News Archive

Highlands on a roll as visitors spend £563m

31st January 2012 from Press and Journal

VISITORS to the Highlands last year pumped hundreds of millions of pounds into the local economy – giving the region a huge vote of confidence. A new survey revealed that 97% of tourists would recommend the area as a holiday destination. More than half the 1,027 people interviewed said they…

Centre opens ahead of schedule

24th January 2012 from Press and Journal

A new multimillion-pound community centre opened its doors to the public yesterday - six weeks ahead of schedule. The £3.8million Pulteney Centre, run by Wick-based community enterprise group Pulteney People’s Project (PPP) will allow the group to have all its activities under one roof while offering several facilities which are…

£600k plan to lift North facilities

18th January 2012 from Caithness Courier

Caithness will benefit from a £600,000 investment package which is being earmarked for the North over the next five years. The Highland Council plans to make the money available for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross. Councillors have been asked to recommend the proposals at a meeting in Inverness today. If…

Scottish Chambers Of Commerce Welcome Enterprise Areas

17th January 2012 from Scottish Chambers of Commerce

The Scottish Chambers of commerce have welcomed today’s announcement by John Swinney that the Scottish Governement is creating four Enterprise Areas, over 14 sites across Scotland. Scottish Chabmers of Commerce Chief Executive Liz Cameron commented: “Scottish Chambers of Commerce welcome the Scottish Government’s sectoral approach to creating Scotland’s Enterprise Areas,…

Scottish Businesses Paying the Price for Inflationary Coincidence

17th January 2012 from Scottish Chambers of Commerce

The falling inflation rate is adding further weight to the case to mitigate the planned rise in Scotland’s business rates bills this April. Following today’s news that CPI inflation had fallen to 4.2% and RPI inflation had fallen to 4.8% in December, Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of…

Cash boost for taking on apprentice

17th January 2012 from Press and Journal

North and north-east businesses can now get up to £2,000 when they take on a young apprentice. The Employer Recruitment Incentive (Eri) is delivered by Skills Development Scotland - Scotland’s skills body - and supported by the Scottish Government. Eligibility for Eri has been broadened: it provides businesses with a…

Dounreay dome work `almost complete`

12th January 2012 from Press and Journal

A Dounreay team is close to completing one of the highest hazard clean-ups in the UK nuclear industry. Staff worked round the clock over the festive period to remain on course to destroy all the liquid metal coolant in the famous dome-shaped reactor by the end of March. Over 161…

Public land lease bid by Groats developers

6th January 2012 from John O Groat Journal

Public land at John O’Groats could be leased out to the new site developers who are aiming to make it on of the top 10 tourism destinations in the UK. Cash-strapped Highland Council has agreed in principle to hand over control of several bits of land at the historic harbour…

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