Sales volumes soar whilst average property prices decrease by 0.2 per cent. Registers of Scotland published statistics today showing that the total volume of sales across Scotland registered during the first quarter of 2012/13 was 18,514, an increase of 9.2% on the same quarter the previous year.
Official statistics published today show that over the year the volume of retail sales in Scotland grew by 0.6 per cent, but with a small fall in the volume and value of retail sales in Scotland in the second quarter of this year. On an annual basis, we continue to see growth in the sector with the volume of retail sales, growing by 0.6 per cent, which is in-line with GB growth rates.
Graduates in Scotland will be offered more chances to take on internships at Scottish firms following the investment of around £200,000 by the Scottish Government. The funding will support Adopt-an-Intern, a programme with a proven track record of helping graduates into permanent jobs, and will go towards another 110 placements in 2012/13.
Home security advice. Don't give thieves a chance...
Sutherland completes Highland Council's introduction of new Refuse and Recycling Service. It is now a month since the final phase of the Highland Council's new refuse and recycling service was introduced in Sutherland.
The Highland Licensing Board is consulting widely over a review of its policy governing door entry to night clubs (commonly called a curfew), which requires admission by midnight. The Board invites representations on whether the policy should continue and, if so, whether it should be extended throughout the Highlands.
The Highland Council is inviting applications from voluntary groups to operate community transport projects for the 2013 - 2014 financial year. 19 voluntary groups are coming to the end of their current funding agreements and they will now be able to apply for new revenue funding.
A radical review of land reform will deliver a more successful Scotland with stronger communities and economic growth, First Minister Alex Salmond said on Wednesday 24th July 2012. Speaking in Skye where a summer cabinet meeting was convened, Mr Salmond revealed details of a new Land Reform Review Group that will oversee a wide ranging review of land reform in Scotland.
Annie Cattrell Solo Exhibition continues to the 12th of August. Did you know that the exhibition extends to the Victorian Icehouse where you can see her large work Currents.
With more graduates than ever finding it tough to get into the workplace a new scheme to help them get a foothold into business, whilst at the same time helping Highland companies get the right kind of help to grow, launches this month. The Highland Council Graduate Placement Programme is a work placement scheme being delivered by Business Gateway Highlands' Recruitment Service.
Council to run sessions highlighting changes to the welfare benefit system. The Highland Council will be running a number of awareness raising sessions in Skye and Lochalsh, Ullapool and Dingwall over the next few weeks advising people on how changes to the new Welfare Reform may affect them.
Applications are being invited for a new £75,000 fund, launched today by Zero Waste Scotland, to help transform local areas blighted by illegal flytipping. Grants of between £500 and £10,000 will be available to community groups, landowners and land managers in the Highland area, who are consistently battling the problem of unlawfully dumped waste, such as furniture, TVs, white goods and garden and commercial waste.
Northern Constabulary enforcement campaign to target speeding motorists on roads in Highlands and Islands. Northern Constabulary joins Scotland's other forces this weekend in an enforcement campaign against those who drive at excessive or inappropriate speeds.
Skills Development Scotland - Exam Results Helpline. Young people from the Highlands' schools and colleges will be among 160,000 students in Scotland who will get their exam results on Tuesday, 7th August 2012.
When Sara Garnett worked at the Tate Britain gallery she hoped that one day her paintings would be seen and bought by art lovers. But her dream didn't become a reality until she moved to the tiny Highland village of Nedd in Sutherland and she opened her own business selling artwork, prints and antiques.
Highlands and Islands companies confirm academic partnerships boost business. Interface providing vital support to businesses.
With many people facing increasing challenges in finding jobs and career opportunities The Highland Council, in partnership with the European Social Fund, has taken positive steps to help by launching an Employment Grants Scheme that will encourage and support businesses in the creation of additional posts for unemployed people. Targeted at small and medium sized businesses employing fewer than 250 people, a wage subsidy of up to £150 per week is available for 6 months to create additional and permanent posts.
The Highland Council will be carrying out a major patching exercise on the A897 between Helmsdale and Kinbrace with work starting on Monday (9 July 2012). The works will be carried out Monday to Friday between 8am to 4pm over a 4 to 5 week period and due to the nature of the work delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected throughout the working day.
Keep Scotland Beautiful mobilised 3,378 volunteers to clean up Highland as part of Scotland's National Spring Clean. 2,612 children and 766 adults from Highland were amongst 117,734 volunteers from across Scotland who gave their time between 1 April and 31 May to support National Spring Clean, run by Scotland's leading charity for the environment, Keep Scotland Beautiful.
The Highland Council has agreed a one-off payment of £160,000 to Golspie Recycling Environmental Action Network to assist the social enterprise to switch its focus from household recycling to a vegetable box delivery scheme. Over the years, the Council has provided GREAN with funding support to collect household recycling materials.
