The distance and vast views of emptiness is something anyone who travels Sutherland will always remember. The county is one of the least populated places not just in Scotland or the UK but in all of Europe.
Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP has launched a new three-year operating plan for Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The new plan is launched as HIE marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of its predecessor, the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB), which began operating in November 1965.
The Highland Council's Trading Standards team are warning local businesses about a scam that is currently doing the rounds and is targeting small businesses within the Highland area. A number of complaints have been received from local businesses receiving a letter headed "UK - DATA CONTROL - Missing information about your VAT Registration Number" with ‘Scotland Business' prominently stated at the top of the first page.
Last week John Erskine, Scottish Labour candidate for the upcoming general election, followed the North Coast 500 as part of his election campaign. By following the North Highland Initiative's latest tourism pull that showcases what the North Highlands has to offer.
Highland Council Trading Standards are aware that Scam postcards are being delivered to residents' homes claiming that a parcel containing "jewellery" or valuables up to £50 is waiting for the homeowner. The message on the postcard states: "The office is attempting to reach you.
Hunt for innovative power take-off systems for wave energy devices is on 19th March 2015, UK: Wave Energy Scotland (WES), a new research and development body funded by the Scottish Government, is open for business with the launch of its first international technology innovation competition. Part of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, WES is issuing a competitive project call for innovative power take-off (PTO) systems.
An Isle of Harris fishing skipper and tourism operator, who recently became the star of a US TV show, is working with Marine Scotland to track and trace tuna on the Outer Hebrides coast. Captain Angus Campbell, from Kilda Cruises, also runs Atlantic Marine Services which provides specialist support for organisations doing marine surveys west of the Hebrides.
Highland Council Trading Standards and Police Scotland Highland and Islands Division are to host a Facebook chat event on the topic of rogue traders who call at your door offering to carry out works on your home. The event will take place on Tuesday 24th March at 6pm.
Highland Council Trading Standards are to hold two drop-in sessions aimed at traders who conduct works on domestic properties. The sessions will take place on Friday 27th March from 2pm till 4pm and again on Wednesday 1st April from 9am till 11am.
Members of the public are being invited to take part in a consultation on the Council's Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance which, when approved, will be used in the consideration of planning applications for wind energy developments in the Highlands. New national planning policies published in June 2014 changed how Councils are required to plan for Onshore Wind Energy development and Highland Council are therefore in the process of reviewing their planning policies and guidance.
Council urge suggestions for future planning of the West Highland and Islands as Call for Sites and Ideas process nears deadline. A call for people's suggestions of sites and ideas for inclusion within the forthcoming West Highland and Islands Local Development has been underway since 30th January and now enters its last week before the closing on 27th March 2015.
The Chancellor has presented his Budget to Parliament - here's a summary of what was announced. 1.
NHS Highland has suspended its service at Beachview Lodge Respite Unit in Brora from Monday, 9th March, due to staffing pressures and an ongoing investigation by police. The six-bed home in Muirfield Drive provides short breaks for adults with learning disabilities.
Highland Council is seeking views on the future provision of school, public and dial-a-bus transport services in Sutherland. Views are being sought from those who use the area's transport services; community councils; community and representative groups with interests in Sutherland; current and potential suppliers of transport services for Sutherland.
The first homes and businesses in Sutherland are now able to order high speed fibre broadband, thanks to a digital roll-out being led in the region by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The village of Embo has joined the growing number of locations, stretching from Shetland to Argyll where people can now access fibre based services through a new network being built across the region.
Creative professionals across Scotland are being urged to apply to a ground breaking course taking place in the Highlands and Islands this summer. The Pixel Lab 2015, coming to Scotland for the first time, helps participants create, develop, finance and distribute stories in today's media climate.
The Highland Licensing Board has launched a consultation on whether to introduce a supplementary policy statement on extended opening hours for special events of national and local significance. The aim of the supplementary policy statement, if introduced, would be to promote consistency of decision-making and to give advance notice to applicants of the Board's likely approach to determining applications.
Welfare Reforms - so what?? Well, as an employer, the Welfare Reforms will potentially impact your business. These impacts have the potential to be both advantageous and disadvantageous to employers, but many employers simply don't know how they will affect their business.
The Highland Council has launched a new interactive map on its website showing the location of windfarms and wind turbines in the Highlands. The user friendly Windfarm Activity Map covers all scales of wind energy development and provides detailed information such as turbine sizes and planning reference numbers to make it easy for people to get further information.
North MSP determined to do something to address the issue with Scotland's only driving assessment centre. He is asking for a centre to be opened in Inverness with a relocation of jobs.
