Support from Apprenticeship Levy perfect reason to invest in on the job training for young people.
Businesses in Scotland are being encouraged to offer on the job training for young people. According to Skills Development Scotland, the support delivered by the Apprenticeship Levy is a perfect reason to invest in training.
SDS head of region for the north-east, Gordon Macdougall, said: “Apprenticeships bring benefits to businesses of all sizes.
“SDS provides support and advice every step of the way for small firms interested in apprenticeships either for existing staff or new recruits. We’ll provide funding for training, support to find the right type of apprenticeship for your business and find a training provider in your area.”
£500 million fund to help Scottish businesses
The First Minister has revealed plans for a £500m fund to help Scottish businesses over the next year.
The Scottish Growth Scheme package is designed to help the country’s SMEs grow, the scheme offering investment guarantees and loans of up to £5m.
Discussing the scheme with MSPs at Holyrood, Sturgeon described it as an “exceptional response to an exceptional economic challenge.”
She also stated that the fund is a “half-billion pound vote of confidence in Scottish business, Scottish workers and the Scottish economy.
Hundreds of business owners sign up to Buy North East campaign
Encouraging companies to spend money with local supplies in Aberdeenshire, Buy North East aims to persuade more people to take the pledge and support the region’s economy as it battles the impact of the downturn in oil and gas.
Firms can support the scheme by signing up on the Buy North East website: www.buynortheast.co.uk
The initiative is being led by AGCC, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council – as well as Aberdeen Journals and Scottish Enterprise.
Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC), said:
“The campaign aims to get this issue firmly on to the agenda of private, public and third sector organisations in the region, providing stimulus and practical advice to both buyers and sellers, with the result that more business is done between companies based in the city and Aberdeenshire.”
Airport on Skye suggested by Highland Council to be built within two years
Councillors have approved the executive summary of a final draft business case for flights between Glasgow and Skye.
Loganair ran services from Ashaig Airfield, near Broadford, to Glasgow until 1988. Loch Lomond Seaplanes still uses the strip for scheduled flights. Highland Council, public transport body Hitrans and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have been investigating the potential for more flights for Skye.
It has been calculated that over 30 years the flights could generate approximately £36m to £46m.
Eating on the Go
Mark Tiffney from Clydebank’s Dynamic Core Studios on making the right food choices.
As an industry professional it is easy to get lost in the hustle of getting the job done or building your empire. And whilst it is easy to say, without your health and fitness you don’t have a business and that you should plan ahead. Sometimes things just don’t go to plan and you have to improvise. I’m sure I don’t have to tell anyone in business, knowledge is power. Therefore, educating yourself on what different food sources ACTUALLY do for you (or too you) rather than what advertisers want you to believe, is a worthwhile exercise.
But, for the next time you have to just stop and grab something to keep you going, here are a few general rules of thumb to keep in mind:
1. In supermarkets, stick to the edges. The fresh fruit and veg is usually at the entrance, deli counters and the freshly prepared foods, along with chilled proteins etc are generally at the edges because they require equipment and electricity. Don’t go up the isles as that’s where the processed foods are kept.
2. Decide what you are going to buy in advance. Don’t let the 3 for 2 deals or display facings trick you into an impulse purchase. Make an educated choice first and then go in and get it.
3. The rule of 5 – the more ingredients the worse it probably is for you. Try to buy things that have less than 5 ingredients in them. The closer to 1 the better (ie a piece of fruit or veg).
4. The fewer legs the better the protein source – eggs and fish have no legs and are great choices. Poultry has 2 legs, good choices. Cattle has 4 legs, not as good.
5. Can you see it? When you read the ingredients, can you visualize each of the ingredients in it’s natural raw state? If not, it’s probably not ‘real’ food (ie synthetic, manmade, chemicals etc).
It’s all about having more awareness and making conscious choices. It’s always better to be prepared and have a plan, but when it goes astray, then keep these things in mind and stop a poorer choice turning into a bad one.
