A to Z search of keyword metadata

Innovation Exploiting new business ideas

Research and development Expert insights for the community

In-migration 2003 Research among in-migrants to three parts of the Highlands and Islands (Arran, Wester Ross and Skye and Raasay) was undertaken in 2003.

LEC postcode breakdown postal codes clarifying the breakdown of trainees from RACE between the new Inverness and Skye LEC areas

Make global connections One of our key aims is the development of new links between the Inverness and East Highland area and the rest of the world.

Jim Hughes Sky's the limit for ChipsAway Ex-weapons technician Jim Hughes ...

John Shaw Moray tyre business takes a firm grip Ex-aircraft ground ...

Research findings A survey was conducted during the jobs fair and key findings are published here.

Andy Tesch Movements Controller, Andy Tesch “I’d say to any RAF ...

Mark Pilkington Networking the key for business services After 37 years ...

Case Studies Leaving the RAF? Are you looking for employment? Whether your ...

Alan MacLennan Squadron Leader, Alan Maclennan “Once you’ve made the ...

Jobs fair New Directions – the dedicated Moray Jobs Fair, 26 April 2006, brought together employers and RAF leavers.

Richard Allen Warrant Officer, Richard Allen “I decided I wanted ...

Communications The area has high quality road, rail, air and sea links. Future growth, however, will depend on helping to create better transport and communication links.

Developing rail services This page outlines HIE's work to improve rail passenger and freight services in our region, and links to some useful reports.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise Services provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise include support for high growth businesses, workplace training and development, assistance for community and cultural projects and measures for environmental renewal. These activities are primarily delivered by local area teams. Whether you are looking for business finance, community broadband solutions or simply browsing our job vacancies, we hope you enjoy exploring our website.

live sales help Sales help online

RSS news feeds HIE is now providing RSS feeds of its main news page, and e-business and Hi-Arts news.

Time for a change? "If a small firm has been trading for some time and has fallen into a rut, a relaunch can provide the best opportunity to turn things around," says Kathryn Hughes, adviser for Business Link ...

Recent LEF documents The LEF agrees an action plan with the Scottish Executive. You can download key Local Economic Forum documents here.

I'm struggling to get a bank loan... Small firms are often viewed by the banks as high-risk borrowers and find it tough to get loans at the best of times. During economic uncertainty - such as that caused by interest-rate rises ...

weakest link Best practice for link exchanges

Case study: How referrals benefit my business THE ISSUE: How to generate more business. THE SOLUTION: "I set up Affinity with my business partner in 2000. Referrals have been responsible for many of the jobs we've done. "In the wedding ...

Word of mouth Referrals are recommendations about your services or products made by satisfied customers to others. Their power is greater than any paid-for form of marketing or advertising because they are highly ...

My premises have been hit by disaster... If your premises are hit by a disaster, you are not alone: according to the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) nearly one in five businesses suffers a major disruption every year. This could be ...

Recruiting overseas staff "There are lots of reasons to recruit people from abroad," argues the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) international manager Frances Wilson. "Overseas candidates ...

A member of my team has handed in their notice... Staff turnover is a fact of life for any business, and even your most dedicated employee will want to move on to a fresh challenge eventually. It might be a surprise when a key member of your team ...

Helping hands Work placements come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from internships linked to universities to informal arrangements with people who knock on your door. But they all give you an opportunity to ...

Is this your problem? I need to make sure my recruitment advertisement is legal and effective...Taking on an employee is a major step for all business, but recruiting the right person is particularly crucial to a small ...

Non-executive directors Non-executive directors (NEDs) work with other directors to guide a company to long-term growth. Gerald Powell, senior partner at Ernst & Young, London, explains: "A non-executive director ...

Recruitment Jobs with Lochaber Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise - and other jobs in the Lochaber area.

10 ways to... set up a green supply chain Selecting and managing your suppliers so you receive the most environmentally friendly products and services can reduce your costs, underpin a positive PR strategy, and increase your customer base. ...

Case study: How we became an eco-friendly business THE SOLUTION: "Our managing director, Mandie Kemp, set up the company in 1995, since when it has grown to employing 14 staff. In 2003, Mandie decided both the business and the environment would ...

Green is good Helping the environment and running a profitable business do not have to be mutually exclusive. Saving energy, recycling and reducing pollution can cut your operating costs; capitalising on their PR ...

Non-hazardous waste disposal: your obligations Businesses generating hazardous waste are accustomed to following strict rules governing disposal. Since 31 March 2007, the Landfill Regulations 2003 (Scotland) have obliged firms to "treat" ...

Q&A: How do I manage flexible working? Lynette Swift (LS) is managing director of flexible-working consultancy Swiftwork. She talks to Tom Whitney about the benefits. What is flexible working? LS: "It's a work pattern that includes ...

10 ways to... assess if 2006 was a good year for your business With the year drawing to a close, now is a good time to look back and reflect on what your business has achieved over the past 12 months. Use these indicators to find out how 2006 was for you You ...

My employee has lied on their CV... One thing you can guarantee when recruiting is that some applicants will try to mislead you about their skills, experience, references or qualifications. In fact, according to Risk Advisory Group ...

