The constant stream of bad economic news may be influencing how people feel about spending — even when the underlying picture is not quite as gloomy as the headlines suggest. Every month brings another inflation announcement.
When even AI bosses are worried about the impact of the technology, is it any wonder the public are scared?. Analysing their major survey of British public opinion, Bobby Duffy and Elena Simperl argue that, while the risks should not be downplayed, if we want to realise the benefits of AI it is important that the public are not already set against it.
What, when, where and how we eat can signify many things. Eating healthily might impress your colleagues but doing so on a video call is unprofessional.
This lovely two-bedroom bungalow has two garages and is located in a quiet cul-de-sac in a sought- after residential area of the town. The accommodation comprises a lounge with multi-fuel burner, kitchen with electric oven and hob, two double bedrooms, bathroom with corner shower, bath, W.C.
The Scottish Government has confirmed a £3 million fund to support businesses affected by the Cairngorms wildfire. The funding package was announced today by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Tourism, Stephen Flynn, during a visit to Glenmore.
The challenge for Highland businesses is finding enough workers while maintaining a fair and legal labour market. Across rural Scotland, many businesses face the same difficult question: Where will the workers come from? Tourism businesses need extra staff during busy seasons.
For years, the UK’s student‑loan system has quietly shifted in a direction few taxpayers realise: a growing share of government‑backed loans now goes to foreign nationals living in the UK, while British students studying abroad almost never qualify for equivalent support from other countries. This imbalance is not accidental as it is the result of legal obligations, migration policy, and the financial pressures facing UK universities.
Every week, the headlines swing between economic doom and economic euphoria. One day Britain is “on the brink of recession”, the next day “growth is stronger than expected”.
The hidden economy, unfair competition and organised crime links behind the Government's enforcement drive The Government's renewed crackdown on illegal working has placed the spotlight on an issue that sits at the crossroads of immigration, employment law, business competition and organised crime. But how big is the problem? How many businesses are involved? And does illegal working simply mean someone does not have permission to work, or can it be part of something much more serious? What is illegal working? Illegal working occurs when someone works in the UK without the legal right to do so.
Two Wars Threaten to End the Interest Rate Cuts: Why Borrowers Could Face a New Squeeze The wars may be thousands of miles away, but their economic consequences could reach directly into British mortgages, business loans and household finances For borrowers who had been hoping that the long-awaited return to lower interest rates was finally under way, the latest developments bring an uncomfortable warning. The direction of travel has changed.
The famous British bicycle brand is facing administration revealing the hidden problems behind the cycling boom. For generations, the name Raleigh was almost synonymous with bicycles in Britain.
Mortgage rates are rising again just as house-price growth is almost disappearing. For anyone hoping that the UK mortgage market was finally becoming easier, the latest figures bring an unwelcome warning.
The UK government continues to demonstrate unwavering support for Ukraine as Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband unleashes his first major Russia sanctions package. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband steps up UK action against Russia, with new sanctions targeting the Kremlin’s military machine, oil and gas revenues and ageing shadow fleet.
The dollar remains king but the foundations of the global financial system may be starting to shift. For more than 80 years, the US dollar has been the world's dominant currency.
When most people think about the global economy, they picture stock markets, oil prices or inflation. Few would imagine that the value of the Japanese yen could become one of the biggest concerns for the United States.
Highland Council's financial pressures explained ahead of the by-election in East Caithness. When people hear that a council has rising debt, it can sometimes seem like a distant financial issue.
New Scottish Government report reveals a significant gap with the rest of Britain but also exposes how difficult the 2030 target will be. Scotland has a child poverty problem.
Scotland is bucking Britain's retail gloom, with Edinburgh leading the recovery. But the real test is whether millions of extra visitors will translate into lasting business growth.
New figures show Scottish agriculture enjoyed a much stronger year, but farmers know the good times can quickly change For several years Scottish farmers have faced a difficult combination of rising costs, uncertain markets, weather challenges and pressure from changing agricultural policies. But new Scottish Government figures suggest that 2025 brought a significant improvement.
Highlands and Islands fear global cost-cutting could have a very local impact. The world's biggest drinks companies may operate on a global scale, but when they start cutting costs the consequences can be felt very locally.
From the corner shop lemonade bottle to a £200 million industry PET packaging is now at the centre of a UK trade investigation For generations in Scotland, the phrase "ginger bottle" brought to mind something simple: a glass bottle of lemonade, ginger beer or juice sitting in the fridge or being returned to the shop for a small deposit. Today, the bottle may look very different.
Inverness to Wick by Train: Scotland's Hidden Scenic Journey Through the Highlands Four hours of breathtaking landscapes, dramatic coastlines and the wild beauty of Sutherland Many journeys are simply about getting from A to B. The train journey from Inverness to Wick is different.
The gap between official figures and household experience explained. For millions of households across the UK, inflation has become one of the biggest economic issues of the past few years.
A Highland Council by-election is being held for Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness following the resignation of Willie Mackay. The Notice of Election and timetable for this election will be published on the Council’s website on Friday 14 August 2026.
Scotland's iconic wild Atlantic salmon continue to face significant challenges, with a new Scottish Government assessment showing that most salmon stocks remain in poor conservation status despite decades of conservation efforts. The latest Status of Salmon in Scotland report paints a mixed picture.
Highland Businesses Offered Free Support to Cut Carbon Costs and Prepare for a Low-Carbon Economy New Climate Springboard programme aims to help SMEs understand emissions, reduce costs and plan for the future Businesses across the Highlands and Islands are being offered free expert support to help them understand their carbon emissions, reduce costs and prepare for the growing demands of a low-carbon economy. The new Climate Springboard programme, supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses, social enterprises, charities and community organisations take practical steps towards reducing their environmental impact.
