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News Archive


16/6/2017
Launch of the Flow Country exhibitionThumbnail for article : Launch of the Flow Country exhibition
A major exhibition opened this week at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh focusing on the Flow Country, one of Europe's last wild places.   The Flow Country is a vast open landscape in the far north of Scotland, dominated by blanket bog, a rare type of peatland.  
16/6/2017
Highlands And Island Enterprise Appoints Chief ExecutiveThumbnail for article : Highlands And Island Enterprise Appoints Chief Executive
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed a new chief executive.  Charlotte Wright, who is currently the agency's Director of Business and Sector Development, has held the role of Interim Chief Executive since the end of August last year.  
16/6/2017
Help To Get Into Work - Fund To Improve And Align Support Services
A new £2.5 million fund will improve the help delivered to people looking to access employment and training.   The Employability Innovation and Integration Fund will look to join up employment support with health and social care, justice and housing services, making sure people receive the level of support they need to find sustainable employment.  
15/6/2017
IT Project For Rural Payments Ends But Significant Issues RemainThumbnail for article : IT Project For Rural Payments Ends But Significant Issues Remain
The legacy of an IT programme set up to deliver financial support to rural businesses still presents significant risks and costs for the Scottish Government.   Audit Scotland has reviewed the progress made in resolving serious issues with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Futures programme, created to enable the Scottish Government to provide financial support to farmers and rural businesses in line with European Commission (EC) reforms.  
15/6/2017
Farm Tenants Improvements Amnesty - Use It Or Lose It
Changes in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 - Tenants' Improvements Amnesty: Farm Advisory Services events will say "use it or lose it" Event: Use it or lose it - FAS Tenants' Improvements Amnesty.   Date: 17.45 - 21.00, Tuesday 11 July 2017 Location: Jurys Inn, Millburn Road Inverness, IV2 3TR The Scottish Government's Farm Advisory Service (FAS) is holding a series of events across Scotland this summer to inform tenant farmers and landowners about important changes to tenancy legislation including the current Tenants' Improvements Amnesty.  
15/6/2017
Welfare Support Helps Highland People To £4.651 Million
Welfare Support provided by The Highland Council helped customers to a record financial gain of £4.651 million over the past year (2016-17).   Over this period, the Welfare Support team supported 1,560 customers to maximise their benefits.  
15/6/2017
Rural Broadband Roll-Out in Highlands and Islands Reaching FurtherThumbnail for article : Rural Broadband Roll-Out in Highlands and Islands Reaching Further
More than 160,000 homes and businesses in the Highlands and Islands are now part of the high speed fibre broadband network, thanks to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB) roll-out.   Residents in more than 230 Highlands and Islands towns and villages can access the benefits of high speed services following the £146m investment in a next generation broadband network for the region.  
15/6/2017
Fire Safety in Council housing
The Highland Council has moved to reassure Council tenants on the fire safety of the Council's housing stock, following the tragic fire in London.   The Council owns a number of multi-storey flatted properties but does not have any high rise buildings (above 5 storeys), including schools, & council homes.  
15/6/2017
Ranger Service Transfers To Highland High Life From Council
Members of The Highland Council's Places Committee have today (Thursday 15 June 2017) agreed proposals to transfer the Highland Council Ranger service to High Life Highland.   The Council's Ranger Service is one of the largest local authority ranger services in Scotland with staff running many events and guided to raise awareness and encourage the appreciation of the scenery, wildlife and heritage of the Highlands.  
14/6/2017
MSP opposes closure of last Dornoch bank
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, says she is dismayed to learn that the Bank of Scotland is proposing to close its branch in Dornoch on 9 September.   The MSP has previously raised concerns about cuts to rural banking services as the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) announced its decision to drastically cut its services in the Highlands and Islands.  
14/6/2017
Consultation Commences On The Highland Councils Third Iteration Gaelic Language Plan
The Highland Council is pleased to introduce the third, iteration draft Gaelic Language Plan 2017-2022 which is being submitted for a 6 week public consultation.   The Highland Council draft Gaelic Language Plan has been prepared as a statutory document for submission to Bòrd na Gàidhlig in response to the formal notice of requirement to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan and with regard to the requirements set out in Section 3 of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.  
