Farmers are once again having to keep a close eye on fertiliser prices, with the cost of some of the key products used to grow crops remaining well above the levels seen before the latest international disruptions. For farmers, fertiliser is not an optional extra.
Scotland's drug death figures have moved in the wrong direction again. New figures from National Records of Scotland show that 1,133 people died from drug use in Scotland in 2025, an increase of 116 deaths, or 11%, on the previous year.
Rising energy prices are a problem for households and businesses, but there is another very large energy bill that receives much less attention. Highland Council operates one of the largest public-sector property estates in Scotland, while NHS Highland runs hospitals, health centres, clinics and other facilities across an enormous geographical area.
A new employment right coming into force in April 2027 will give employees a day-one right to take bereavement leave following the death of certain close family members. There has been some confusion about whether the new rules apply across the UK, particularly because employment law can be different in Scotland in some areas.
The Highland Council’s Justice Social Work teams in Lochaber and Caithness will be hosting open days in Fort William on Tuesday 6 October and Wick on Friday 9 October 2026. The open days will provide members of the public with an opportunity to gain an insight into the Justice Service and find out more about the excellent work going on locally.
Britain is approaching a rather remarkable demographic turning point. The population is still growing, but increasingly it is not because Britain is producing more people through births.
A beautiful mid-terraced, three-bedroom (one with ensuite), stone-built home which retains many of the original features, with a large area of garden to rear. Accommodation comprises vestibule, hallway, lounge, sitting room/dining room, Ashley Ann fitted kitchen and a utility room on the ground floor, upstairs from the landing there are three bedrooms, one with ensuite and a family bathroom.
Much of the discussion about artificial intelligence and employment has become a modern tale of impending disaster. Jobs will disappear.
A new report from ParcelHero looks well beyond the familiar world of delivery vans and asks a rather intriguing question. How close are we to a world where the gap between ordering something and receiving it becomes almost invisible?.
Modern monetary theory, or MMT, is frequently attacked for supposedly saying that governments can print unlimited amounts of money, ignore inflation, abandon taxation, accumulate endless debt and destroy the value of their currency. But is that actually what MMT says?.
Vapes, Drinks and Spiking: What Young People and Parents Need to Know A recent BBC report has highlighted an issue that parents of teenagers may find worrying: the possibility of drugs being put into drinks or even vapes without the person's knowledge. It is a subject where sensible advice is more useful than alarm.
Caithness Business has not been banned from the White House. So far.
At first sight, the recent fall in the oil price seems difficult to understand. Russian oil refineries are being attacked, Middle Eastern oil supplies have been badly disrupted, the Strait of Hormuz remains far from normal and global inventories have been falling.
NHS Highland and The Highland Council are pleased to announce the launch of a new bespoke year-round transport service for renal haemodialysis patients across Highland. Funded through a grant from NHS Highland, the service marks the first phase of a new approach to patient transport delivery, designed to support the long-term development of a more sustainable, flexible and community-focused transport model for Highland.
Members of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee will meet next Monday (28 September 2026) to consider whether to progress proposals for new Short Term Let Control Areas across parts of Highland. At the special meeting, councillors will be asked to consider the findings of a public consultation on proposed control areas covering Inverness City and a wider Highland Rural area, before deciding whether the proposals should be submitted to Scottish Ministers for approval.
The price of oil is normally reported in US dollars, so when we look at Brent crude at $100 a barrel it is easy to forget that this is not necessarily the price ultimately paid by British households. For Britain there are two important variables: the price of oil in dollars and the value of the pound against the dollar.
Britain's energy costs have claimed another major industrial casualty, with chemicals giant INEOS announcing that it is suspending operations at three plants at its Saltend site near Hull. The decision affects facilities producing acetic acid, acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate.
With the October Budget now only weeks away, the speculation machine is beginning to work overtime. Almost every day brings another suggestion about what Chancellor John Healey might do.
Why Are British Electricity Prices So High? The IFS Looks Behind the Bill Britain has spent years trying to make its electricity system cleaner, but households and businesses are now paying some of the highest electricity prices in the developed world. A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) examines why electricity has become so expensive and asks whether the way Britain prices and taxes electricity needs to change.
Scotland's universities are facing a £200 million funding gap, but the figure may actually understate the scale of the problem. That is the conclusion of the first major report from a joint Scottish Government and Universities Scotland review into the long-term financial sustainability of higher education.
Scotland's independence debate is moving back to the centre of Holyrood politics, with John Swinney's Scottish Government seeking parliamentary backing for Scotland's right to decide its constitutional future. The Scottish Parliament is due to debate a motion today, 22 September 2026, which states that “Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future.” It was lodged by First Minister John Swinney on Monday 21 September.
Personal Independence Payment has become one of the fastest-growing areas of the UK welfare system. Now the Institute for Fiscal Studies is asking a more fundamental question than simply whether spending should go up or down.
Two new reports published in Scotland have put the spotlight on a question that is becoming increasingly important as government budgets come under pressure. Who actually benefits from the money spent on tackling poverty and reducing the cost of living? A new analysis by the Fraser of Allander Institute (FAI), prepared for the Poverty and Inequality Commission, examines the distributional impact of Scotland's Cost of Living Guarantee.
The Scottish Government is proposing a major reshaping of local government, with fewer regional authorities and many more community-level bodies making decisions closer to where people live. The language is about local democracy, stronger communities and bringing decisions closer to people.
