salmon" after two successive years of falling production.16/12/2024
Scottish Highland Community 'blindsided' By Spaceport Bombshell As Future Hopes Turn To Dust
A community which spent eight years trying to secure Sutherland Spaceport for the future of the area speaks out after the company switched its launches to Shetland. All was well at a lunch in the Tongue Hotel on the final Monday in October when Phillip Chambers, chief executive of aerospace company Orbex, stood up and told those gathered about the bright future for the Sutherland spaceport.16/12/2024
Christmas Adverts - Decoding The Trusted Formula Used To Pull On Consumers' Heart Strings
This Christmas, major brands in the UK are spending more than £10 billion on advertising. And to justify the big spend, they are using sophisticated emotional marketing strategies to capture attention and boost sales.13/12/2024
Portugal Shows The Impact Of Airbnb On Local Businesses
Short-term rentals don't just happen in a vacuum. They affect the environment around them, contributing to the closure of low-productivity firms and the expansion of surviving ones, especially tourist-oriented enterprises.13/12/2024
No Notice Savings Rates - 13 December 2024
Average no notice savings rates, sourced from the Moneyfacts Savings Database, represent the average gross rate based on a £5,000 deposit across the whole of market. Average rates have been measured to the nearest ten thousandth to ensure greater precision.13/12/2024