Musical evening and culture to celebrate 10th anniversary of occupying the building..
Consumer behaviour indicators showed increased activity in the latest week, with aggregate UK spending on credit and debit cards increasing by 1% compared with the previous week and transactions at Pret A Manger stores increasing in 9 of the 10 location categories; meanwhile, overall retail footfall remained broadly unchanged. (Bank of England CHAPS, Pret A Manger, MRI OnLocation).
Britain needs to increase investment in its power sector four-fold over the next decade to deliver the crucial next step in decarbonising the economy. But promises that electrifying our home heating and driving will lead to lower energy costs have relied on the pre-energy crisis low interest rates world returning, and we need a plan for paying for this investment in case interest rates stay at current high levels, according to new research published on Monday 22 April 2024 by the Resolution Foundation.
Consumers looking to switch their current account will find switching cash perks have vanished. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk compares some of the most attractive current account packages for consumers to consider.
The latest results suggest business conditions remain challenging but estimates since January 2024 show small signs of improvement for some measures. More than one in five (22%) trading businesses reported that their turnover had decreased in March 2024 compared with February 2024, while 16% reported their turnover had increased; these figures are broadly stable with February 2024.
While the UK's economic outlook is expected to remain modest this year, growth is predicted to build throughout 2024. That is before accelerating in 2025 thanks to falling inflation, higher consumer spending and anticipated reductions in interest rates, according to the new EY ITEM Club Spring Forecast.
Retail sales volumes (quantity bought) were estimated to be flat (0.0%) in March 2024, following an increase of 0.1% in February 2024 (revised from 0.0%). Within retail, sales were mixed, with automotive fuel and non-food stores sales volumes rising by 3.2% and 0.5%, respectively.
Thousands of voters in the May local elections are at risk of being disenfranchised because of "cynical" rule changes that make photo ID compulsory, Labour's metro mayors argue. Mayors including Sadiq Khan in London, Tracy Brabin in West Yorkshire and Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester have come together to raise awareness of changes they say are a "brazen assault on our democracy".
In 2022, there were 10,048 deaths (16.6 per 100,000 people) from alcohol-specific causes registered in the UK, the highest number on record. The number recorded in 2022 was 4.2% higher than in 2021 (9,641 deaths; 14.9 per 100,000) and 32.8% higher than in 2019 (7,565 deaths; 11.8 per 100,000), the last pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic year.
Borrowing - the difference between public sector spending and income - was £11.9 billion in March 2024, £4.7 billion less than in March last year. Borrowing in the financial year ending (FYE) March 2024 was provisionally estimated at £120.7 billion, £7.6 billion less than in the same twelve-month period a year ago but £6.6 billion more than forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
UK trade trends have been volatile over recent years following a range of overlapping economic and trade shocks. UK export growth has become increasingly dominated by services since 2010, with goods exports increasing by just 7% in real terms, compared with services exports growing by 63% over the same period.
Wick St Fergus Church proposes to hold a free event, open to the public, with the primary purpose being to increase awareness of all the work that goes on in Wick and East Caithness by the many diverse, local, voluntary organisations. It is intended that it will take place some time in the middle of this year, on a Saturday afternoon for 2 - 3 hours and to encourage the community to pop in there will be two showings of ‘My Kind of Town' about Wick.
See poster.
Eventually, most adults reach a point where we realize we are out of touch with those much younger than us. Perhaps it is a pop culture reference that sparks the realization.
A talk organised by Caithness Family History Society about Wick's well-known Trinkie Swimming Pool. Catherine Patterson of the Trinkie Heritage Preservation Group will give the talk..
A talk organised by Caithness Family History Society. David Macadam will talk about his ancestors who were millers at Watten Mill for five generations..
Event held to raise money for Caithness riding for disabled.
See poster for details..
A friend of mine, on a recent trip to the gym, declined to use the machine for drying his trunks - that gym equivalent of a salad spinner which removes excess water from your swimming costume. His reason? The amount of "faecal excrement" it was likely to contain.
There are a number of new employment laws coming into effect this month that charities need to be aware of. Tracy Madgwick, lead HR consultant with Action Planning, rounds them up.
NHS Highland is seeking to recruit two independent members to the Highland Health and Social Care Committee. Gerry O'Brien, Chair of the committee, said: "The committee has a wide range of responsibilities for health and social care services across the Highland Council area and it is essential that we have the public's input to the decisions it makes.
18 years and ovr..
Thursday 25 April Friday 26 April Saturday 27 April 10.30am to 3.30pm each day.
See poster..
Come and join us for an afternoon of author talks! JD Kirk and Neil Lancaster will be talking about all things books and how they got to be where they are now. There will also be time to answer any questions you might have.
Come and have a go at traditional printmaking with Katie Squires, use Katie's own pre made lino print stamps and blocks with colourful inks to make your own prints. ‘I am a self-taught printmaker based in Caithness.