We’re Hiring – Office Administrator We are looking for a friendly, well-organised person to join our team at W. & A.
A vacancy has arisen for a Principal Engineer to join our Infrastructure Programme Engineering team. This is a pivotal role at the heart of facility engineering, acting as the primary technical authority, safeguarding engineering integrity, and ensuring that critical plant and infrastructure remain safe, compliant, and fully operational throughout their lifecycle.
Do you know someone affected by hoarding. An article by Barbara Potter, Kerry Musselbrook caught our attention.
We're Hiring – Join Our Team at Reid’s Bakery! We’re continuing to grow our team and are looking for motivated, reliable people ready to take on a new challenge. If you’d like to be part of a hardworking, friendly environment where quality and teamwork matter, we’d love to hear from you.
Here at Riverside house care home we are looking to employ a full time domestic assistant to join our team, hours to be worked are 8am-2pm over five days including some weekends. Duties include dusting, hoovering, mopping and sanitizing surfaces in all areas of the home including kitchen areas, bathrooms, living spaces and bedrooms.
They are certainly not as exciting as dolphins, or as awe inspiring as eagles or even wonderful to watch like otters, but they are members of our Highland wildlife suite that are often talked about and they are both fascinating and worrying. They are ticks - animals that are part of the class of arachnids, along with spiders, scorpions, mites, harvestmen (see my blog about these harmless long-legged ones here).
See poster. Booking required.
Andy Summers, Ranger describes the efforts he and local volunteers have taken recently to help save this species. Oyster plant is one of Scotland’s northern coastal specialists, a species more at home on the cold shores of the North Atlantic and Arctic than further south.
This charming two-bedroom detached cottage is offered for sale with a range of useful outbuildings and approximately 7.5 acres of adjoining land. Ideally situated just a short distance from Wick, the property benefits from uPVC double-glazed windows and doors, external insulation, and oil-fired central heating.
Community groups invited to apply for funding to support projects that reduce waste and promote a circular economy The Highland Council is encouraging community organisations across the region to apply for the latest round of its successful Reuse and Repair Fund, which supports projects that help keep valuable materials and products in use for longer. Grants of between £2,000 and £50,000 are available to support a range of community‑led initiatives that will help people repair, reuse and upcycle materials - reducing waste and supporting a stronger circular economy.
Blargoans Ltd is currently seeking a Recruitment Manager to join our team. Recruitment Manager Opportunity Blargoans Ltd is seeking an enthusiastic, organised and proactive Recruitment Manager to join our busy team.
Must be over the age of 18. Serving tables and serving behind the bar in our Bistro.
For some of you out there this article is old hat so it is really aimed at people who may never have tried some of the old ways to save money and still make nutritious food When food prices are rising, the obvious response is to look for cheaper products. But there is another way to reduce the pressure on the household budget: Make the food you already buy go further.
See poster for all dates..
Care Assistant - Full time Join our compassionate team and make a real difference every day. We’re looking for a warm, reliable, and dedicated Care Assistant to support our residents to live with dignity, comfort, and joy.
If the Profits Leave Britain, Does It Make Us Poorer? Every time another British company is bought by an overseas investor, the same question appears. "If the profits go abroad, doesn't Britain become poorer?" It sounds like a simple question.
President Donald Trump has announced new 50% tariffs on around US$20 billion of Canadian imports, marking a major escalation in the trade dispute between the two countries. The tariffs are due to take effect on 19 August 2026 unless there is a negotiated settlement before then.
Who Owns Britain Now? A Look at Foreign Ownership of UK Businesses and Infrastructure. If you ask people whether Britain is being "sold off", the answers are likely to be passionate.
When President Donald Trump announces a new tariff, the message is usually simple. "Foreign countries will pay." But that is not quite how tariffs work.
Are Britain's Best Companies Being Sold Too Cheaply? And What Happens When the Profits Leave the UK? Hardly a week seems to pass without another well-known British company becoming the target of an overseas takeover. American investment funds.
Why Trump Keeps Using Tariffs – And Why the Whole World Pays Attention. Whenever President Donald Trump announces a new tariff, the headlines usually focus on the country involved.
If you’ve been online lately, you’ve probably seen those ads shouting “Drink THIS every morning to melt belly fat!”. They always feature a mysterious fruit, a glowing mug, and a doctor who looks suspiciously like a stock photo model named Kevin.
This lovely large four-bedroom family home is situated on the main street and is a dream home for an interior design enthusiast, as it is dated throughout and in need of modernisation. The home benefits from Upvc double glazed doors and windows throughout and has an oil-fired central heating system.
For more than 30 years, China seemed unstoppable. Its economy grew at astonishing speed with new cities appeared almost overnight and millions of people moved from the countryside into better-paid jobs.
Every week there seems to be another story about China. Chinese electric cars are becoming cheaper.
Did Scotland's Iron Age brochs form a prehistoric long-distance warning system? In this history documentary, Ashley Cowie joins Iain MacLean of the Caithness Broch Project to investigate an archaeological mystery: four enigmatic Iron Age stone towers hidden across the rugged landscape of northern Scotland. Trekking through the remote Berriedale Strath, they conduct a viewshed analysis to test a compelling archaeological hypothesis: were these monumental brochs deliberately positioned to maintain line-of-sight with one another? Their expedition reveals remarkable evidence that these towering displays of Iron Age architecture may have formed an intentional signaling network, offering new insights into prehistoric engineering, landscape planning, and regional communication..
Here at Riverside house care home we are seeking to employ a part time Laundry Assistant working 20 hours per week worked over four days, hours are two shifts 9am-1pm and two shifts 7am-1pm, for more information or to request an application form email; lynnsmith@riversidehousecarehime.com or call 01955602314.
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