There is a question about fuel security that most of us probably never think about until the petrol station is empty. How many filling stations could Highland lose before everyday life began to break down? It is a particularly relevant question after what has happened in Ukraine this summer.
There is a point at which individual increases in household costs stop being individual problems and become something much bigger. A £100 increase in the annual energy bill may be manageable.
For anyone with a mortgage, business loan or other borrowing, the next decision by the Bank of England is becoming rather more interesting. Bank Rate currently stands at 3.75%, and there had been an expectation that interest rates would gradually move lower as inflation came under control.
There is a more worrying story developing beneath Britain's cost-of-living figures. Inflation may be nowhere near the 11.1% peak reached in 2022, but that does not mean households have recovered from the financial shock of the past few years.
Britain has become remarkably comfortable with discussing productivity as though it were somebody else's problem. Businesses are told they must become more productive.
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.
Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending June 2026. In the year ending June 2026: The police in Scotland recorded 323,531 crimes.
There is an increasingly important divide running through Britain's household finances. Some people are looking at the uncertain economic outlook and deciding that now is the time to build up their savings.
The energy-debt problem is becoming serious enough that ww should separate it into two different crises: household energy debt and business financial distress. The available figures suggest the household problem is much easier to measure, but there is growing evidence that energy costs are contributing to the financial pressure on small businesses.
Most of us probably assume that if we buy something from a reputable shop, website or well-known brand, it is safe. That is a perfectly reasonable assumption.
Britain is becoming a much more digital economy. We tap cards and phones to pay for coffee, use online banking rather than visiting branches and increasingly expect even small purchases to be completed electronically.
The countdown to the Budget has already begun, and Westminster's annual guessing game over taxation is becoming increasingly intense. By 28 October we will know what Chancellor John Healey has decided, but until then there is plenty of room for speculation.
Energy regulator Ofgem has today (Wednesday 26 August) announced a 4% increase of the energy price cap for the period covering 1 October to 31 December 2026. The energy price cap protects around 22 million households on default tariffs by limiting the maximum rates and standing charges that energy suppliers can charge.
The oil price falls below $89 is telling us that the oil market is currently putting more weight on the possibility of easing geopolitical tensions and weaker demand than on the very serious supply problems in the Middle East. Brent fell by more than 3% today, reaching about $89.10 a barrel, while WTI fell to about $82.08.
As Canada gets ready to counter Donald Trump Tariffs and Canadians are trying to avoid American products as new tariffs will soon b implemented. So we take look at food in the UK.
Canada could use potash as a weapon against US farmers, and it would be a particularly powerful lever because the United States is unusually dependent on Canada for this fertiliser. But there is an important twist: Canada has just chosen not to use that weapon in its latest retaliation.
£1.7 million investment in detoxification and residential rehabilitation in the Highlands and Islands. More people across the Highlands and Islands will be able to access residential rehabilitation – including dedicated detoxification services – thanks to a £1.7 million Scottish Government investment in CrossReach services in Inverness.
There was a time when free trade was regarded as one of the great economic ideas of the modern world. The argument was relatively straightforward - if countries concentrated on producing the goods and services they were particularly good at producing, and then traded freely with one another, everybody could benefit.
The latest figures suggest that the UK is moving into a "low-hire, low-fire" labour market. Businesses are not necessarily making large numbers of redundancies, but they are becoming much less willing to take on new employees.
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.
Yes. The latest development is quite a significant escalation, although it is primarily an economic threat rather than a new military ultimatum.
Scottish Government response to Sir John Elvidge’s performance review of the Scottish National Investment Bank. This review is a requirement under the Scottish National Investment Bank Act 2020 (17 August 2026).
The latest development is quite a significant escalation, although it is primarily an economic threat rather than a new military ultimatum. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced what Washington calls “Operation Economic Outcast”, a much broader campaign to economically isolate Iran.
The government announces its first wave of funding from its £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme. Families stuck without a secure home to benefit from the first wave of funding from the government’s £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme .
UK weapons and ammunition manufacturing jobs rose 51% in 2024/25, part of a wider 26,000 increase in defence-supported roles nationwide. Jobs supported by defence expenditure in weapons and ammunition manufacturing rose by 51% in 2024/25.
Gold is doing something rather interesting again. After falling sharply from the extraordinary highs reached earlier this year, the price has been climbing rapidly.
The UK Government has just announced almost £10 billion of housing funding for England, supporting the delivery of more than 70,000 new social and affordable homes. It is an eye-catching announcement, particularly because the Government says it wants to put councils back at the heart of housebuilding.
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.
There is something rather odd about the way we treat sunscreen in Britain. We know that exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause skin cancer.
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.
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.
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