Britain’s charity shops are under pressure. Oxfam is reportedly considering closing up to 100 High Street stores, after other major charities have closed theirs.
If you live in Wick and have ever been told by an online retailer that your postcode is an "island" postcode, you could be forgiven for wondering whether somebody has looked at a map. Wick is on the Scottish mainland.
The British Embassy and Crown Agents Bank brought together financial sector leaders from Guatemala and Honduras to discuss trade, investment and economic growth. The British Embassy, together with Crown Agents Bank (CAB), hosted executive breakfast discussions with financial sector leaders from Guatemala and Honduras.
10.6 million Brits are planning an overnight holiday in the UK this bank holiday, bringing an estimated £4.3 billion boost to the economy. Tourism is forecast to contribute £161 billion to the UK economy annually by 2030, supporting jobs and growth across the country.
Britain is preparing to spend substantially more on defence. Yet at almost the same time as the Government is announcing increased defence investment, one of the Royal Navy's major amphibious assault ships is being sold to Brazil.
Scotland has a population problem. The Scottish Government is increasingly clear about that as Birth rates are low, the population is ageing and some parts of the country are struggling to maintain the working-age population needed to support businesses, public services and local communities.
There is a fascinating and rather uncomfortable cultural battle taking place in Germany which deserves much more attention in Britain. It is not really about whether taxpayers should fund art.
Britain has spent years arguing about immigration, but the latest figures reveal something rather more interesting than another argument about numbers. The flow of overseas workers into Britain is falling rapidly.
Britain has a strange relationship with retirement. We spend much of our political time worrying that there will not be enough people of working age to pay for the growing costs of an ageing population, while at the same time treating a particular birthday as though it marks the end of a person's useful economic life.
Denmark has done something that should make Britain sit up and take notice. Its Parliament has legislated for the country's retirement age to reach 70 by 2040.
The next argument about technology in the workplace may not be about computers, mobile phones or artificial intelligence. It could be about spectacles.
Nationalisation has become the word British politicians dare not say, and the reason they give is always the same: it is unaffordable. They claim that just taking water back into public ownership would cost over £100 billion, but that claim is outright nonsense, and it is worth understanding exactly why.
Politics runs on promises. Build more.
There is a financial habit that many pensioners have developed over the years which is perfectly understandable: keep some money in the bank, earn a bit of interest and leave it alone. For people who have spent a lifetime saving, the attraction is obvious.
There are some government programmes whose real value is difficult to measure simply by counting the money spent or the number of items distributed. Scotland's Bookbug programme is one of them.
Rent is not just the money you pay a landlord. In economics, it means something far bigger, and far more significant.
Britain Helped Invent the Computer. So Why Is It So Difficult to Build Data Centres Here? There is something slightly strange about Britain's position in the modern data-centre race.
240 people reported more than £1 million in capital gains from cryptoassets in the 2024 to 2025 tax year official statistics show, accounting for £717 million of cryptoasset gains between them. Total taxable capital gains from cryptoassets for 17,600 individuals were £1.38 billion in the 2024 to 2025 tax year, with an average gain of £78,000 reported per individual.
There is an interesting question hiding behind the Government's latest claim about its Great British Summer Savings scheme. The Government says families have saved millions of pounds.
For generations, the university has been regarded as one of the safest institutions in Britain. Universities may have argued about funding, complained about governments and fought over student numbers, but there was always an assumption that they would still be there.
The national debt is nearing £3 trillion, and almost everything said about that claim is wrong. It is not a debt in the way a household mortgage or a credit card is a debt - it is just the nation's savings.
There may be no more appropriate time to ask Highland Council whether we need to rethink the way we remember those who have died. The Council has just launched a six-week consultation on its draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030.
Britain's Immigration Numbers Are Changing — But the Story Is More Complicated Than the Headlines Britain's immigration system is changing rapidly, but the latest official figures suggest that there is no single story that can accurately be described simply as "immigration going up" or "immigration coming down". The Home Office has published its latest Immigration System Statistics, covering the year ending June 2026, and the figures show significant falls in work visas, study visas, family visas and small-boat arrivals.
There was a time when measles was becoming something most parents in Britain barely had to think about. Vaccination had changed the picture so dramatically that measles seemed to belong to another generation.
Almost One Million Young People Are NEET — What Does It Say About Britain's Future? There is a number in today's labour market figures that deserves rather more attention than it is likely to receive. Almost one million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, employment or training.
Specsavers in Wick are looking for an enthusiastic person to join our store due to continued growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a small, hard-working team.
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.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has acquired the assets of Sutherland Spaceport Ltd (SSL) from the joint liquidators, Chad Griffin and Graham Smith of FRP Advisory. SSL was established in 2020 by Moray-based space launch company Orbital Express Ltd (Orbex), which entered administration in February this year.
There is something rather odd about the way we treat sunscreen in Britain. We know that exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause skin cancer.
Over a third of children talk or play online with people they have never met. 91% of parents use monitoring tools — but 41% of children have tried to get around them.
The Highland Council’s Justice Service teams will be hosting open days in Inverness and Golspie this September. The public are invited to open day sessions on Wednesday 9 September at Inverness Justice Centre and Thursday 10 September at Golspie Justice Services.
Britain is adopting artificial intelligence at remarkable speed. But there is an intriguing problem developing beneath the headline figures.
We are looking for part-time / relief bar staff to join our team. * Casual, part time work as and when needed * Must be able to work evenings and weekends * Must be over 18 * Full bar training can be provided If you would like to join our team, and for more info on this post, please contact our Head Steward Donna by messaging our Facebook page or pop in to the Seaforth Club and see her.
No booking required. Get ready to create..
Waiting Staff – Full & Part Time We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic and reliable Waiting Staff to join our team. We have full-time and part-time positions available, with shifts covering breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Chef de Partie – Full Time We’re looking for a passionate and reliable Chef de Partie to join our kitchen team. You’ll work alongside our Head Chef and wider kitchen team to deliver high-quality food across breakfast, lunch and dinner service.
A lovely two-bedroom cottage with two sun rooms, located on the roadside in Bilbster with enclosed mature garden grounds and views across the open countryside. Accommodation comprises vestibule, hallway, lounge, kitchen/diner, two double bedrooms, newly fitted modern shower room and two sun rooms, one to the rear and another to the side.
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.
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.
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.
Do you know someone affected by hoarding. An article by Barbara Potter, Kerry Musselbrook caught our attention.
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).
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