Businesses and social enterprises across the Highlands and Islands are being supported to explore the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence (AI) through two new support initiatives launched today by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as part of AI Scotland. Applications are now open for the new AI Adoption Programme and AI Mentoring Support service, which are designed to help organisations understand, assess and implement AI technologies that can improve productivity, boost innovation and support growth.
Initial proposals designed to deliver fundamental reform of local governance have been set out to help shape the debate on improving public services. The possible changes, if implemented, could help achieve a better balance of decision-making powers across the public sector to ensure investment is focused on delivering improved services.
Scotland and Ireland Strengthen Economic Links Between Gaelic Communities Scotland and Ireland are developing closer links between their Gaelic-speaking communities, with housing, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, tourism and the marine economy among the areas being explored for future cooperation. The initiative was highlighted during a visit to Skye by Ireland's President Catherine Connolly, who met representatives of Highland organisations including Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Highland Council.
This doer-upper was started and now looking for a new owner to finish it. Hidden away in Beaufoy Street, this lovely stone-built property has a new fitted kitchen, oak doors fitted throughout and now needs plumbing and electrics to be finished, along with decoration.
Sutherland has had another week in which several apparently separate stories point towards the same underlying question. How does a huge rural area attract investment and economic activity while maintaining the homes, services and communities needed to support it?.
Something rather important is happening around the United States, and it may be bigger than the individual tariff announcements, political arguments or daily movements in the oil price. America is changing the way it deals with the rest of the world.
The Bank held interest rates as expected in its MPC meeting Thursday), with the real news coming from a welcome change in how it intends unwind Quantitative Easing (QE) and a gloomy outlook on the cost of living, the Resolution Foundation said today. James Smith, Chief Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said, “The Bank’s decision today to hold interest rates was welcome but expected.
The future of disability benefits is becoming one of the more difficult issues facing the UK government, with spending rising rapidly and increasing numbers of people receiving support. A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) examines what could be changed in Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the main working-age disability benefit in England and Wales.
Canada has spent generations building its economy around its huge neighbour to the south. Now it is looking across the Atlantic.
Qualified Mechanic required for maintenance and repairs for various types of vehicles. MOT Experience would be advantageous but not essential.
NUVIA UK is looking for a technically minded and proactive Dounreay Beach Monitoring Project Technician to support the delivery of the Dounreay Beach Monitoring Project and related radiological monitoring activities. This varied role combines fieldwork, instrumentation, technical data analysis, GIS mapping, equipment calibration and report writing.
We're Hiring | Experienced Chef The Pentland Hotel is looking for an experienced chef to join our kitchen team in Thurso on a Full-Time or Part-Time basis for the right candidate. We’re looking for individuals with previous experience working in a professional kitchen who are confident in a busy environment and take pride in maintaining consistently high standards.
We’re looking for friendly, reliable and enthusiastic people aged 18 or over to join us as Part-Time Bar Staff Perfect for anyone looking to work a few shifts each week, with opportunities to cover midweek, evenings and weekends. To apply or find out more, please contact Vicky at thecaithnesscollection@hotmail.com .
Food & Beverage Supervisor Ideal for an experienced and confident individual looking to work a few shifts each week while taking on additional responsibility within our food and beverage team. Whether you’re looking for a few shifts alongside other commitments or you’re ready to take the next step in your hospitality career, we’d love to hear from you.
A college + university like no other With 19 campuses and centres across the North and West Highlands, Skye, and Outer Hebrides, we cover a geographic area larger than Wales, comprising 40% of Scotland’s coastline. Our campuses and centres are located within historic towns and villages, set amongst the shorelines, mountains, and moors, with local staff working across our region to support our students and communities. Position: We are seeking a highly organised and detail-oriented Registry and Admissions Officer, with a focus on Registry, to join our Student Records team in Fort William, Thurso or Stornoway.
An entirely fictional account of what might happen if a Roman historian were suddenly transported to America in September 2026. When our Roman historian arrived in America, he was initially rather pleased.
Gingerbread House is a beautifully presented detached cottage situated in the peaceful village of Mey, close to the Castle of Mey and on the world-famous NC500 route. Currently operating as a highly successful Airbnb holiday let, the property offers an excellent opportunity as either a lifestyle business or a charming private home.
Set within generous grounds and enjoying wonderful open countryside and sea views, Kyleburn House is a substantial traditional stone-built property offering exceptionally spacious and versatile accommodation in a peaceful rural setting. Extending to approximately 357 sq m (3,841 sq ft) overall, the property provides an interesting and flexible layout that would lend itself to a variety of uses and lifestyles.
KR Properties are delighted to bring to the market this spacious two-bedroom townhouse, offering well-proportioned accommodation over two floors within an attractive traditional stone-built property. Access is via a shared main entrance door, which opens into a shared entrance hallway serving this property and one neighbouring home.
A&D Sutherland Ltd have a vacancy for a qualified second Plant Mechanic. This is based at our main quarry site in Spittal.
See poster for details..
Volunteer with Children's Hearings Scotland (CHS) and make a lasting difference in your community. Children's Hearings Scotland (CHS) is currently recruiting volunteer Panel Members across Scotland, including the Western Isles.
Pupils, parents and teachers are among those being encouraged to share their views about restricting phones in schools with the launch of a public consultation today. The Scottish Government’s consultation will inform the development of legislation to restrict phone use in schools, given concerns about the harmful effect on pupils’ education and wellbeing.
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