International business services provider, Arise, is holding a series of recruitment advice sessions in Caithness and Sutherland to find local people interested in working from home. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has been working closely with the US company who now have a significant presence in the UK with offices in London and Edinburgh.
Councillor Deirdre Mackay, Leader of the Caithness and Sutherland Area committee has welcomed a presentation to the committee yesterday (Monday 20 May) which clearly laid out how the various agencies in Caithness and Sutherland are working together to offset the results of Dounreay decommissioning and ensure that clear pathways are in place to prepare our young people for the future needs and demands of industry and business across all sectors. Reports from North Highland College, Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Skills Development Scotland were brought together for the first time outlining the work that is currently underway to ensure young people reach positive destinations when leaving school, college and university.
The next meeting of the Sutherland District Partnership will take place Drummuie Offices in Golspie on Friday 31 May at 3pm and the main agenda items involve a range of issues effecting young people and adults. There will be a presentation on Early Years Collaborative Work and the Family Nurse Partnership and other topics to be covered include dementia care, the single point of access pilot, the OTAGO falls prevention programme and specialist nursing support for Multiple Sclerosis patients.
Highland Magician with strong links to Caithness, Clive Grewcock is proving to be a talking point and creating a stir amongst private parties and more notably at pre-wedding gatherings. “At first it all sounds really crazy but from experience and the interest this aspect of performance Magic is attracting groups, and in particular bridal parties before the big day want this mystery magic which combines mental magic, mind reading and uncovering old stories ” The immediate conclusion is that it is paranormal stories but Clive points out that there is most definitely nothing supernatural about this, which is why it has been labelled as mystery magic.
Work has been completed on clean ups and repairs at 21 locations throughout the Highlands that were affected by the 14/15 December storm in 2012. Members of The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services Committee were updated yesterday on works completed and works still in progress at Portmahomack and Balintore Harbours.
The Highland Council has agreed the process for recruiting a new Chief Executive, following the announcement by Alistair Dodds, Chief Executive, that he will retire on 31 August. The post, which carries a salary of £140,112, will be advertised on Friday 3 May with a closing date for applications on Friday 17 May.
Trading Standards officers of The Highland Council Standards are warning householders to be on their guard if approached at their home and offered tarmacking. This follows reports being received that rogue traders are operating in the Dornoch area and are informing householders that they are in the area working for The Highland Council and have some tarmac left over.
SSE Renewables welcomes Highland Council visit to proposed site for Glencassley wind farm. SSE Renewables, the renewable energy development division of SSE, welcomes yesterdays decision by the Highland Council's North Planning Committee to visit the site of the proposed Glencassley wind farm, north-west of Lairg.
Highland Councillors have agreed to adopt a “sympathetic ” policy for those Council house tenants affected by the new Bedroom Tax, who unavoidably fall into rent arrears through the loss of housing benefit for under-occupying their homes. It is estimated that 2,200 Highland Council tenants (16%) are affected by the introduction of the Social Rented Sector Size Criteria Restriction (Bedroom Tax), which sees people who are under-occupying by one bedroom having their benefit reduced by 14% and those under-occupying by more than one room having their benefit reduced by 25%.
Highland Councillors have set a target of providing 200 new homes over the next four years for people who find themselves in an emergency homeless position. They plan to gradually reduce the amount of money spent on purchasing temporary accommodation from the private sector, such as Houses of Multiple Occupation, and instead build and acquire an expanding pool of one-bedroomed homes in appropriate locations that can be used as a temporary base for the homeless.
Sutherland Brothers Annual Trade Day is being held in Wick Assembly Rooms on Thursday 25th April between 2pm and 8pm. If you are a business looking to purchase from a local wholesaler why not come along and meet us along with many of our local and national suppliers.
Police and fire investigating a fire which destroyed a Sutherland lodge on Friday evening POLICE and Fire Services are currently carrying out a joint fire investigation into a house fire in Sutherland. The fire, which completely destroyed Loch Choire Lodge, Kinbrace Sutherland, was reported around 20:15 hrs on Friday 5 April 2013.
Practical and useful ideas and time-saving tips to help you make strong applications for Business Awards The Federation of Small Businesses, in association with the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards, is to pilot a workshop for all businesses in Caithness and Sutherland, knowing that winning awards, or being shortlisted, increases business. Businesses that win awards do better! Sponsored by Dounreay Communities Fund the event will take place on: Tuesday 16th April at dounreay.com Traill House, 7 Olrig Street, Thurso KW14 7BJ.
Small firms from across the Highlands will get the lowdown on how to tap into traditional and alternative sources of finance at an event in Inverness later this month. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has joined forces with local business experts Highland Opportunity and their Business Gateway service plus MSP, Rhoda Grant, to host a special event -Accessing Business Finance - at the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stadium on the 29 April.
The Scottish Government has increased fees for planning applications by 20 per cent from 6 April 2013. This is the first increase in planning fees since 2010.
11 April 2013 Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with Scottish Development International, is offering an Intermediate Preparing to Export course for companies that are already exporting to 2/3 markets and would like to further develop their export capabilities. • Course kick-off: 2-day residential on 11th & 12th April 2013 (1 nights accommodation and dinner will be provided) • Course continues on: 4 additional sessions held over 6-8 weeks: 25th April, 9th May, 23rd May and 6th June 2013 Location: The Norseman Hotel, Wick This programme is fully funded by Smart Exporter, an ambitious new international trade skills programme, and is targeted at Scottish companies that are already exporting and wish to develop their export capabilities to grow their business.
Highland Councillors have agreed a further enhancement of the model for the integration of health and care services across the authority. This involves the organisation of Allied Health Professional Services and Community Learning Disability Nurses, as well as some changes to the performance frameworks for both adult and children’s services.
Police in the Highlands and Islands took part in a national ACPOS led campaign over the weekend 8 March to 11 March to highlight the dangers which exist on country roads. A total of 120 drivers were caught speeding.
Leader explains Council job statistics. The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Drew Hendry is to write to the GMB trade union to tell them they have got the wrong end of the stick over job statistics.
Council targets Sutherland and Inverness-shire holiday homes avoiding waste collection services payment. In February this year The Highland Council wrote to the owners of around 600 non-domestic rated (NDR) holiday home properties in all the Inverness and Sutherland areas advising them of their legal obligations under the Environmental Protection Act and associated Duty of Care Regulations to have in place a waste collection contract for dealing with the waste generated from their businesses.
