Britain's Energy Handicap: How Can We Compete With America When Our Electricity Costs Twice as Much? Britain likes to describe itself as an energy superpower. We have North Sea oil and gas, some of the world's best offshore wind resources, substantial nuclear expertise, hydroelectricity, tidal potential and an electricity grid increasingly supplied by renewable generation.
Britain is spending billions supporting a power station that burns enormous quantities of wood to produce electricity. Now Drax wants to add carbon capture to the process, potentially turning one of Britain's most controversial power stations into a giant carbon-removal project.
Chair of HIE, Angus Campbell, explores how our islands are at the heart of a £100bn pipeline of investment opportunities, helping to drive economic growth, clean energy and community prosperity across the Highlands and Islands. The Highlands and Islands has long been recognised for outstanding natural assets, entrepreneurial spirit and resilient communities.
More than 150 rural 4G mast upgrades are now live, boosting mobile coverage across remote UK areas and helping walkers, visitors and communities stay connected. More than 150 government-funded 4G mast upgrades are now live across the UK through the Shared Rural Network, bringing 4G coverage from EE, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone and ThreeUK to some of Britain’s hardest-to-reach rural areas.
A total of 10 charities will receive a share of a £20 million fund in 2026-27 to deliver wide ranging support to improve wellbeing, boost incomes, and help parents towards employment as part of the Scottish Government’s drive to eradicate child poverty. The charities involved estimate that up to 35,000 families could benefit from the Scottish Government’s package of whole family support, spanning almost all of Scotland.
Millions of people will receive essential financial support before the August bank holiday weekend, as the Government has confirmed that benefit payments will be brought forward to Friday 28 August. Pension and benefit payments to be brought forward to Friday 28th August to account for bank holiday.
A vacancy has arisen for the election of a Councillor to represent Ward 3 Wick and East Caithness following the resignation of Willie Mackay. Ward 3 is a 4-member ward.
Set in a prominent location on the popular NC500 route is this well established 8-bedroom hotel (all ensuite), with public bar, lounge bar, dining room, owners’ accommodation, covered beer garden, detached garage and large commercial tarmacadam carpark. Originally a church manse, dating back to the 19th century, this impressive and substantial property boasts many original features throughout including a beautiful feature staircase, ornate cornicing, high skirtings and ceilings, and decorative internal archways.
There is something increasingly strange about Scotland's position in Britain's emerging nuclear revival. Scotland has nuclear sites.
FSA National Food Crime Unit operation leads to one arrest and the seizure of suspected illegal food products across England, Wales and Scotland. The headline sounds alarming: more than 33 tonnes of suspected illegal frozen food has been seized in a major National Food Crime Unit investigation.
I think that journalists are all asking politicians the wrong question. They should be asking every politician: “What are your priors?” Instead, they ask “How are you going to pay for it?” That's the wrong question because a person’s priors are the assumptions they bring to every debate before they even look at the evidence.
The Scottish Government has a simple and attractive message for first-time buyers: we will help you buy your first home. The newly launched First Homes Fund can provide up to £10,000 towards the purchase of a property worth up to £300,000.
Thermal cameras detect heat rather than light, making them invaluable in difficult battlefield conditions, like smoke and dust. They can spot targets at long distances and operate when traditional cameras fail.
A scheme to help people on low incomes and in priority groups buy their first affordable home has opened for applications. The Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) is available for first-time buyers and priority access groups who can’t afford the full price of a home.
Here at Riverside house care home we are looking to employ a dedicated and reliable domestic assistant to join our team. Hours to be worked are 8am-2pm covering four days including some weekends.
Here at Riverside house care home in Wick we are looking to employ full or part time care assistants to join our team. SVQ level 2 in care would be an advantage but not essential full training will be provided.
Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Ltd. is the largest crane hire and heavy lifting services company based in Caithness.
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.
The Hidden Cost of the Cost-of-Living Crisis: How Britain's Poorer Families Have Changed What They Eat and How They Use Energy There is a dangerous misunderstanding about the cost-of-living crisis. When inflation falls, we are often told that the pressure on households is easing.
The UK and Australia are boosting cooperation on radar technology, as Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP kicks off a visit to Indo-Pacific partners this week. New signing will see UK and Australian firms work together on cutting-edge radar systems, boosting growth across both countries’ defence industries.
The Next Food Shock? Why Britain's Poorer Families May Face Another Test as the 2026 Harvest Fails Britain has spent the past few years learning a painful lesson about inflation: when prices rise, they do not have to come back down when inflation falls. Food is a particularly good example.
For generations, having a garden was not simply about having somewhere to sit in the sunshine. For many Scottish families, the garden was part of the household food supply.
When the Bank of England makes an important decision about interest rates or financial stability, it is not simply looking at what is happening today. It is also asking a much more difficult question: What happens if things go wrong?.
More than 436,000 sole traders and landlords have successfully submitted their first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update. More than 436,000 sole traders and landlords have successfully sent their first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update for the 2026 to 2027 tax year.
Income tax take rises by £1.5 billion. Revenues in Scotland have increased by £6.3 billion to a record £98.3 billion, according to the Government Expenditure and Revenues Scotland statistics 2025-26.
While around 60% of women giving birth every month are vaccinated, UKHSA warns many thousands of babies still at risk. UKHSA today publishes the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) annual report which shows around 50% fewer infants under 6 months being admitted to intensive care with RSV disease in England.
Senior medics and dentists will receive an above-inflation pay uplift at the end of September, after the Scottish Government agreed to implement recommendations from an independent pay review board. Consultants, GPs, Specialty, Specialist and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors and dentists will receive a 3.5% increase for 2026-27.
There is a generation in Scotland for whom measles, mumps, whooping cough and chickenpox were simply part of childhood. Some children were seriously ill.
Professor Dennis Whyte has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of UKAEA Group. Minister for Energy welcomes Professor Whyte to the UK to become CEO of UKAEA this autumn.
More asylum hotels have been handed back to local communities, ready to reopen their doors to tourists, visitors and businesses. Thirteen more hotels have closed their doors to asylum seekers and been handed back to communities across England, marking another milestone in the government’s drive to end their use for good.
A&D Sutherland Ltd have vacancies for general labourers. The positions are based on the main Quarry site in Spittal.
Patti Bremner, the Countryside Ranger for East Caithness explains why dune systems need our protection and why recreational fires pose a real risk to these habitats. Working in an office alongside the Dunnet Bay sand dunes I have come to appreciate and respect them more and more each working day.
This 3 bedroom detached bungalow is situated in a popular residential area in Thurso. It is a few minutes walk from the coast and a short walk into town.
Some medicines can make you more sensitive to the sun or increase the risk of dehydration without you realising it. The MHRA is encouraging people to know the risks and stay protected this summer.
We are looking for a cook in our busy pub kitchen to cook pub grub. Hours are 4.30 to finish.
A story on BBC by Luke Mintz caught our attention. Read it and think hard if your children remain unvaccinated.
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.
Do you know someone affected by hoarding. An article by Barbara Potter, Kerry Musselbrook caught our attention.
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).
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.
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..
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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