Case study: How referrals benefit my business THE ISSUE: How to generate more business. THE SOLUTION: "I set up Affinity with my business partner in 2000. Referrals have been responsible for many of the jobs we've done. "In the wedding ...

Word of mouth Referrals are recommendations about your services or products made by satisfied customers to others. Their power is greater than any paid-for form of marketing or advertising because they are highly ...

Background Access to land is a vital resource in the development of sustainable rural communities.

Our work with communities Here you can learn about how we can help in community land and community energy issues, arts, culture, heritage and more.

refreshing pages Refreshing your web site content

Case study: How refurbishing our workplace has benefited my business THE ISSUE: To increase productivity and generate new business by improving the workplaceTHE SOLUTION: "Our business designs and builds office interiors, but it was a couple of years before I ...

Euromontana The European multisectoral association for co-operation between and development of mountain territories.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise Services provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise include support for high growth businesses, workplace training and development, assistance for community and cultural projects and measures for environmental renewal. These activities are primarily delivered by local area teams. Whether you are looking for business finance, community broadband solutions or simply browsing our job vacancies, we hope you enjoy exploring our website.

Register of Interests HIE Skye Wester Ross Board Memebers Register of Interests

Director's Interests Information to follow ...

I'm feeling completely stressed... If you're constantly feeling tired, irritable and anxious, you could be suffering from work-related stress. The long-term effects can include depression, high blood pressure and heart disease, so it ...

10 ways to... Be a more environmentally-friendly business According to research from the Carbon Trust, an average office-based business wastes £6,000 per year by leaving equipment on at weekends and bank holidays. The message is clear - being more ...

Age discrimination at work is outlawed. The new rules affect every stage of the employment process: recruitment, terms and conditions, training, promotion, transfers, retirements and dismissals. The idea behind the regulations is that it ...

Age-discrimination pension rules now in force Employers need to be aware of the new age-discrimination legislation applicable to pension schemes, in force from 1 December. As previously reported in Legal Alert 34 and 35, the use of ...

Annual holiday entitlement to increase Employers need to plan now for their employees' increased holiday entitlement which applies from this October. The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR - formerly ...

April 2009 maternity and paternity rights now delayed New rules that extend statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance and statutory adoption pay from 39 weeks to a year and that give Additional Paternity Leave and Pay to fathers are unlikely to come ...

Avoiding unfair commercial practices Very few businesses set out to coerce or mislead people into buying something they don't really need, and unscrupulous, over-zealous and uninformed traders are held in check by a raft of consumer ...

Book temporary workers online Businesses that need short-term staff to cope with peaks of activity will welcome the new initiative, backed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, called 'Slivers-of-Time'. The scheme ...

Businesses may need to act to avoid age discrimination against directors Companies may need to make special provision for directors under the new age discrimination laws that are due to come into force this October. One key element in the new Regulations is that the ...

Case law: age discrimination claim on retirement fails Employers will welcome a recent tribunal decision on the way in which the age discrimination rules that came into force last October (2006) are applied to retirement. The tribunal decided that a ...

Case law: agency workers not entitled to statutory sick pay Employers are not liable to pay statutory sick pay to agency workers on contracts lasting less than three months, following a recent Court of Appeal ruling. An agency worker was engaged by an ...

Case law: anonymity of witnesses in disciplinary proceedings A recent decision offers useful guidance on the ability - or otherwise - of an employer to preserve the anonymity of an employee who provides evidence as part of a grievance ...

Case law: can an agency worker ever be an employee? Businesses that use temporary workers supplied by an agency will welcome two recent decisions heard by the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The issue raised in the first case was whether a worker ...

Case law: clarifying the criteria for patentability of inventions Businesses will welcome a recent decision of the Court of Appeal, which gives a clear indication of the principles on which patent disputes will be resolved. The Court of Appeal decision related ...

Case law: clearer definition of 'same job' on return from maternity leave A recent decision on what 'the same job' means in relation to an employee returning from maternity leave provides welcome guidance for employers. A schoolteacher, returning from maternity leave, ...

Case law: confidentiality and non-competition clauses Employers will be encouraged by a recent decision upholding a confidentiality agreement and non-competition clause contained in an employee's contract of employment. The employee left a company ...

Case law: consistency when disciplining or dismissing employees A recent legal decision has clarified that employers can ...

Case law: 'consumer' protection does not apply to bonus paid to employee Employers will welcome a recent Court of Appeal ruling, which confirms that the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (the 1977 Act) does not apply to contracts of employment. The court heard the case ...

Case law: contract of employment implied for agency worker Businesses that use agency workers or independent contractors, with a view to reducing their employment obligations, need to review the terms on which they do so, following a recent Court of Appeal ...

Case law: contracts by email A recent case has highlighted the need for businesses to be vigilant when concluding contracts by email. In this case, an email containing the offer of a personal guarantee of £25,000 was ...

Case law: defending equal-pay claims Businesses taken to employment tribunal for paying men and women unequally will find it easier to justify the difference in pay following a recent Court of Appeal case - unless the reason for ...

Case law: dismissal after secret filming of "sick" employee fair A recent case gives useful guidance on how to deal with workers suspected of malingering. Following an anonymous tip-off by a co-worker, an employee off sick with long-term back problems was ...

