Members News

Scottish private sector activity expands at fastest rate in over two years

Member News / By

• Firms signal fresh increases in output and new orders• Employment rises for fifth straight month• Price pressures intensify The latest Royal Bank of Scotland Growth Tracker data signalled stronger business conditions across Scotland’s private sector at the start of the final quarter of 2026. Firms recorded fresh increases in both output and new orders,

Scottish private sector activity expands at fastest rate in over two years Read More »

Forres RAF veteran urges public to remember those still living with the impact of service

Member News / By

A former RAF Sergeant whose 22-year military career was cut short following an accident at RAF Kinloss is urging people across Moray to remember not only those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also the veterans still living with the effects of service. Stevie Gray will join fellow veterans from Erskine’s Veterans Activity Centre in

Forres RAF veteran urges public to remember those still living with the impact of service Read More »

New Start Highland

New Start Highland training kitchen officially opens

Member News / By

Leading social enterprise New Start Highland is celebrating the official opening of its new training kitchen with the launch of its first Highland Hospitality and Cookery School. The school offers people of all ages the opportunity to develop their culinary skills, gain practical experience and discover pathways into employment within the hospitality industry. The training

New Start Highland training kitchen officially opens Read More »

Historic return of beavers to waters around Loch Ness

Member News / By

Charities celebrate reintroduction 500 years after beavers were last recorded in Scotland beside world-famous loch A family of six beavers has been released into the Loch Ness catchment in the Scottish Highlands – 500 years since the species was last recorded beside the loch before being hunted to national extinction. The beavers were reintroduced to

Historic return of beavers to waters around Loch Ness Read More »

Inverness food shop celebrates first birthday with charity raffle for historic Old High Church

Member News / By

One new business. One ancient building. One city. An Inverness independent retailer is marking its first birthday by launching a charity raffle to support one of the city’s most historic landmarks. Oil & Vinegar Inverness, based at 9 Union Street, celebrated its first anniversary under new ownership on 2 November. Rather than simply marking the

Inverness food shop celebrates first birthday with charity raffle for historic Old High Church Read More »

Royal Bank of Scotland supports employee ownership at Swansons Fruit Company

Member News / By

Swansons Fruit Company, the Inverness-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler, has secured a £400,000 loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland to complete its transition to employee ownership. The funding is being used to repay the remaining deferred consideration due to the company’s previous owner, following the employee ownership trust agreement reached in 2021. By restructuring

Royal Bank of Scotland supports employee ownership at Swansons Fruit Company Read More »

11,000 new Highland jobs, but where will people live? Homebuilder warns housing cannot be an afterthought to the Green Freeport

Member News / By

The Highlands is planning for billions of pounds of investment and thousands of new jobs, but the process for building new homes those workers will need is not fit for purpose. That is the challenge Inverness-based offsite homebuilder MAKAR put to industry and government at BE-ST Fest West 2026 at the Sir Jim McDonald Technology

11,000 new Highland jobs, but where will people live? Homebuilder warns housing cannot be an afterthought to the Green Freeport Read More »

Ness Walk named Best Boutique Hotel at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2027

Member News / By

Inverness five-star hotel recognised among the world’s finest independent luxury hotels Ness Walk, the five-star boutique hotel on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness, has been named Best Boutique Hotel at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2027, announced at a ceremony in London on Monday 2 November. The Condé Nast Johansens

Ness Walk named Best Boutique Hotel at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2027 Read More »