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News Archive


16/7/2020
Labour Market Overview, UK: July 2020
Extracts from the Report from the Office for National Statistics published today 16 July 2020.   As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic took hold, the labour market weakened markedly, but that rate of decline slowed into June, though this is before recent job losses were reported.  
16/7/2020
Almost A Third Of Firms Will Decrease Size Of Workforce In Next Three MonthsThumbnail for article : Almost A Third Of Firms Will Decrease Size Of Workforce In Next Three Months
Results from the British Chambers of Commerce's Quarterly Recruitment Outlook, in partnership with Totaljobs, reveal the impact Coronavirus has had on the jobs market, with the two organisations calling for further action from government to protect businesses and jobs.   29% of businesses expect to decrease the size of their workforce in the next three months 28% decreased size of workforce in Q2 but 66% kept their workforce constant, reinforcing the success of the Job Retention Scheme The two organisations call for a cut in employer National Insurance Contributions to protect businesses and jobs.  
16/7/2020
New Tourism Committee Set Up By Highland CouncilThumbnail for article : New Tourism Committee Set Up By Highland Council
The first meeting of Highland Council's new Tourism Committee was held virtually today (16 July 2020).  Cllr Maxine Smith was appointed as Chair and Cllr Gordon Adam as Vice Chair.  
16/7/2020
UK Government Supports Nearly 900,000 Jobs Across Scotland
New figures show the extent of UK Government coronavirus support for Scottish jobs and self-employed people.   Figures show, until the end of June, nearly 900,000 jobs across Scotland have been supported by the UK Government's unprecedented package of coronavirus support.  
16/7/2020
Police And Council Keep Businesses And People Safe In Inverness City CentreThumbnail for article : Police And Council Keep Businesses And People Safe In Inverness City Centre
Police Scotland and Highland Council Environment Health Officers were out-and-about in Inverness today visiting businesses and raising public confidence demonstrating that the city centre is doing all it can to ensure public safety as lockdown restrictions are eased.   On 15 July, and on the 22nd July - Police and Environmental Health are conducting checks and issuing advice and assistance to business and the public in the city centre.  
16/7/2020
Government Acts To Protect Jobs In Every Part Of The UK
Measures will protect the UK's economy by preventing new burdens on business and provide certainty to support coronavirus recovery.   New plans ensure trade between each part of the UK will prosper Holyrood, Cardiff and Stormont will receive new powers in at least 70 policy areas including parts of employment law, land use and air quality, among many others.  
16/7/2020
Councillors Commend Move Towards ‘real-time' Scrutiny Of Covid-19 Recovery Action Plan
Members of The Highland Council's Recovery Board have welcomed proposals that will enable them to scrutinise progress being made on the Council's Recovery Action Plan from the coronavirus pandemic at any time they choose in ‘real-time'.   Chair of the Recovery Board, Depute Leader Alasdair Christie said: "I am delighted that Members will soon be able to look into the Recovery Action Plan in real time through the Council’s performance management system to see what the progress is on the plan.  
16/7/2020
Battery Storage Boost To Power Greener Electricity Gri
Government to relax planning legislation to make it easier to construct large batteries to store renewable energy from solar and wind farms across the UK.   Government changes planning rules to maximise UK's renewable energy storage and create hundreds of new green jobs.  
16/7/2020
Government Bans Old Coach, Bus And Lorry Tyres From Roads In New Measures To Improve Road SafetyThumbnail for article : Government Bans Old Coach, Bus And Lorry Tyres From Roads In New Measures To Improve Road Safety
Tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned.   tyres aged 10 years and older to be banned to help improve road safety clearly visible date of manufacture mandatory on each tyre, ensuring older tyres are easy to spot latest action follows years of work by the government and determined efforts of campaigners Tyres aged 10 years and older will be banned from lorries, buses and coaches on roads in England, Scotland and Wales in a boost to road safety, Roads Minister Baroness Vere announced on 15 July 2020.  
