Progress at Sutherland Spaceport continues at pace and we're happy to share the latest developments that have taken place over the last few months, working alongside our Principal Contractor, Dynamic Concepts. Here's a quick overview our recent achievements, some behind the scenes photos and an update about what lies ahead.
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The Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards 2024 is being launched today, with 16 exciting categories open for entries. Now in its 19th year the awards aim to acknowledge and celebrate the breadth of industry talent based in the Highlands and Islands.
The Scottish Government is currently conducting a substantial review of permitted development rights (PDR) as part of its wider planning reform programme. The review is being taken forward on a phased basis, with each phase focusing on new and extended PDR for specific types of development.
As the number of adverts on digital platforms promoting illegal waste collection services hits an all-time high, Scotland's environmental regulator is tackling environmental criminality in the online world. The digital regulation pilot led by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has already identified that between 50 to 60% of businesses advertising on social media could be breaking the law by operating without holding the required waste carrier licence - and people handing over their waste may be contributing to flytipping and other waste crime.
The number of overdue invoices in Scotland reached a 16-month high in February, according to new research from R3, the UK's insolvency and restructuring trade body. R3's analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows that business in Scotland had 428,824 unpaid invoices on their books last month - the highest monthly total since October 2022’s figure of 593,114.
Orbex, the only UK owned orbital launch services and rocket manufacturing company, has successfully patented its REFLIGHT reusable rocket technology following patent approval in several European markets as well as the United States. This protection was based on the patent grant by the European Patent Office.
A new high-quality toilet facility to help alleviate pressures at Gairloch has now opened. The project was brought to fruition by a community partnership driven by Gairloch Area Development Ltd, supported by The Highland Council and Visit Scotland.
A community project to extend a museum in Dornoch has been able to enhance its environmental credentials after securing a £30,157 investment from HIE. The £560,000 project to extend the Historylinks Museum is being taken forward by Dornoch Heritage SCIO, the community group that operates the attraction.
On 14 March, the Highland Council took the decision to permanently close Gergask Primary School. All school closures in Scotland must be ratified by Scottish Ministers.
A woman in her 80s was cold called this week and told that she was due to pay £189 as a final instalment for a TV repair contract. The woman was unsure which company was calling but was worried that she owed them money, so agreed to provide her card details and make the payment.
I am a conservation biologist who studies emerging infectious diseases. When people ask me what I think the next pandemic will be I often say that we are in the midst of one - it's just afflicting a great many species more than ours.
ScotRail is showing its support for Scottish Apprenticeship Week by announcing more apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Scotland and championing the achievements of those already on an early careers' pathway within the train operator. New apprenticeships will be created to provide valuable employment and training for young people across Scotland, with positions available in sectors ranging from engineering and administration to customer service.
Apprenticeships, spirits and culture were on the agenda as UK Government Minister for Scotland John Lamont embarked on a series of stakeholder engagements. To mark the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week (Monday March 4, 2024), Minister Lamont dropped in to multinational financial corporation JPMorgan Chase & Co in Glasgow to meet with apprentices and hear about the firm's work.
A review of Community Rights to Buy will begin this summer to look at how effective current powers are. Community Right to Buy has now been in use for 20 years.
A record number 95.3% of Highland school leavers in the last year have gone into a positive destination including employment, higher education, further education, training, personal skills development and voluntary work. Education Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "I am delighted that this year we have more young people than ever before leaving school into a positive destination.
Victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse will be able to access support quicker thanks to an additional £2 million of funding from the Scottish Government. The funding will go to Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid so they can reduce their waiting lists for women who need support services, including refuge places and counselling.
Five areas - in the Scottish Borders, Galloway, Lochaber, Loch Awe and Tay Forest - are in the running to be Scotland's next National Park. The Scottish Government committed to designating at least one new park by 2026, to join Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Young people will have a key role in supporting sustainable populations in rural and island regions. The Addressing Depopulation Action Plan, published last week, commits the Scottish Government to working with Youth Scotland and the Young Islanders Network (YIN) to develop ideas to support and encourage young people to remain on, move to or return to the islands.
More than one in ten patients seen by new cancer diagnostic services have been referred for cancer treatment, helping to speed up treatment and improve outcomes. Patients waited an average of 14 days from referral, to having cancer ruled in or out.
