Scotland's next Budget will not be short of money in headline terms. But that does not mean the Scottish Government will have an easy time deciding where the money goes.
Community development trusts can do remarkable things for rural communities. But as they take on more responsibilities and public money, there is a bigger question: who are they ultimately accountable to? A recent Highlands and Islands Enterprise event in Lairg brought around 20 development trusts from Caithness and Sutherland together to discuss housing, planning, funding, digital technology and artificial intelligence.
BBC's £500 million savings programme shows there is now quite a lot more detail than when it was first announced. The BBC says the aim is roughly a 10% reduction in costs, with the programme running over the next few years.
Innovation has always been a defining characteristic of businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands. Whether developing new products, finding ways to overcome the challenges of distance and geography, improving services, or identifying new markets, organisations across the region have a long track record of adapting and evolving.
If you have tried to book a private flu vaccination in the UK this autumn, you may have discovered something rather surprising. The vaccine is not necessarily available when you want it.
New buyer enquiries remain weak, with the net balance slipping from -18% to -22% in September. While this is still some way above the -41% recorded six months ago, it shows prospective buyers remain cautious about making a large financial commitment.
Debt is usually presented as a personal problem. You borrowed the money, so you have to pay it back but if the mortgage is too large, the credit card is running up a balance or the car finance is eating into the monthly budget, the obvious answer seems to be to borrow less.
Morven Fancey, Head of housing, skills and population with Highland and Islands Enerprise looks a Childcare. Investing in childcare is an investment in people, in communities and in the long-term success of the Highlands and Islands and the region’s contribution to Scotland’s economy.
Trading Standards regularly issues warning about scams. Now they have provided a very useful advice list.
For anyone who has ever worried about their bank details, passport or driving licence falling into the wrong hands, the latest Revolut data breach makes uncomfortable reading. The issue is not simply that criminals hacked into a bank and stole information.
Britain has a problem involving almost one million young people, and the Government has decided it would rather discuss the problem after the Budget than before it. The final report of the Alan Milburn review into young people and work has been delayed until after the Autumn Budget.
Britain and Israel have been close allies for decades, but relations have now deteriorated to the point where a relatively small trade restriction has triggered a major diplomatic confrontation. The immediate dispute is over Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Two days ago we reported that Britain had roughly 40 days of diesel stocks. So has that now fallen to 38 days? Not necessarily.
The big pressures on prices right now do not give any comfort to anyone especially buying diesel or heating oil. The combination of several factors are pushing prices again.
A political row in Washington could eventually make it more expensive to borrow money in Britain. That sounds unlikely.
Highland Council's South Planning Applications Committee has given the proposed Glen Earrach pumped storage hydro scheme a major boost, raising no objection to a project that could become one of the biggest infrastructure developments the Highlands has seen for decades. But this is not the final approval.
There is something increasingly strange about Britain's energy price cap. Every few months the announcement arrives telling households what the new cap will be.
Boots has a new owner but this time the change of ownership comes with an important difference. The buyer is not another American private-equity group looking to restructure the business and eventually sell it on.
When we hear that oil is above $100 a barrel, most people understand what that means. But there is another price rising rapidly which is much less visible.
A warning light is flashing across the Atlantic. The interest rate on the most common US home loan has climbed to 7.49%, its highest level in almost three years.
The past five years of a near-continuous cost of living crisis have caused the real incomes of typical working-age households to fall rather than grow. This has left them £2,900 (7.9 per cent) worse off this year compared to a world of normal inflation, according to new analysis published today (Thursday 8 October 2026) by the Resolution Foundation.
The Scottish Government has appointed another trade and investment envoy, this time to the United Arab Emirates. Ronnie Graham, managing partner of Winston Taylor's Dubai office, has been appointed to promote Scotland's interests in the UAE and help Scottish companies build relationships in the market.
Britain's argument over Rosebank and Jackdaw has just become rather bigger. It is no longer simply a question of whether two North Sea oil and gas developments should be allowed to proceed.
Britain's car market is undergoing a rather remarkable change. Chinese car brands that were barely visible on British roads a few years ago are now becoming increasingly difficult to miss.
For years, one of the attractions of buying an electric car has been the prospect of lower running costs. No petrol or diesel to buy, no fuel duty and, until recently, no vehicle tax.
For years, savers have had to put up with the feeling that their money was doing very little for them. Interest rates eventually rose, but inflation often rose faster.
With the Budget less than three weeks away, homeowners, tenants and landlords are all wondering the same thing: will they be asked to pay more? For many people, the answer may not come from one dramatic new tax. It could instead come through a combination of mortgage costs, property taxes, rental rules, energy bills and changes to the taxation of property income.
Rosebank, primarily an oil field west of Shetland, and Jackdaw, a gas field east of Aberdeen, were both previously approved. Those approvals were subsequently challenged successfully in court because the original assessments did not properly account for the emissions created when the oil and gas were eventually burned.
Britain is being encouraged to become better prepared for emergencies, with households advised to keep supplies of food and water that could see them through several days. That sounds sensible enough.
RG SetSquare has a requirement for multiple HGV Drivers required for an ongoing assignment with our client. 6 month contract.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join QS, supporting UHI North, West & Hebrides with examinations. QS are looking to recruit a Depute Chief Invigilator to be responsible for supporting the Chief Invigilator (CI) with the organisation and supervision of invigilation for National Qualifications, in accordance with QS policy and procedures.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join QS, supporting UHI North, West & Hebrides with examinations. QS are looking to recruit an Invigilator to undertake the duties of invigilation for National Qualifications, in accordance with QS policy and procedures.
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.
Bacon has suddenly become a rather more complicated item on the shopping list. Should we worry about nitrates and nitrites? Is nitrate-free bacon healthier? And if supermarkets are now selling bacon without added nitrites, is it worth paying extra for it?.
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.
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.
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.
Canada has spent generations building its economy around its huge neighbour to the south. Now it is looking across the Atlantic.
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 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.
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 .
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..
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