Case law: 'dismissal letter' guidance under statutory grievance procedure Employers should ensure that reasons for dismissal given in dismissal letters to employees are sufficiently clear and detailed, to avoid the risk of an unfair dismissal claim. The Employment ...

Case law: duty of care relating to waste Businesses that place controlled waste refuse on public land or highways for collection risk prosecution unless they comply with guidelines concerning collection times. In a recent High Court ...

Case law: dyslexia is a disability Employers must take all steps to identify, and make reasonable adjustments for, any employee with dyslexia in order to avoid disability discrimination claims. In a recent case, a police officer, ...

Case law: employee unfairly dismissed for insulting emails Businesses need to have clear procedures for dealing with complaints about email insults, in the light of a recent tribunal decision. An employment tribunal has recently held that an employee who ...

Case law: employee's contacts list may be 'company property' Businesses need to make sure that their employees cannot take a business contacts list with them if they leave to go to a new job, even if they brought part of the list with them when they ...

Case law: employees' negligence can affect employers' health and safety liability A recent court ruling may help employers who face health and safety claims when employees have not followed correct procedures. Under the health and safety legislation, employers are required 'to ...

Case law: employer cannot rely on evidence after the ruling to reverse it An employer cannot rely on evidence gathered after an Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has already ruled that a dismissal was unfair. An employee accused of poaching customers was held to have ...

Case law: employer liable for bullying and harassment at work Businesses may be held liable for bullying or harassment by their employees in the course of their work, the House of Lords ruled recently. An NHS Trust employee complained that he was being ...

Case law: employer liable for indirect racial discrimination An employer has been found liable for racial discrimination following a racist remark made by a supervisor which was overheard by another employee. Businesses must have clear policies on all ...

Case law: employer liable for injury caused by 'work equipment' Employers, especially those who occupy shared buildings, may be liable for injuries caused to their staff in common areas even in circumstances they thought were beyond their control. In a recent ...

Case law: employer liable for stress claim even where it offered counselling service Two recent cases show that employers must be fully aware of the duty of care that they owe to their employees if they are to defend stress claims successfully. In one case, heard by the Court of ...

Case law: employer pays out £800,000 in workplace bullying case Managers have received another stark reminder of the need to take their responsibilities concerning bullying and harassment at work very seriously, as one employer is forced to pay £800,000 in ...

Case law: enforcement of information and consultation obligations Businesses with more than 100 employees must take notice of the requirements of the Information and Consultation of Employee Regulations 2004. These oblige employers to inform and consult with their ...

Case law: European ruling on rest breaks Employers are under a stricter duty to ensure that workers can take the rest breaks they are entitled to under working-time legislation, following a recent decision by the European Court of ...

Case law: expired warning not relevant to dismissal When considering the dismissal of an employee, employers must be careful they do not take into account any previous warnings given to the employee that have expired. In a recent case before the ...

Case law: formal risk assessment for disabled employee not required In a recent case, a woman employed as a mobile library manager developed a degenerative knee condition, which meant that she was unable to drive the vehicle. Her employer considered the possibility ...

Case law: good news for employers on enforceability of non-competition clauses Employers will be encouraged by two recent decisions that uphold non-competition clauses in employees' contracts of employment. In one case, an ex-managing director argued that a 12-month ...

Case law: 'grossly offensive' telephone calls In a recent case, the House of Lords has ruled that 'grossly offensive' comments made over the telephone - which can include comments made to you or your employees by customers, suppliers or ...

Case law: guidance for employers on identifying a grievance Deciding when a complaint is a grievance, triggering the statutory grievance procedure introduced in 2004, is now easier, following a number of recent cases decided by the Employment Appeals ...

Case law: interim agreements Businesses should pay very careful attention to the wording they use in agreements, even interim ones. In a recent case before the Court of Appeal, Somerfield wanted maintenance contractor ...

Case law: looking 'outside the contract' to determine working relationship Businesses must pay attention to all the circumstances when engaging people to work for them as contractors, as the courts may be entitled to look beyond the signed documentation that governs the ...

Case law: meeting notes can be first step of the statutory grievance procedure A recent tribunal decision means that notes of a meeting taken by a manager can constitute an employee's 'grievance in writing', triggering a requirement for the employer to follow the statutory ...

Case law: minimal requirements for step 1 statutory grievance procedure letter Employers should be aware that the statutory grievance procedure may be validly invoked even where the employee has not formally notified his grievance, according to a recent ruling. In the case ...

Case law: monitoring of employee's communications infringes human rights Businesses must have clear policies in place to regulate any necessary monitoring of their employees' telephone, email and other communications at work, following a recent decision of the European ...

Case law: multiple comparators in equal pay claim A recent decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) allowed an employee to compare herself with more than one fellow worker ('comparator') in an equal pay claim, making it even more important ...

Case law: negotiations with employees may be admissible in discrimination disputes Employers must be careful what they say in discussions with workers relating to discrimination or victimisation claims, as statements may be admissible subsequently in court or at an employment ...

Case law: new arbitration advice for contract disputes Businesses with contracts that state disputes will be settled by arbitration will welcome a House of Lords decision that arbitration clauses should be treated as applying to any dispute in the ...

