Scotland's Chief Statistician today published results from the 2012 Survey Of Bank Advances to Scottish Agriculture. This survey is based on information collected from banks and mortgage companies operating in Scotland, and the results detail the total outstanding balance of advances from banks and mortgage companies to Scottish agriculture on 31st May 2012 - it is not an estimate of new lending.
Back to school: Primary pupils: Autumn term begins on 14th August Secondary pupils: Autumn term begins on 15th August Autumn Autumn term starts - 14 August 2012 (primary pupils) - 15 August 2012 (secondary pupils) Autumn term ends - 5 October 2012 Winter Winter term starts - 23 October 2012 (primary pupils) - 24 October 2012 (secondary pupils) Winter term ends - 20 December 2012 Spring Spring term starts - 7 January 2012 Mid term break - 11 to 15 February 2013 Spring term ends - 28 March 2013 Summer Summer term begins - 15 April 2013 Summer term ends - 28 June 2013 Public holidays Good Friday - 29 March 2013 Easter Monday - 1 April 2013 May Day - 6 May 2013 In-service days The first day back after summer - Monday 13 August 2012 (Primary and Secondary) The second day back after summer - Tuesday 14 August 2012 (Secondary only) The first day back after October break - Monday 22 October 2012 (Primary and Secondary) The second day back after October break - Tuesday 23 October 2012 (Secondary only) Three days following the February mid-term break - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 13, 14 and 15 February 2013 (Primary and Secondary).
North Highland communities, landowners and businesses are being invited to make suggestions in a Highland Council 'Call for Sites' exercise which takes place from 8 August to 3 October 2012. The Council hopes the exercise will identify sites which may be suitable to support the marine renewables sector.
SSE is now recruiting for its new innovative training programme which offers 16-24 year olds in the Highlands the opportunity of a career within the energy industry. The 12 month programme will offer 28 young people the opportunity to gain some valuable hands on experience of life in the energy industry and the skills learned will help recruits develop a successful career in the future.
Nominations sought for Scottish Health Awards 2012. The search is on for top health workers and teams across the Highlands as the Scottish Health Awards 2012 open for nominations.
Sales volumes soar whilst average property prices decrease by 0.2 per cent. Registers of Scotland published statistics today showing that the total volume of sales across Scotland registered during the first quarter of 2012/13 was 18,514, an increase of 9.2% on the same quarter the previous year.
Official statistics published today show that over the year the volume of retail sales in Scotland grew by 0.6 per cent, but with a small fall in the volume and value of retail sales in Scotland in the second quarter of this year. On an annual basis, we continue to see growth in the sector with the volume of retail sales, growing by 0.6 per cent, which is in-line with GB growth rates.
Graduates in Scotland will be offered more chances to take on internships at Scottish firms following the investment of around £200,000 by the Scottish Government. The funding will support Adopt-an-Intern, a programme with a proven track record of helping graduates into permanent jobs, and will go towards another 110 placements in 2012/13.
Home security advice. Don't give thieves a chance...
Sutherland completes Highland Council's introduction of new Refuse and Recycling Service. It is now a month since the final phase of the Highland Council's new refuse and recycling service was introduced in Sutherland.
The Highland Licensing Board is consulting widely over a review of its policy governing door entry to night clubs (commonly called a curfew), which requires admission by midnight. The Board invites representations on whether the policy should continue and, if so, whether it should be extended throughout the Highlands.
The Highland Council is inviting applications from voluntary groups to operate community transport projects for the 2013 - 2014 financial year. 19 voluntary groups are coming to the end of their current funding agreements and they will now be able to apply for new revenue funding.
A radical review of land reform will deliver a more successful Scotland with stronger communities and economic growth, First Minister Alex Salmond said on Wednesday 24th July 2012. Speaking in Skye where a summer cabinet meeting was convened, Mr Salmond revealed details of a new Land Reform Review Group that will oversee a wide ranging review of land reform in Scotland.
Annie Cattrell Solo Exhibition continues to the 12th of August. Did you know that the exhibition extends to the Victorian Icehouse where you can see her large work Currents.
With more graduates than ever finding it tough to get into the workplace a new scheme to help them get a foothold into business, whilst at the same time helping Highland companies get the right kind of help to grow, launches this month. The Highland Council Graduate Placement Programme is a work placement scheme being delivered by Business Gateway Highlands' Recruitment Service.
Council to run sessions highlighting changes to the welfare benefit system. The Highland Council will be running a number of awareness raising sessions in Skye and Lochalsh, Ullapool and Dingwall over the next few weeks advising people on how changes to the new Welfare Reform may affect them.
Applications are being invited for a new £75,000 fund, launched today by Zero Waste Scotland, to help transform local areas blighted by illegal flytipping. Grants of between £500 and £10,000 will be available to community groups, landowners and land managers in the Highland area, who are consistently battling the problem of unlawfully dumped waste, such as furniture, TVs, white goods and garden and commercial waste.
Northern Constabulary enforcement campaign to target speeding motorists on roads in Highlands and Islands. Northern Constabulary joins Scotland's other forces this weekend in an enforcement campaign against those who drive at excessive or inappropriate speeds.
Skills Development Scotland - Exam Results Helpline. Young people from the Highlands' schools and colleges will be among 160,000 students in Scotland who will get their exam results on Tuesday, 7th August 2012.
When Sara Garnett worked at the Tate Britain gallery she hoped that one day her paintings would be seen and bought by art lovers. But her dream didn't become a reality until she moved to the tiny Highland village of Nedd in Sutherland and she opened her own business selling artwork, prints and antiques.
