Latest

For many aspiring homeowners, the dream of buying a first property has become increasingly difficult. While headlines often focus on house prices, it is now the cost of borrowing that is proving to be one of the biggest barriers to getting onto the property ladder.

Recent headlines have warned that Britain could face an increased risk of electricity blackouts as the country moves towards a cleaner energy system. Some reports have suggested the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has been sitting on a confidential report warning that the UK's electricity grid is becoming more fragile.

Young adults today have similar earnings, incomes and housing-cost burdens to people their age 10–15 years ago but worse employment rates, far higher rates of living with parents, and no real improvement in living standards compared with earlier generations. The IFS argues that the core problem is two decades of stalled productivity and wage growth, not a sudden collapse in young people’s fortunes.

For years, the UK’s non‑dom tax regime has been a lightning rod for political argument and economic prediction. Each tightening of the rules from the 2017 overhaul to the government’s latest plan to replace the system entirely was met with dire warnings that Britain’s wealthiest residents would flee en-masse.

For years, the UK’s non‑dom tax regime has been a lightning rod for political argument and economic prediction. Each tightening of the rules from the 2017 overhaul to the government’s latest plan to replace the system entirely was met with dire warnings that Britain’s wealthiest residents would flee en-masse.

Why Is Oil Falling While the Middle East Crisis Escalates? The Strange Logic of Energy Markets. Conflict headlines suggest a fuel shock but oil markets are telling a different story.

As the emergency response to the wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park continues, attention is now turning to economic recovery and supporting the businesses and people whose livelihoods have been impacted. The Highland Council through Business Gateway Highland is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Government, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Cairngorms Business Partnership as part of a multi-agency business recovery group.

Community groups across Scotland are to receive further help to cut their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions, thanks to a £10 million investment over five years from the largest community funder in the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund investment will help to fund the installation of renewable technologies like heat pumps and solar panels, as well as energy efficiency measures through the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) Community Buildings Fund.

Scotland’s onshore GDP grew by 0.6% in the three months to May 2026, compared to the three months to February 2026, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. In the three months to May, the largest positive contribution to headline GDP growth was in the Retail, Wholesale & Motor Trades sector, which contributed around 0.2 percentage points towards headline growth.

Running a business in Caithness has never been easy. The challenges facing firms today are very real: rising costs, energy uncertainty, staff shortages, higher taxes, transport difficulties and pressure on household incomes.

The UK Government's announcement of £8.4 billion of additional investment in Britain's nuclear submarine programme has understandably focused on the major shipyards and manufacturing centres in England. Yet there is another part of the country with a long and distinguished connection to the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet – one that is often overlooked.

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.

Oil prices have turned sharply upwards again, raising a question that seemed to be fading only a few days ago: could Brent crude be heading back towards $100 a barrel? On Wednesday, 29 July, Brent crude rose by more than $3 a barrel to around $87.40, while US West Texas Intermediate crude moved above $82. The rise came after three consecutive days of falling prices.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Millions of calls were likely mishandled over nearly a three-year period, preventing or delaying customers from switching away to a better deal. Investigation uncovers deliberate call-dropping tactics, excessive and unnecessary call transfers and putting customers repeatedly on hold for no reason.

Help Shape Highland's Future with Regeneration Funding The Scottish Government has announced plans to open the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) later this year, creating an exciting opportunity for projects that can make a lasting difference to communities across Highland. The RCGF is a competitive, Scotland-wide fund that supports locally developed regeneration projects.

Position: The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) is part of UHI North, West and Hebrides, Thurso, one of the academic partners of UHI. Our mission is to ‘provide dynamic leadership in research, innovation and education that advances understanding and informs management of our natural environment’.

Before the Strait of Hormuz made the evening news, most of us thought potash was a new vegan spread and phosphates were something you rinsed off your dishes. Now, half the country is debating Moroccan mineral reserves like it’s the World Cup.

Sutherland is one of Europe's great wilderness landscapes. From towering mountains and white-sand beaches to remote glens and picturesque fishing villages, it offers some of the finest scenery anywhere in Britain.

AI, energy, defence and commodities are colliding to reshape the global economy and the effects are already reaching households and businesses in the Highlands. The world economy is shifting from efficiency to constraint and from cheap abundance to strategic competition For three decades the global economy rested on a simple assumption: that supply would adjust, prices would stabilise, and globalisation would smooth out shocks.