Case law: no implied term permitting employer to make payment in lieu of notice Employers can dispense with contractual notice periods, and make a payment in lieu of notice (PILON) on termination of employment only if the employee's contract specifically includes words to that ...

Case law: ownership of invention created by employee The position of employers has been strengthened by a recent decision concerning the ownership of an invention created by an employee. The employee in this case, who worked for an investment ...

Case law: part-time workers and bank holidays Employers will welcome a recent decision concerning a part-time worker's entitlement to be paid in lieu of working on bank holiday Mondays. In this case, an employee worked on Tuesdays, ...

Case law: reduced compensation on termination of agency relationship Following a recent House of Lords ruling, businesses that are principals in commercial agency contracts will pay a smaller amount of compensation than they would previously have expected when those ...

Case law: relevance of pre-contract negotiations when construing contract terms clarified Businesses must take care to define clearly the terms that they use in their contracts, in the light of a recent High Court decision. The case concerned a dispute, arising under a development ...

Case law: resignation or dismissal? Employers must state clearly in advance the purpose of meetings arranged with employees, if they are to avoid the unsatisfactory sequence of events in a recent case. An employee of the company ...

Case law: sex discrimination claim where employee was made redundant on return from maternity leave is unsuccessful A recent Court of Appeal ruling has clarified the approach taken by the courts when considering a discrimination claim. In this case, an employee was made redundant on her return from maternity ...

Case law: sick-pay policy for employees with disabilities A recent tribunal ruling has clarified that employers can treat employees with disabilities the same as other employees when it comes their sick-pay policies. In this case, the employer's ...

Case law: staff handbook provision can be contractually binding Businesses should review the wording of their Staff Handbook, and any other terms and conditions applicable to staff recruitment, or risk having the terms incorporated into an employee's contract of ...

Case law: statutory dismissal procedure must be followed Employers risk higher compensation awards if their dismissal procedures are stricter than the statutory disciplinary and dismissal procedure, following a recent appeal tribunal ruling. In the ...

Case law: successful claim for stress at work A new High Court ruling shows that it is not only those working excessive full-time hours who can successfully claim for work-related stress. The case also highlights that plans for employees ...

Case law: successor used as comparator in equal pay claim Businesses drawing up a remuneration package for a replacement employee should take note of a recent tribunal decision in an equal pay claim. In this case, a female employee was replaced by a ...

Case law: third-party pressure can justify dismissal A recent case has clarified the issues that an employer must take into account when dismissing an employee on the basis of pressure from, and information provided by, a third party. An employee ...

Case law: time limits in discrimination claims Employees may have more time from the date of a grievance to bring a discrimination claim, according to a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) ruling. Some uncertainty has existed over the ...

Case law: unreasonable terms restricting firms' liability cannot be enforced Businesses that exclude or restrict liability in their contracts for loss of business, loss of profits and other financial loss should review them now, as such clauses may no longer give them the ...

Case law: what is - and isn't - a statutory grievance Following a recent case, businesses now have more guidance on what counts as an employee's statutory grievance and would therefore trigger the statutory grievance procedures. An employee was told ...

Case law: whether grievance is appeal against dismissal In the light of a recent decision, employers are advised to adopt a flexible approach to any grievance raised by an employee after they have been dismissed. An employee was made redundant ...

Case law: why employers must carry out workplace assessments Employers must carry out workplace assessments for all workers, or risk paying damages or an out-of-court settlement. A freelance editor working for a national newspaper has received £37,500 ...

Case law: why length of service may not mean difference in pay A recent European decision highlights yet again the pressure that employers are under to remove inequality of pay and conditions between men and women, or justify any difference they ...

Case law: 'without prejudice' correspondence in settlement negotiations Businesses involved in settlement negotiations should not assume that all correspondence will be protected from disclosure, following a recent High Court ruling. The case involved negotiations ...

Case law: 'without prejudice' rule might not apply to discussions before litigation A recent Court of Appeal decision has clarified when discussions between an employer and employee, which may take place some time before litigation is started or even threatened, may be protected ...

Case law: 'worker' defined for purposes of national minimum wage Businesses need to meet their obligations under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, and guidance on the definition of a 'worker' entitled to receive the national minimum wage has been given in a ...

Changes to Highly Skilled Migrant Programme rules Revised assessment criteria for the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) are effective from 5 December, which may have implications for employers. HSMP is currently the only points-based ...

Clarification of flexible working for employee carers The right of employees, who care for qualifying adults, to request flexible working has been amended, so that carers who are a son- or daughter-in-law of a qualifying adult can now apply. An ...

Company details may need to appear on websites and e-communications Limited companies and limited liability partnerships may need to update their websites and e-comms under new requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The new rules from 1 January 2007 state ...

Countdown to October age discrimination legislation Businesses need to be aware how they will be affected by the wide-ranging Employment Equality (Age) Regulations, which come into force on 1 October. Managers are advised to review their ...

Data protection provisions to apply to pre-October 1998 manual records for first time Businesses that hold personal information on their employees in certain manual records created before 24 October 1998 need to be aware that the Data Protection Act will apply fully to these records ...

Data-protection guidance regarding employee references A Good Practice Note issued by the Information Commissioner's Office and available now ensures employers can keep on the right side of the law if employees ask to see references given about ...

