This week sees the official start of work by Highland Council planners on a new Sutherland wide local plan. The Council is to leaflet every household and business address in the county to invite individual residents, community groups, local organisations, land owners and national agencies to make contributions to the preparation of the new plan.
The following are funds approved up to the last day of the month. Please note that the sums relate to approvals, not payments.
Midnight on 31 October 2005 is the deadline for companies to apply for the ultimate business accolade - The Queen’s Award for Enterprise, for outstanding achievement in international trade, innovation and sustainable development. And for individuals it is also the closing date for nominations for the new Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion, which will reward those inspirational people who encourage enterprise skills and attitudes in others.
For three days next week Dornoch will once again be in the limelight as crowds of people come to enjoy a shopping extravaganza in the Sutherland town as it hosts its first Continental Market. From Thursday 25th until Saturday 27th shoppers can chose from dozens of stalls with traders coming from France, Italy, Netherlands , Spain and Germany.
A remote Highland primary school, which was mothballed in October 2002 following a drop in the school role to just one pupil, reopened on Tuesday 16th August. Altnaharra Primary School, in Sutherland opened for the new school session with three pupils in the primary school - Tiegan Johnstone (4 years) – Primary 1; Chloe Murphy (7) – P3; and Etienne Murphy (10) – P 6; as well as two pupils in the nursery class – Christina Bakker (3) and Ryan Johnstone (3).
NHS Highland are holding a series of meetings across their area to involve members of the public in informal chats with health professionals and members of our management team. If anyone wants to come along and be listened to, ask questions or to discuss health matters, then they are more than welcome to attend.
Men are impatient, women are worried: the truth of Britain's travel nightmares. Nation-wide survey by flymycase.com reveals the nation's holiday paranoia.
In March, CASE sent the web-based business survey to a valid sample of around 500 businesses, and achieved 114 responses, a rate of 23%. This survey covers employers’ perspectives on recruitment, training and business confidence.
The Highland Council has appointed a new Planning and Building Standards Manager for Sutherland. He is Allan Todd, Team Leader, Development Control, with the Planning and Development Service at Council Headquarters, Inverness.
The second phase of the European-funded 'HIE Activity' scheme is well under way across the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network area. 'HIE Activity 2', which was approved by the Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme on the 1st of February this year (2005), runs until the end of June 2006.
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise network (HIE), today (Friday June 17), launched its new strategy 'A Smart Successful Highlands and Islands'. The document, which spells out HIE's objectives over the coming three to five years, is published in both English and Gaelic and is available online at Highlands And Islands Enterprise Network Strategy,or from any HIE network office.
Assynt Foundation is set to take over the Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates from the Vestey family, bringing the land into community ownership. The 44,400 acre estates, in Sutherland and Wester Ross, include the iconic mountains of Canisp, Suilven, Cul Mor and Cul Beg and many beautiful lochs.
The economy of the Highlands and Islands is continuing to improve, with unemployment showing a steady downward trend while population levels are rising. That was the message today (Thursday 26 May) from William Roe, chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) has announced the introduction of Business Learning Accounts (BLAs), targeting small businesses in the area. Businesses across other parts of the Highlands have already used BLAs to broaden their product range, to establish a market for new crops, for specialised survey training and to diversify and establish sector "best practice".
FAIR WAY TO SUCCESS Following the success of a pilot event last year, graduates and employers in Caithness and Sutherland are once again to be given the opportunity to meet and discuss mutual benefits. The second Graduate Fair will take place in Thurso Town Hall, on Thursday 7th April, from 4pm - 7pm.
The board of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) has been strengthened with the appointment of three new directors, who attended their first board meeting this week (Tuesday 1st March). Joining the Local Enterprise Company's board are Steve Burness, Alexander Murray and Iain Young.
A young Sutherland musician has returned to her home village and set up business thanks to assistance from her local enterprise company. Jennifer Port from Golspie is to receive start up assistance of £3,600 from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) towards establishing her business, where she will combine her skills as both a performance artist and a musical tutor.