14/6/2017
Thinking of a career in teaching?
People living in the Highlands who are thinking of a career change to Primary teaching are being urged by The Highland Council to consider a distance learning course (DLITE) with the University of Aberdeen.   Training for the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education DLITE (Distance Learning ITE) starts on 20 January 2018 and the deadline for applications is 21 August 2017.  
6/6/2017
Cost Of Scottish Independence By Scottish Research Society
New research conducted on behalf of the Scottish Research Society (SRS) by Walbrook Economics concludes that the cost of Scottish independence has risen from a minimum of £850 for the average Scot in 2014 to at least £2000 in 2017.   The evidence is revealed in a new report "Saving Scotland from Financial Meltdown" published by the SRS, which is an update of its previous report "Much cost - Little benefit" published in advance of the independence referendum of 2014 The large rise in cost is explained by the dramatic fall in oil revenues that an independent Scotland could be expected to receive (from £6660 million in 2014 to £60 million in 2016) and the poorer performance of the Scottish economy - which is on the brink of a recession - relative to the UK economy, which is the fastest growing in the top seven economies of the World (G7).  
5/6/2017
Over £500,000 still available From LEADER for projects in Sutherland
Two more projects in Sutherland are set to benefit from funding from the Highland LEADER Programme.   The Sutherland Local Area Partnership has recently approved additional funding totalling £72,061.  
29/5/2017
Partnership Agreement To Deliver Engineering SkillsThumbnail for article : Partnership Agreement To Deliver Engineering Skills
A new three-year partnership agreement between North Highland College UHI and Nigg Skills Academy has been signed to deliver engineering skills and qualifications to the Ross-Shire area at their academy in Nigg.   Nigg Skills Academy works with employers and industry bodies to deliver engineering skills to meet today's industry demands, has established a memorandum of understanding with North Highland College UHI to continue to provide opportunities for those seeking careers within the engineering and energy industry.  
18/5/2017
Highland Council Elects Leaders
The Highland Council has elected Councillor Margaret Davidson as Council Leader at its meeting today, 18 May 2017.   Councillor Alasdair Christie was elected Depute Leader and Councillor Bill Lobban was elected Convener of the Council.  
Dornoch Brothers Raise a Glass to New Micro DistilleryThumbnail for article : Dornoch Brothers Raise a Glass to New Micro Distillery
Two brothers are celebrating as the first spirit at their new micro distillery in Dornoch began to flow this month.   Phil and Simon Thompson's dream of opening their own distillery has become a reality as the Dornoch Distillery opened for business producing hand distilled gin, vodka, rum and whisky.  
Dunrobin Castle Extends Sunday Opening Due To Visitor Numbers IncreaseThumbnail for article : Dunrobin Castle Extends Sunday Opening Due To Visitor Numbers Increase
Due to the number of visitors in the area Dunrobin Castle have decided that on Sundays they will open from 10.30am instead of midday.   The castle is now open from 10.30 every day and last entry at 16.00.  
Expert Bike Mechanic Moves From Clitheroe To ArmadaleThumbnail for article : Expert Bike Mechanic Moves From Clitheroe To Armadale
Simon Wilkinson has taken his experience and skills north to Sutherland and the move could not have come at better time with the North Coast 500 attracting a growing number of cyclists.   Siomn said,"I've been a bike mechanic for 28 years running the family business.  
3/4/2017
Golspie And River Thurso Flood Protection Studies UnderwayThumbnail for article : Golspie And River Thurso Flood Protection Studies Underway
The Highland Council has awarded a contract to a world leading engineering design firm to carry out comprehensive flood protection studies for two Highland coastal towns.   Thurso on the north coast and Golspie on the east coast have both suffered from flooding incidents over the years that has affected domestic and business properties and resulted in both towns being identified as Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) in the Highland and Argyll Local Flood Risk Management Plan.