Definition of 'carer' under Work and Families Act announced Under provisions of the Work and Families Act 2006 that come into force next April, employers will be required to accommodate requests for flexible working from employees who are ...

Delays affecting previously reported legislation Regulations implementing the EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) were originally due to be made by August 2004. The Directive regulates the re-use, recycling and ...

Disability discrimination provisions now in force The final provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 are in force from 4 December, and impose further obligations on employers. The new rules confirm that employers have a duty not to ...

Distance-selling guide for businesses published Businesses that sell goods and services online, by phone or mail order will welcome guidance published recently on the application of the legal regulations governing distance selling. The DTI ...

Do you need to review your fixed-term contract employees? Employers need to review employees on fixed-term contracts if they are not to be treated as permanent employees under legislation coming into force this July. This important provision, designed ...

DTI guide on individual employment rights available A useful guide on the individual rights and responsibilities of employees has been published by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The new 96-page guide outlines employees' and workers' ...

DTI plans to increase statutory minimum holiday entitlement Employers will no longer be able to include the eight UK bank and public holidays as part of their employees' statutory annual leave under proposals published in a Government consultation paper. ...

DTI publishes age-discrimination questionnaire The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has published a questionnaire and reply form that can be used by employees and employers in age-related complaints when the new age-discrimination laws ...

DTI publishes scam-busting guidelines To help prevent more businesses being conned, the DTI has issued new guidelines explaining how staff can spot and avoid common scams. Recently, a number of UK businesses have received calls from ...

DTI redundancy ready-reckoners New online 'redundancy ready-reckoners' will help employers take account of changes to the way statutory redundancy payments are calculated from 1 October 2006, when the new age-discrimination rules ...

Employers could be liable to pay royalties for staff radios Currently in court, a case is taking place in which the Performing Rights Society (PRS) is suing a car repair firm for unpaid royalties because its employees listen to radios at work. The PRS ...

Employer's guide: checking the status of migrant workers A new website on employing migrant workers, launched by the Home Office, offers a step-by-guide to help businesses ensure that their prospective employees are legally allowed to work in the ...

Employer's guide: how to produce a company handbook Employers looking to produce or improve a company handbook for their organisation will benefit from new guidance from Acas. The new, free Self-help guide: Producing a company handbook, focuses on ...

Enhanced capital allowances for energy-saving equipment Businesses can now claim 100 per cent first-year capital allowances when buying a range of energy-saving equipment, thanks to changes introduced under the capital allowances legislation, which took ...

Fire-safety rules mean businesses must carry out risk assessments. Anyone with control of commercial premises is now required to take reasonable steps to remove or reduce the risk of fire as far as possible, and to put a plan in place ensuring people can escape ...

Flexible working extended to carers Employers need to be aware that an employee's right to request flexible working is extended from 6 April. At present, the law on flexible working enables parents with a child under 6 or a disabled ...

Guidance on employers' liability insurance Aimed at improving employers' understanding of their obligations to insure against employees' work-related injuries or disease, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced a new leaflet ...

Have your say: compulsory three per cent contribution to employees' pensions proposed Businesses are being asked for their views on the proposed new arrangements for pensions, to be introduced alongside the rise in state pension age. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has ...

Have your say: draft WEEE Regulations published Following numerous delays, a timetable has now been set for UK businesses to comply with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. The purpose of the Directive is to ...

Have your say: DTI plans to protect vulnerable agency workers Businesses using agency workers - as short-term cover, to meet upturn in demand, or to cover staff absence - need to be aware of plans to protect vulnerable workers in this ...

Have your say: employers face stricter national minimum wage enforcement Employers need to make sure that they comply with the national minimum wage (NMW) legislation, in view of proposed measures for stricter enforcement against employers who flout the rules. The ...

Have your say: guidance on directors' health and safety duties The Institute of Directors (IoD) has produced draft guidance for businesses of all sizes that sets out what is expected of directors in overseeing health and safety performance at work. The IoD ...

Have your say: implementation of the Companies Act 2006 Businesses that need to plan for the changes to be brought in by the Companies Act 2006 will be greatly helped by the Government's announcement of the commencement dates for all remaining ...

Have your say: improved procedures for resolving employment disputes Workplace disputes are expensive, stressful and wasteful, so the Government is consulting businesses on ways to reduce the number of disputes and resolve them earlier. The consultation, ...

Have your say: improving payment practices in the construction industry Businesses engaged in the construction industry, or that deal with construction companies, now have the opportunity to comment on new proposals concerning payment practices. The Department for ...

Have your say: increase in minimum holiday entitlement Proposed changes to holiday entitlement are due to take effect in October 2007, which mean that employers can no longer include the UK's eight bank and public holidays as part of their employees' ...

Have your say: mediation rules for sheriff courts Under new rules proposed by the Mediation Committee of the Sheriff Court Rules Council, businesses in dispute with each other would have to consider using mediation and alternative dispute ...

Have your say: new regulations on unfair commercial practices Businesses dealing with consumers have the opportunity to comment on proposed legislation that will outlaw a host of deceptive and intimidating consumer sales practices. The Department of Trade ...

Have your say: new rules giving additional paternity leave and pay The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is consulting with employers on how new rules giving additional paternity leave and pay to male employees will work in practice, with the aim of keeping ...

