Residents in Orkney, Caithness and North Sutherland are being invited to evening talks to hear the latest news on the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters projects, the first commercial wave and tidal stream energy schemes in the world. The talks follow public exhibitions hosted by The Crown Estate in November 2010, which were attended by over 700 people, and are being held to give an update on progress over the last year.
Businesses will be given the power to design, develop and purchase the vocational training programme they need under a £250 million plan announced today by the Prime Minister. The move is designed to boost economic growth and ensure that the UK workforce has the skills that businesses require.
Community Councils in the Highlands which will disband from Wednesday 16 November as the result of not attracting sufficient nominations at recent elections are to get another chance to form a Community Council. All have been contacted by The Highland Council to advise them that a notice of election seeking nominations will be published on Monday 21 November.
"Watch out for fake goods and bogus websites this Christmas" warns Highland Council Trading Standards. The Highland Council Trading Standards Service is warning consumers not to be duped into buying counterfeit sports clothes and equipment from bogus websites, as part of the National Consumer Week 2011 campaign entitled "Good Sports Don't Fake it".
Tourist industry leaders and holiday home owners in the Highlands, Islands and North-east are teaming up with Scottish Water to ensure holiday properties are protected and prepared for winter. Last year's unprecedented Big Freeze - which included the coldest December on record - saw Scottish Water repairing around 2,000 bursts and answering more than 40,000 calls between Christmas Eve and New Year, when 7,500 calls would normally be expected.
Citizens Online is a national charity who believe participation in the digital world is a basic human right. As a result we are committed to promoting digital inclusion.
The new Migdale Hospital at Bonar Bridge in Sutherland has been highly commended in the annual NHSScotland Environment, Estates and Facilities Awards. It was entered in the Design Award category and the commendation was announced at the recent Scottish Healthcare Conference in Crieff.
High Life Highland, established on the 1st October to deliver Community Learning and Leisure services on behalf of The Highland Council, launches its first Highland-wide community event this month. The 6 week "MOVE IT TO LOSE IT" Christmas Challenge begins on the 14th November at all participating High Life Highland leisure centres.
North Highland Community Health Partnership - the part of NHS Highland covering Caithness and Sutherland - is looking at possible improvements to the way in which it uses the buildings at the Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie. But Locality General Manager, Georgia Haire, stressed that any changes would not involve reducing the number of beds at the facility or any reduction in services.
A new partnership is being introduced in Lairg on Monday (17 October 2011) when the public will be able to source advice and information on police and Council matters from under the one roof. The Highland Council is moving its Service Point from New Buildings, Main Street into the Northern Constabulary office on the same street.
A leading international business services provider is recruiting in Caithness and Sutherland next week - and is seeking people interested in their innovative self employed home working model. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has been working closely with Arise UK and its client, Shop Direct Group, to highlight the range of highly skilled people available in the far north.
Police yesterday received a report from an engineer responsible for the maintenance of the O2 mobile mast at Cambusmore Estate, Sutherland. He told Police that when he attended the mast on 24 August 2011 at 1000 hrs, on a routine inspection he noticed that copper lightening protection strips had been removed, as well as electrical connections.
Homeworking Information Days for computer owners .
Motorists advised of Sutherland bridge closure to accelerate completion of upgrade The Highland Council's contractor, CRL, is progressing well with major works to renovate the A838 Kyle of Tongue Bridge. The work, costing £1.2 million, is being carried out under temporary traffic signal control, and alternate single-way movement of traffic.
The Highland Council will complete a phased introduction of new opening hours at its network of 35 Service Points next week. Opening hours have already been amended at Fort Augustus, Grantown, Hilton (Inverness), Golspie, Brora, Tain, Invergordon, Alness, Kingussie and Aviemore.
Young people across the Highlands and Islands are to be encouraged and inspired to take qualifications in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), thanks to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). HIE has been successful in its bid to secure a new 45 month contract with STEMNET, a national organisation that creates opportunities to inspire young people in STEM.
The roll out of new opening hours at Service Points operated by The Highland Council continues at seven locations. The changes result from a review of opening hours to meet customer demand and as the Council increases its partnership working with other public sector agencies across the Highlands.
A former soldier who began a second career as a self-employed woodsman, is now offering nationally accredited courses in traditional woodman's skills. A decorated army SNCO for 17 years, Mike Ellis who lives in Helmsdale, Sutherland has always been interested in woodcraft and has learned and developed his skills since leaving the forces in 1999.
A fantastic opportunity to acquire a successful highland hotel business has come to the market through one of Scotland's leading property consultants CKD Galbraith. Named after its outstanding location overlooking the River Helmsdale, one of Scotland's finest salmon rivers, the Bridge Hotel is a beautifully refurbished property in the Highland town of Helmsdale in Sutherland.
Patients and staff are today (Thursday 30 June 2011 ) moving into the new hospital that has been built at Bonar Bridge in Sutherland at a cost of more than £8 million to replace the old Migdale Hospital, which is almost 150-years-old. The new 22-bed hospital, which retains the Migdale name, is located in the centre of Bonar Bridge, close to the GP surgery at Cherry Grove and the Bradbury Centre, which is a day centre for older people.
