Scotland's economy has shown more resilience than might have been expected in a period of geopolitical uncertainty, rising costs and continuing pressure on household finances. But the latest economic commentary from the Fraser of Allander Institute comes with an important qualification.
Andy Burnham's first Labour conference speech on 29th September 2026 as Prime Minister contained a major announcement for millions of pensioners, although the headlines about the “end of the triple lock” do not tell the whole story. Burnham announced that the existing State Pension triple lock will remain in place until April 2030.
Women going through the menopause are being offered an ever-growing range of supplements promising to help with hot flushes, poor sleep, mood changes, brain fog, tiredness and a host of other symptoms. But new research raises an uncomfortable question: are some women paying hundreds of pounds a year for products that offer little more than a much cheaper ordinary multivitamin? The answer is not that all menopause supplements are useless.
America's car-finance market is beginning to attract attention for a reason that will sound familiar to anyone who remembers the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008. People are borrowing large sums to buy increasingly expensive vehicles.
Scotland is considering one of the biggest changes to local government for a generation. The Scottish Government has proposed replacing the existing 32 councils with between six and ten regional authorities, alongside somewhere between 120 and 160 community authorities.
Andy Burnham's first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister contained far more than the announcement that the pension triple lock will be changed from 2030. The pension announcement grabbed most of the headlines because it potentially affects millions of older people.
British households have not even reached the October energy price rise yet, but there is already another increase looming on the horizon. Ofgem has confirmed that the energy price cap will rise by 4% from 1 October, taking the annualised bill for a typical household paying by direct debit from £1,663 to £1,723.
Something rather important is happening in the American economy. Consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level in more than 12 years, while the labour market is showing signs of becoming increasingly cautious and Britain is displaying some remarkably similar symptoms.
Inverness will welcome government representatives, investors, business leaders and economic development partners later this week as it hosts the Scottish Cities Alliance Autumn Investor Event. A two-day programme designed to showcase investment opportunities across Inverness, the Highlands and Scotland's city regions.
When you think about El Niño, the last thing you might expect it to affect is the price of a pair of trainers in a shop in Wick, Thurso or Inverness. Yet there is a surprisingly long chain connecting an unusually warm Pacific Ocean with the price of everyday goods in Britain.
Dog owners across Scotland need to be aware of a change in the law coming into force on 1 November 2026. Despite much of the publicity about the new rules being generated south of the border, the change does apply in Scotland.
Andy Burnham is putting a much bigger question on the political agenda than simply how Britain runs its electricity grid. His proposals point towards greater public control of essential services including energy, water, transport and housing.
For millions of pensioners, the State Pension has suddenly become part of a much bigger political argument. The immediate message is reassuring.
There have been headlines suggesting that households with more than £12,000 in savings could face new charges. That sounds alarming, particularly at a time when many people are trying to build up an emergency fund rather than spend everything they have.
Britain has a strange energy problem. We produce large quantities of renewable electricity, yet households and businesses continue to face some of the highest energy costs in Europe.
The Highland Council has agreed to submit proposals for two Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCAs) to Scottish Ministers following extensive public consultation and consideration by local area committees. At today’s special meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee (28 September), Members approved the submission of proposals for: An Inverness City Short Term Let Control Area, covering Inverness and surrounding areas; and A Highland Rural Short Term Let Control Area, covering Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness South, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Lochaber, Skye and Raasay, and Sutherland.
For most British motorists, the immediate problem with diesel is the price. The average UK price has now reached a record 199.18p a litre, pushing the cost of filling an average family car to almost £110.
For anyone who remembers working life a few decades ago, lunchtime was fairly simple. You worked through the morning, stopped for lunch, and then went back to work.
The energy price cap changes again on 1 October, and households are being told to expect another increase in their bills. But the most useful question isn't simply how much the cap is going up.
Virgin Media is putting a new cost on keeping some long-established email addresses. But is this the start of a wider change?.
Chancellor John Healey used his first Labour Party conference speech as Chancellor to set out an ambition for what he called a “new age of industrialisation”, with government spending, defence and British manufacturing placed at the centre of his economic strategy. For Scotland, there was an important announcement.
If you think your energy costs are high now, the situation may be about to get a whole lot worse. With traffic in the Strait of Hormuz – normally the primary route for oil leaving the Middle East – hovering below 15% of prewar levels, oil prices have increased from US$65 a barrel before the conflict in Iran began in February 2026 to more than $100 a barrel in mid-September.
American universities have long attracted some of the brightest students from around the world. But international students considering studying in the United States now have another question to ask alongside tuition fees, accommodation and the quality of the university: how certain is my future once I get there?.
For years, one of the simplest pieces of advice given to car owners was: check when your cambelt is due and change it before it breaks. It was usually a straightforward figure.
The Last Landline Users Could End Up Paying More as Britain Goes Digital For generations, having a telephone in the home was regarded as almost as essential as having electricity or running water. That is changing rapidly.
Smokers and vapers are about to face another increase in the cost of their habit, but this time the change is particularly significant because the Government is introducing a completely new tax on vaping at the same time as increasing tobacco duty. From 1 October 2026, Vaping Products Duty will come into force at £2.20 for every 10ml of vaping liquid.
Walk through almost any British town centre and you can see the evidence of change. There are empty shops where there were once businesses.
There are times when a story from thousands of miles away makes you look at your own garden slightly differently. Reports from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky describe residents facing such severe shortages of food that some have reportedly been eating plants growing in their gardens that most of us would simply call weeds.
Five place based residencies across Caithness and Sutherland. The Caithness and Sutherland Culture Collective Partnership invites applications for five artist residencies, each rooted in a different locality and hosted by a partner organisation.
Kennel Assistant Donald S McGregor & Partners, Thurso are looking for a proactive and hardworking Kennel Assistant to join our team. We are looking for someone who takes pride in maintaining high standards, is organised and reliable, and enjoys working as part of a busy veterinary team.
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.
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.
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?.
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.
Canada has spent generations building its economy around its huge neighbour to the south. Now it is looking across the Atlantic.
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 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.
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 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 .
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.
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.
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.
3 bedroom gas central heated double glazed property with kitchen bathroom and WC on 1st floor..
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..
Caithness Forums
What's On in Caithness
Property For Sale
Property For Rent
Sutherland Property
Planning Notices
Who Is Building?
Submit Your Details
Other Enquiries