Have your say: preventing illegal migrant working The views of businesses employing foreign workers are being sought on proposals to implement new powers contained in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 to tackle illegal working by ...

Have your say: registration of Scottish floating charges The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR - formerly the DTI) is asking businesses for their views on a proposal to treat floating charges - charges on assets that ...

Have your say: revised code of practice on CCTV at work Businesses that use CCTV at their premises need to ensure that they comply with the relevant legislation, and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is seeking interested parties' views on a ...

Health and safety resource for businesses employing young workers A new online guide has been launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to help employers with health and safety issues for young workers, especially those new to the workplace. The online ...

Health and safety starter pack for small businesses New and small businesses can now access most of the basic health and safety advice that they need to help them comply with the law and protect their workers, thanks to the Starter Pack published by ...

HMRC guidance on employer contributions to occupational pension schemes HM Revenue &Customs (HMRC) has published new and reassuring guidance for employers on the test for determining whether employer contributions to occupational pension schemes are tax ...

HSE guide for employers on alcohol at work available online Business owners will welcome new guidance that helps them deal with alcohol-related problems at work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a new guide, Don't mix it! A guide for ...

Improved access to public-sector contracts Small businesses aiming to target more public-sector work will soon be able to check for contracts worth up to £100,000 that are available for tender, using a new government website due to be ...

Increase in national minimum wage The national minimum wage is increased from 1 October 2007. The adult rate (for workers aged 22 and over) rises from £5.35 to £5.52 an hour. The development rate for 18- to 21-year-olds ...

Increased penalties for drivers using mobile phones Employees who use mobile phones while driving face tougher penalties from 27 February. Employers need to ensure that all company drivers are aware of the new rules and their company's policy on ...

Keep your 'send to a friend' facilities legal Businesses with a 'send to a friend' facility on their website should consider adding the right words to the page to avoid breaking the law. A Help Note on Advertising Virals, issued recently by ...

Landmark case law: when age discrimination is justified Businesses can discriminate against their employees on age grounds, providing the treatment is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate, or fair, treatment of all employees, the employment ...

Launch of public sector contracts website Small businesses aiming to target more public sector work can now check for public sector contracts worth up to £100,000 that are available for tender, using the new government website ...

Legal Alert's outlook for 2007 A number of significant legal changes are on the horizon for 2007, and businesses should be preparing for them now. These include: extension of the injury cost recovery scheme. From 29 January ...

Legal Alert's round-up of new rules for April A number of new measures apply from 6 April 2007: increased benefit rates: Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay and Statutory Paternity Pay rise from £108.85 to £112.75 ...

Lower noise limits at work From 6 April, the noise level at which employers must make hearing protection available to workers lessens from 85 dB to 80 dB, and the level at which workers must wear hearing protection is set at ...

Major changes to inheritance tax treatment of trusts Any business person that has invested, or is planning to invest, funds in an 'accumulation and maintenance' (A&M) or 'interest in possession' (IIP) trust, or whose will provides that one be set up, ...

National minimum wage rates have risen. the full rate for employees aged 22 years and over has increased to £5.35 an hour the 'development rate' for workers aged between 18 and 21 has increased to £4.45 an hour the rate ...

New age-discrimination laws update Employers need to be aware of a number of issues that are still being resolved around the introduction of the new age-discrimination laws on 1 October. As reported in last month's Legal Alert ...

New bank holiday for workers in Scotland Businesses with workers in Scotland need to be aware of an additional bank holiday created by an Act of the Scottish Parliament. The St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007 designates 30 ...

New checklist for SMEs handling requests for personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998 checklist issued by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The checklist guides businesses through the procedure they must follow if an individual asks in writing (known as a 'subject ...

New corporate homicide law for businesses passed All businesses need to take action now to avoid liability for a new offence of corporate homicide, due to come into force in April 2008. The new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act ...

New data protection DVD available free to businesses A new interactive training DVD has been released to help businesses understand the Data Protection Act and ensure that individuals' personal information is effectively protected. Issued by the ...

New DTI factsheets on age discrimination The effect of the age-discrimination legislation, in force from October, will be wide- ranging. The DTI has published a set of eight free factsheets to help businesses get ready for the new ...

New DTI guide for businesses on WEEE Regulations Businesses that produce, sell or use electrical goods will welcome guidance notes to help them comply with the new laws in relation to waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that take full ...

New employer's guide to good practice and age-discrimination rules Employers will welcome a comprehensive new guide designed to help them develop good practice to comply with the age-discrimination regulations introduced in October 2006. The guide, Managing ...

New factsheet on how long to keep employee records The retention of records is a complex area, and businesses need to stay informed of all the relevant legislation and its implications. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has ...

New family-friendly employment legislation in force. The length of time that pregnant women and adoptive parents can take off work has been extended to a year. Where the child is due on or after 1 April 2007, statutory maternity pay is now payable for ...

New family-friendly legislation receives Royal Assent The Work and Families Act 2006 has received Royal Assent. As well as granting working parents new rights to more maternity and paternity leave and pay, there are a range of measures designed to make ...

New fire-safety regime A new fire-safety regime for non-domestic premises is in force in Scotland. Fire certificates have been abolished, and existing fire certificates are no longer valid. The new regime is based on ...