15/7/2020
Advance notice of temporary closures affecting two Sutherland roads
The Highland Council is advising drivers in Sutherland that two temporary road closures will be in place from the start of August to enable SSE and Network Rail to carry out works.   Part of the U2437 Trentham Street in Helmsdale will be temporarily closed to all traffic from 8am on Monday 3 August until 10pm on Friday 4 September for SSE to carry out works.  
14/7/2020
Highland Council Warns Of Covid-19 Crisis Grants Scam
The Highland Council is warning the public to be on their guard for the latest COVID-19 scam which is circulating around the country.  Information on this scam was received by Highland Council Trading Standards, through a national intelligence network.  
13/7/2020
High Life Highland Plans To BouncebackThumbnail for article : High Life Highland Plans To Bounceback
High Life Highland has written to members advising how the charity plans to "bounceback" from the global pandemic in line with the latest developments within Scottish Government Route Map to recovery.   Steve Walsh, High Life Highland's Chief Executive, said, "We care passionately about what we deliver to enhance the health and wellbeing our communities and are really looking forward to welcoming our many customers back to our facilities and services over the forthcoming weeks and months and I am delighted that our bounceback campaign is already taking shape across all of our services.  
13/7/2020
HMRC Invites Hospitality Industry To Register For Eat Out To HelpThumbnail for article : HMRC Invites Hospitality Industry To Register For Eat Out To Help
Restaurants and other establishments serving food for on-premises consumption can now sign up to a new government initiative aimed at protecting jobs in the hospitality industry and encouraging people to safely return to dining out.   The Eat Out to Help Out registration page went live this morning on GOV.UK, allowing businesses to join the scheme announced last week by Rishi Sunak MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer.  
13/7/2020
Thinking Innovation - Five Top Tips For Making Your Customers More ValuableThumbnail for article : Thinking Innovation - Five Top Tips For Making Your Customers More Valuable
HIE organises training and courses for businesses.   This online webinar may be of interest.  
13/7/2020
Hairdressers And Barbers To Re-open In Scotland
Hairdressers and barbers are preparing to re-open on 15 July under the Scottish Government's route map out of lockdown.   To ensure salons can safely re-open new guidance has been published for the sector.  
13/7/2020
Is Your Sutherland Bausiness Re-opening? - Let Us Know To Get Mentioned On These Pages
If you are a Sutherland business re-opening this week or in coming weeks get in touch.   Let us know the date and what arrangements you are making.  
8/7/2020
HMRC - Notice For Employers About The Chancellors AnnouncementsThumbnail for article : HMRC - Notice For Employers About The Chancellors Announcements
Today the Chancellor announced the introduction of the Job Retention Bonus.   This is a one-off payment of £1,000 to employers that have used the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for each furloughed employee who remains continuously employed until 31‌‌‌ ‌January 2021.  
8/7/2020
Chancellor Announces Another Raft Of Spending To Boost The Economy - A Plan For Jobs Speech
Rishi Sunak MP the Chancellor of the Exchequer speech today 8 July 2020 in the House of Commons.   Several significant announcements were made to boost spending and jobs.  
8/7/2020
Quarantine Rule Ends For Travellers Arriving From Lower Risk Countries And Territories
Public health measure lifted for some overseas travellers arriving in Scotland.   Passengers arriving in Scotland from 57 overseas destinations that have similar or lower levels of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection than Scotland will no longer need to quarantine.  
8/7/2020
Over A Million Bounce Back Loans Approved For Small Businesses
On the eve of the Chancellor's summer economic update in Parliament, new figures reveal today that the number of Bounce Back loans approved for small firms to help them survive the Coronavirus pandemic has passed the one million milestone.   The Bounce Back Loan Scheme has been a success in providing firms with vital government-backed loans at a low, affordable rate and with no interest or repayments due in the first year.