Young people across the Highlands and Islands are to be encouraged and inspired to take qualifications in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), thanks to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). HIE has been successful in its bid to secure a new 45 month contract with STEMNET, a national organisation that creates opportunities to inspire young people in STEM.
The roll out of new opening hours at Service Points operated by The Highland Council continues at seven locations. The changes result from a review of opening hours to meet customer demand and as the Council increases its partnership working with other public sector agencies across the Highlands.
A former soldier who began a second career as a self-employed woodsman, is now offering nationally accredited courses in traditional woodman's skills. A decorated army SNCO for 17 years, Mike Ellis who lives in Helmsdale, Sutherland has always been interested in woodcraft and has learned and developed his skills since leaving the forces in 1999.
A fantastic opportunity to acquire a successful highland hotel business has come to the market through one of Scotland's leading property consultants CKD Galbraith. Named after its outstanding location overlooking the River Helmsdale, one of Scotland's finest salmon rivers, the Bridge Hotel is a beautifully refurbished property in the Highland town of Helmsdale in Sutherland.
Patients and staff are today (Thursday 30 June 2011 ) moving into the new hospital that has been built at Bonar Bridge in Sutherland at a cost of more than £8 million to replace the old Migdale Hospital, which is almost 150-years-old. The new 22-bed hospital, which retains the Migdale name, is located in the centre of Bonar Bridge, close to the GP surgery at Cherry Grove and the Bradbury Centre, which is a day centre for older people.
Hunter's Tweed today announced its official re-launch as the new face of the illustrious Scottish tweed brand, Hunters of Brora, which ceased production in 2003. The brand, which can trace its roots back to 1901, is based in the Highlands of Scotland and produces a collection of exceptional quality tweed in a range of traditional and contemporary colours.
This message is for all professionally qualified therapists, complimentary therapists, hairdressers, nail technicians, beauticians or any other folk who help the rest of the human race relax, de-stress and look beautiful too! We are just beginning to add the finishing touches to our new treatment room at The Tongue Hotel and are seeking a range of therapists who might be interested in undertaking a regular session to provide their services to our local community and guests. We will provide a newly renovated space (can be set for use with hairdressers back wash and cutting chair or arranged with a full size massage table.
Live pictures of a golden eagle nest at a secret location in north west Scotland are set to be beamed to tourists and locals under an innovative new scheme macked by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). A new CCTV camera is perched at the site in an area of west Sutherland and is set to go live at Easter on a large screen in the Assynt Visitor Centre in Lochinver, Sutherland.
It's third time lucky for local café owners who had to shut their premises twice in the last 15 months due to flooding. Lindsay and Bob Boyle took over the lease of the small premises in Bettyhill on Sutherland's north coast nearly two years ago.
Police to use shared service point following closure of Bettyhill police station The Northern Joint Police Board agreed the closure of a number of police stations at its meeting in January, in order to avoid a further reduction in police staff numbers and to maintain officers at highest possible levels within communities. This enables the Force to meet the reduced budget for 2011-12, whilst retaining officer numbers above a minimum of 761 for the coming year.
The Highland Council has secured an additional £179,000 to deliver the Universal Home Insulation Scheme. The Scottish Government-funded scheme has been running in Highland since November 2010 in the wards of Skye, Badenoch and Strathspey, and East Sutherland and Edderton.
Traditional Woodsman's Coppice and Greenwood Skills Course The first ever course to be held in Scotland that carries a nationally recognised qualification in traditional woodland skills (OCN level 2/SVQ2) will be held this April/May in a woodland setting at Helmsdale, Sutherland. This should be a 5day course, with date to be agreed with participants, depending on demand.
THOUSANDS IN FIRING LINE AS CUTS BITE Around 60,000 households will face severe hardship when UK housing benefit changes take hold in Scotland, Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said today. In April, 55,000 households will be given nine months to either lose housing benefit or move out of their home.
The Highland Council's Library Service has received acknowledgement for their commitment to providing high quality services at the inaugural Scottish Library Excellence Awards. With public libraries in Scotland attracting over 30 million visitors per year and academic libraries attracting 12.8 million, the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) acknowledged the achievements of Highland libraries.
A 2,000 Tonne load of salt delivered to Inverness yesterday (24 January 2011) has boosted total stock on salt for Highland Council roads to 14,800 Tonnes. With a further 8,300 Tonnes due later in the week, stocks are now sustainably above the 12,800 Tonne threshold at which Councillors decided last week that restrictions should be lifted.
The Highland Council has welcomed the progress announced today (Tuesday 25 January 2011) in reactivating the former Nigg oil fabrication yard in East Ross. Global Energy has confirmed it has been given preferred bidder status and is in the process of purchasing part of the site owned by US company, KBR, and securing a long term lease of the section owned by the Wakelyn Trust, with a view to taking over the site in April.
Planning consultations seek views on sustainable design and impact of development on trees and woodland. An eight-week public consultation gets under way today Monday (24 January 2011) on two new planning documents produced by The Highland Council's Planning Environment and Development Service, which provide guidance on the design of buildings as well the impact of developments on trees and woodland.
Highland householders are being advised by The Highland Council of new and extended ways of paying their Council Tax, rent and other Council bills. The new payment system takes effect from 1 April - the start of the new financial year.
Members of The Highland Council's Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee have agreed that emergency measures to conserve road salt should remain in place until the stock returns to a sustainable level of 12,800 tonnes, which provides eight days of supply at heavy usage. The latest stock level stands at 12,300 tonnes and it is hoped that the restrictions can be lifted by the end of next week, if further scheduled salt supplies arrive.