New guidance to help disabled people into jobs A TUC report, Jobs for Disabled People, contains useful information on employers' duties towards disabled people, and includes a three-point plan for helping disabled people (especially those ...

New guide available for businesses on collecting personal information using websites Businesses that collect details about their customers, or potential customers, via their website can now use a Good Practice Note to ensure that they comply with all the relevant data protection ...

New guide for businesses to the latest anti-discrimination provisions New guidance has been published to help businesses comply with the anti-discrimination provisions that came into force at the end of April. The Department for Communities and Local Government ...

New health-and-safety guide for managers A new guide to health and safety produced by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) aims to help reduce the yearly cost to UK businesses of workplace incidents, estimated to be 10 ...

New mental illness guide for employers available Employers can now use a new, online Line Managers' Resource to help them manage and support employees with mental health problems. The resource, from Department of Health initiative Shift, gives ...

New Patent Office mediation service Intellectual property (IP) disputes cost time and money, so ...

New Pension Regulator's guide on inducements to transfer out of final-salary schemes The Pensions Regulator has published a guide to help employers, trustees and scheme members to work out and understand the implications of inducements to employees to transfer out of defined-benefit ...

New resources to help your business comply on equality and diversity Reliable information on compliance with anti-discrimination obligations is essential for businesses, and two authoritative sources have been recently updated. The Acas website has now added audit ...

New rules in force for working with asbestos Employers and facilities managers, together with those workers currently at greatest risk from exposure, need to be aware of the new rules and code of practice on working with asbestos in force from ...

New sexual harassment guide for employers available free Employers are advised to have policies and procedures in place to deal with complaints of sexual harassment. A new guide from the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), Sexual Harassment: ...

New steps to encourage small firms to claim business rates relief More than half the small businesses in the UK are missing out on up to £2,500 in Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), according to a survey by the Local Government Association. Eligible ...

New TUPE Regulations on business transfers Employers involved in the transfer of a business from one owner to another will need to take account of new TUPE Regulations which come into force from April. TUPE Regulations protect employees' ...

New website launched to help you manage work-related driving Businesses should have a 'driving for work' policy, and help is at hand in the form of a new website launched by the Department for Transport (DfT). The Driving for Work website has three main ...

OFT guidance on new search powers The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published guidance on how it will exercise its new powers to make on-site inspections of business premises under consumer protection rules that took effect in ...

Online filing of employee share scheme returns and information Companies that file employee share scheme returns can benefit from the new online filing service launched in April. The tax year 2006-07 is the first for which HM Revenue &Customs (HMRC) ...

Online pregnancy and maternity advice tool for employers A new interactive questionnaire tool launched on the Business Link website will help businesses meet their obligations to expectant and new mothers. The online questionnaire, which takes about ...

Pension provisions of age-discrimination legislation postponed The Government recently announced that employers have an extra two months to adjust their occupational pension schemes to bring them in line with new age-discrimination legislation. The main ...

Pensions tax simplification Major changes to tax-privileged pension schemes on 6 April ("A-day") aim to reduce employers' administration costs and enable them to design pension schemes that best match their business ...

Potential new disability discrimination claims loom Now being heard by the European Courts of Justice (ECJ), a landmark employment case could change the law and give new rights for millions of working carers. Backed by the Disability Right ...

Redundancy and compensation payments to rise From 1 February 2007, the maximum statutory amount employers must pay for redundancy and unfair dismissal claims is to increase. The maximum amount of 'a week's pay' for employees made ...

Reminder! Round-up of new rules in force from 6 April 2007 A number of new measures apply from 6 April (except where otherwise indicated): increased benefit rates: Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay and Statutory Paternity Pay rise from ...

Revised guidance on the definition of disability Disputes concerning whether an employee should be regarded as a person with disabilities can be difficult to resolve, with the statutory definition of 'disability' often conflicting with evidence ...

Round-up of new rules in force from 1 October 2007 A number of new measures are due to apply from 1 October: increase in minimum statutory holiday entitlement: the first phase of the increase in the number of days to which employees are entitled, ...

Simplified design registration system now available Businesses should be encouraged to register their designs, following recent changes to the law which makes the process quicker and easier. A business's designs are an important asset and worth ...

Speed limiters to be fitted on vans All goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, including larger vans, must be fitted with a speed limiter from 1 January 2007. The requirement for speed limiters to be progressively fitted on vehicles down ...

Step-by-step Acas guide to managing conflict at work Acas has published an advisory booklet to help managers deal with conflict at work more effectively. Employers spend an average of 15 days' management time dealing with an employment tribunal ...

Stiffer penalties for employers failing to pay national minimum wage face From 1 February 2007, employers who have been paying their staff less than the national minimum wage (NMW) will have to pay arrears within seven days or face prosecution and new fines. Under the ...

Tax increase on private use of commercial vans Businesses need to be aware of new rules in force from 6 April 2007 if they are to avoid a massive increase in the tax they pay as a benefit-in-kind on private use of commercial vans. Under ...

The Companies Act 2006: radical company law changes on the horizon The Companies Act 2006: radical company law changes on the horizon The Companies Act 2006 has been passed and contains sweeping changes to how companies are run that will particularly affect ...