For beginners and music enthusiasts interested in exploring lyric writing and poetry, this workshop is an introduction to the basics of writing a song. Part 1 of a 4 part songwriting series, this workshop explores different techniques for putting pen to paper when writing a song.
A joint initiative between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Football Association is supporting low-income families. Launched by the First Minister with a £2million Scottish Government investment last year, the programme provides before-school, after-school and holiday activities for around 2,700 children each week.
Gates open to members of the public at 7.30am, the show normally runs until around 5pm. Friday 19th July â Equestrian Events from 10am and gates open at 4pm for the preview evening which normally runs to around 9pm..
Wick Gala Week 27 July to 3 August 2024. .
The Games is the premiere sporting event in the North of Scotland. The prize money of nearly £18,000 is one the best in Scotland and attracts the countryâs best amateur and professional competitors.
Another awesome free workshop for kids! This is going to be lots of fun! ðð If you have a budding artist in your home, book them on to come and have a go at some graffiti art at the Greenhouses gardens. ð» Places are limited - and booking is recommended early - as we think this is going to be popular.
"For the decades of pain that you have suffered, I offer today a sincere and heartfelt and unreserved apology. We were wrong." One year ago, on March 22 2023, the then first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, stood up at Holyrood and said sorry for the Scottish government's role in historic forced adoptions.
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The newly relaunched Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced a landmark collaboration with the renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe which will open up the Film Festival programme in new venues across the city including non-traditional cinema spaces at Summerhall and the heart of the Fringe footprint. From August 15 to August 21 2024, the 77th edition of EIFF will see film embedded in the August festival ecosystem, allowing audiences to seamlessly experience the best of the Fringe along with the world-class programme of cinema at EIFF.
Wick's Town and County Hospital's Garden took receipt of a replacement boat which was renovated and repaired by Wick Community Payback clients. The boat was donated to the hospital by Community Payback Supervisor Bob Miller and repaired and re-painted in the Community Payback workshop in Wick.
Chaidh ainmeachadh gun tèid 22mh Duaisean Ceòl Traidiseanta na h-Alba aig MG ALBA a chumail ann an Cathair-bhaile Inbhir Nis, a' toirt spionnadh mòr dhan eaconamaidh ionadail. Thug Mgr Thoumire, Stiùiriche Cruthachail Hands Up for Trad, seachad an deagh naidheachd do Bhuill aig Comataidh Gàidhlig na Comhairle.
Caithness Voluntary Group has moved to a new home. Leaving Telford Street to go to Pulteney House.
Gheibh na ceudan de dh'òigridh ann an coimhearsnachdan air feadh Alba cothrom a dhol an sàs ann am Fèisean a’ tachairt rè shaor-làithean na Càisge eadar Nis, Port Rìgh, Inbhir Nis, An t-Òban, Obar Dheathain agus Glaschu. Bidh iad a’ faighinn oideachadh luachmhor ann an ceòl traidiseanta, dràma, òrain Ghàidhlig, dannsa agus ealain bho luchd-teagaisg air leth comasach.
A chance to hear a discussion about rural health. Without a doubt, one of the most important discussions we will host in 2024.
UK artists will earn new royalties when their work is resold in Australia through the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement. UK creative sector set for boost as new measures ensure British artists are paid fairly when their work is resold Down Under.
As the number of adverts on digital platforms promoting illegal waste collection services hits an all-time high, Scotland's environmental regulator is tackling environmental criminality in the online world. The digital regulation pilot led by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has already identified that between 50 to 60% of businesses advertising on social media could be breaking the law by operating without holding the required waste carrier licence - and people handing over their waste may be contributing to flytipping and other waste crime.
The Scottish Government is currently conducting a substantial review of permitted development rights (PDR) as part of its wider planning reform programme. The review is being taken forward on a phased basis, with each phase focusing on new and extended PDR for specific types of development.
The number of overdue invoices in Scotland reached a 16-month high in February, according to new research from R3, the UK's insolvency and restructuring trade body. R3's analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows that business in Scotland had 428,824 unpaid invoices on their books last month - the highest monthly total since October 2022’s figure of 593,114.
Residents joined local artists to celebrate completion of the community-led Wick Lanes Pocket Places project in the town this week. The project has seen the installation of a series of durable, long-lasting interventions in and around the lanes to bring life and colour back to the area.
Scotland's culture and creative sector will be helped to flourish on the world stage with the launch of Inspiring Connections: Scotland's International Culture Strategy 2024-30, according to Culture Secretary Angus Robertson. The strategy sets out the value of international activity to Scotland's culture and creative sector.
Orbex, the only UK owned orbital launch services and rocket manufacturing company, has successfully patented its REFLIGHT reusable rocket technology following patent approval in several European markets as well as the United States. This protection was based on the patent grant by the European Patent Office.
A new high-quality toilet facility to help alleviate pressures at Gairloch has now opened. The project was brought to fruition by a community partnership driven by Gairloch Area Development Ltd, supported by The Highland Council and Visit Scotland.
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