Police and fire investigating a fire which destroyed a Sutherland lodge on Friday evening POLICE and Fire Services are currently carrying out a joint fire investigation into a house fire in Sutherland. The fire, which completely destroyed Loch Choire Lodge, Kinbrace Sutherland, was reported around 20:15 hrs on Friday 5 April 2013.
Practical and useful ideas and time-saving tips to help you make strong applications for Business Awards The Federation of Small Businesses, in association with the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards, is to pilot a workshop for all businesses in Caithness and Sutherland, knowing that winning awards, or being shortlisted, increases business. Businesses that win awards do better! Sponsored by Dounreay Communities Fund the event will take place on: Tuesday 16th April at dounreay.com Traill House, 7 Olrig Street, Thurso KW14 7BJ.
Small firms from across the Highlands will get the lowdown on how to tap into traditional and alternative sources of finance at an event in Inverness later this month. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has joined forces with local business experts Highland Opportunity and their Business Gateway service plus MSP, Rhoda Grant, to host a special event -Accessing Business Finance - at the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Stadium on the 29 April.
The Scottish Government has increased fees for planning applications by 20 per cent from 6 April 2013. This is the first increase in planning fees since 2010.
11 April 2013 Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with Scottish Development International, is offering an Intermediate Preparing to Export course for companies that are already exporting to 2/3 markets and would like to further develop their export capabilities. • Course kick-off: 2-day residential on 11th & 12th April 2013 (1 nights accommodation and dinner will be provided) • Course continues on: 4 additional sessions held over 6-8 weeks: 25th April, 9th May, 23rd May and 6th June 2013 Location: The Norseman Hotel, Wick This programme is fully funded by Smart Exporter, an ambitious new international trade skills programme, and is targeted at Scottish companies that are already exporting and wish to develop their export capabilities to grow their business.
Highland Councillors have agreed a further enhancement of the model for the integration of health and care services across the authority. This involves the organisation of Allied Health Professional Services and Community Learning Disability Nurses, as well as some changes to the performance frameworks for both adult and children’s services.
Police in the Highlands and Islands took part in a national ACPOS led campaign over the weekend 8 March to 11 March to highlight the dangers which exist on country roads. A total of 120 drivers were caught speeding.
Leader explains Council job statistics. The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Drew Hendry is to write to the GMB trade union to tell them they have got the wrong end of the stick over job statistics.
Council targets Sutherland and Inverness-shire holiday homes avoiding waste collection services payment. In February this year The Highland Council wrote to the owners of around 600 non-domestic rated (NDR) holiday home properties in all the Inverness and Sutherland areas advising them of their legal obligations under the Environmental Protection Act and associated Duty of Care Regulations to have in place a waste collection contract for dealing with the waste generated from their businesses.
Businesses urged to find out if they can benefit from Highland Council Employment Grant. Highland businesses are being invited to find out if a Council funding scheme can help their business grow while assisting unemployed people to return to work.
Staff, parents and pupils in the Highlands are being reassured about the quality and safe consumption of the fresh meat and processed food used in school meals in the Highlands. Council Catering and Cleaning Manager Norma Murray has written to the head teachers of the Council's 177 primary schools, 29 secondary schools and three special schools in response to the national debate and general concerns surrounding the presence of horsemeat in some UK food products.
BICENTENARY OF THE SUTHERLAND CLEARANCES TO BE MARKED BY MAJOR IF CAMPAIGN EVENT A major seminar highlighting the parallels between the Highland Clearances and land grabs in developing countries is being held at Timespan, Sutherland by the IF campaign. Enough Food For Everyone IF is a coalition of more than 100 organisations across the UK which is calling for action to end the scandal of hunger.
Driving home the safer roads educational message and building on the success of their previous campaigns, NOSDAT – North Of Scotland Driver Awareness Team, set up by local MSP David Stewart, will launch their next campaign ‘ Switch onto Safer Roads’ on Monday 25 February 2013. Previously the Group set up and ran the ‘Sensible Driving – Always Arriving’ Deadly Mates campaign, after the tragic deaths of two local Inverness teenagers in a road collision in the city.
People in Caithness and Sutherland looking for new career opportunities in business services are being encouraged to attend an event in Thurso this Saturday (23 Feb). Experts from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will be amongst exhibitors at the Caithness ‘Jobs and How to Get Them’ fair at the ETEC Building, North Highland College.
The Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee will take place at Timespan in Helmsdale next Monday and top of the agenda, is a Highland Council key Programme priority for the economy, tourism. Area Leader Councillor Deirdre Mackay said: “Tourism is one of the main sectors of employment in the Highlands and it is with this in mind that I felt it would be meaningful to hold the committee in Timespan.
People in the Highlands are being urged to enter local schools, nurseries or individuals into the Scottish Education Awards 2013 before the deadline for submissions on Friday 22 February 2013. The awards, which celebrate the achievements of schools and teachers across Scotland, have attracted hundreds of nominations so far but many more schools and individuals are worthy of acknowledgment.
Investment by the Scottish Government in schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure is set to support 40,000 jobs across Scotland this year, Nicola Sturgeon said today. The Deputy First Minister was speaking as the Scottish Government published an update to its multi-billion Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP), first unveiled in December 2011.
Highland Council’s Trading Standards are warning all Highland businesses to be on their guard against rogue ‘charity’ publishers and operatives that use deliberately misleading sales talk to sell advertising space over the phone or by email or text. Publications may include advertising space in charity leaflets, wall-planners, crime prevention diaries and the old favourite of business directories.
Issued by Scotland Transerv Work starts on the major refurbishment of the A9 Kessock Bridge on Monday 11th February 2013 for 17 weeks. The installation of the traffic management will start at 10pm on Saturday 9th February to be in place for the commencement of the works.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has published a new guide providing advice to community organisations for managing funds generated from renewable energy projects. As an economic development agency with a particular and unique remit to strengthen communities, HIE recognises the importance of this opportunity.