Updated Acas guidance on mediation in the workplace Acas has updated the FAQs for businesses on the section of its website covering its mediation service for employers and employees. Conflicts at work that end up in an employment tribunal cost ...

Updated Acas guide on redundancy available Employers who need to consider making redundancies will welcome an updated booklet from Acas. The booklet provides impartial guidance for employers and managers on how best to handle redundancies, ...

Updated employee's guide for new and expectant mothers at work A new guide from the Health &Safety Executive (HSE) sets out the action employers should take to protect the health and safety of a pregnant employee and that of her child. The HSE guidance ...

Updated guides to new maternity rules available Following the new maternity leave regulations introduced in October under the Work and Families Act 2006, new guidance is available for employers with employees expecting a baby on or after 1 April ...

WEEE timetable for electrical businesses now in place Businesses that produce electrical goods now have a clear timetable in place for 2007 so they can comply with the law in relation to waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Under the ...

Your chance to comment: advertisements featuring 'own price' discounts Businesses that advertise price discounts against their own previous prices need to comply with the relevant consumer protection laws in order not to mislead consumers. In a landmark High Court ...

Your chance to comment: compulsory pension contributions for employers Employers will have to contribute three per cent of salary to their employee pension schemes if a new National Pension Savings Scheme announced by the Government in its pension reform White Paper ...

Your chance to comment: guidance on managing the risks of transport at work Vehicle accidents are the second biggest cause of fatal injury at work. The Health &Safety Executive (HSE) has issued proposals for managing the risks of transport in the workplace, and is ...

Your chance to have your say on draft family-friendly regulations Businesses now have the chance to put their views on the controversial changes to maternity, paternity and adoption leave arrangements, as well as flexible working for carers for adults, that the ...

Keeping it in the family "Family businesses are bound together by more than just commercial interests," says Grant Gordon, director general of the Institute for Family Business. "This can make them stronger, but ...

Time for a change? "If a small firm has been trading for some time and has fallen into a rut, a relaunch can provide the best opportunity to turn things around," says Kathryn Hughes, adviser for Business Link ...

Remortgaging to raise finance According to principal of independent financial advisers Norwest Consultants, Harry Katz, remortgaging can be a cheap method for small businesses to raise money. "The advantage is it's cheaper ...

Remote Access Ditch the laptop and take your deskbound PC with you

Remote possibilities Introducing new remote working practices using broadband.

Working together Colloborating with Groove.

Time for a change? "If a small firm has been trading for some time and has fallen into a rut, a relaunch can provide the best opportunity to turn things around," says Kathryn Hughes, adviser for Business Link ...

HICEC news Latest news and views from the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company.

Hydro energy Hydro-Electric power is still the dominant technology for renewable ...

Invitations to tender Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company often issues invitations to tender for work and delivery of services to its community clients. Current invitations to tender are available on this page.

Marine Energy - Wave Harnessing Argyll's wave energy to produce Renewable power

Renewable energy The renewable energy resource in the Highlands and Islands is world leading, if you are interested in locating here, we can assist your business.

Renewables

Renewable Energy Information on renewable energy technologies and their relevance in Argyll

Renewable Energy in Argyll Renewable Energy industry and installations in Argyll

Offshore renewables seminar Report and presentations from the seminar held 12th May 2004 in Nairn.

Community energy HICEC's aim is for all communities across the Highlands and Islands to be able to generate and use renewable energy for their long term and collective benefit.

HICEC board Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company board membership

HICEC resources In partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Highland Council recently produced this toolkit highlighting opportunities for communities to benefit from renewable energy production and use.

HICEC team Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company staff and locations.

Renewable energy The renewable energy resource in the Highlands and Islands is world leading, if you are interested in locating here, we can assist your business.

SCHRI SCHRI provides grants and expert advice on small scale renewable projects, such as the installation of solar panels and wind turbines at community centres, schools and individual households.

My landlord has set an unreasonable rent... Renting can make good sense financially; it ties up less capital than buying a property, leaving you with more cash to use elsewhere in your firm. It also provides you with financial security, as ...

Remortgaging to raise finance According to principal of independent financial advisers Norwest Consultants, Harry Katz, remortgaging can be a cheap method for small businesses to raise money. "The advantage is it's cheaper ...

Annual report 2001-2002 The HIE Network's eleventh annual report and accounts 2001-02.

e-Communities study The e-Communities study was commissioned by HIE and in partnership with Skye & Lochalsh Council for Voluntary Organisations (SLCVO) to establish the attitudes and levels of engagement in ICT among community groups in the pilot area of Skye & Raasay. The study includes information on skills and confidence levels, areas of activity and inactivity, and attitudes towards ICT as a tool for further development of the community sector in the Highlands and Islands.

SAC biodiesel report A study undertaken by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) Consultancy Division on the potential for a biodiesel industry in the north and east of Scotland. The full report or a simpler executive summary can be downloaded here.

Tools / resources Tools and resources specific to the HIE network

Highlands and Islands European Partnership HIE's Brussels representation.

Acquire additional plant and equipment When you are considering an investment in plant and equipment there may be financial support to help with the capital cost

Consultations Details of consultations and the types of consultations that HIE respond to