Caithness Business Fund has announced the launch of a new pilot Graduate Placement Scheme, aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Caithness and North Sutherland attract and retain graduate talent.
Backed by NRS Dounreay and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the scheme will provide eligible businesses with grant funding covering up to 70% of salary costs for a two-year period to employ a graduate in a newly created role.
The initiative is designed to support businesses working in key regional growth sectors—including energy, food and drink, space, and tourism—as well as those operating in areas with recognised skills shortages.
Applications are now open. As this is a pilot scheme, funding is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested businesses are strongly encouraged to contact Caithness Business Fund before submitting an application.
This announcement follows Caithness Business Fund’s celebration in April 2025 of a £250,000 investment from Focus North partners NRS Dounreay and the NDA. This funding not only enables the launch of the pilot graduate scheme but also strengthens the Fund’s two existing apprenticeship grant programmes.
Trudy Morris, CEO of Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Director of Caithness Business Fund, said:
“Developing local talent, opening up meaningful career opportunities, and addressing outward migration of skills from the region are essential to securing a prosperous future for the North Highlands. We’re delighted to launch this innovative new scheme.
The substantial backing from NRS Dounreay and the NDA reflects the Fund’s strong track record—supporting the creation of 13 new apprenticeships over the past year alone. The Fund is already helping to build a stronger, more resilient workforce, and this latest investment enables us to support even more businesses and reinforce a message of opportunity and growth across the region.
This targeted support will allow local companies to directly access grant funding to attract graduate talent into their business, nurturing a vibrant and diverse business landscape and helping to create a future-ready workforce.”
Find Application Guidelines online here or get intouch with the Fund team to find out more: Tel: 01847 500104 and Email: enquiries@caithnessbusinessfund.co.uk
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch Phase Two of our fast paced Themed Competition, Innovation in Support of Operations. Run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, this competition aims to identify and accelerate innovative solutions and techniques, ensuring they can be scaled and deployed faster than our adversaries.
There are five new Challenge Areas:
• UAS Propulsion
• Repair of 155mm Artillery barrels
• Autonomous navigation systems for UAS and USVs
• Seekers
• UAS detect and destroy
The UK Government is continually assessing lessons from world events. From these lessons, we seek to rapidly adopt solutions that enhance our military and economic advantage. This competition is designed to identify nearly-ready solutions and techniques that can be accelerated into scalable and deliverable effect faster than our adversaries.
Do you have a suitable innovation? Read the full competition document and submit a proposal.
In short:
• DASA has launched Phase 2 of Innovation in Support of Operations
• Funded by the MOD
Learn more and submit a proposal
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch the Maritime Innovation Challenge 2025 as a new AUKUS Competition. Following the ministerial announcement in December 2023 to launch an innovation challenge series under the AUKUS partnership, this competition is the second iteration of AUKUS Pillar 2’s Innovation Challenge Series. The challenge has been trilaterally agreed and is being run as a single multi-stage competition, across the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) in Australia, the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) in the United Kingdom and the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) in the United States.
AUKUS partners are seeking to research and develop innovations to enable the synchronisation and teaming of multiple undersea systems.
In short:
• DASA has launched a new AUKUS Competition: Maritime Innovation Challenge 2025.
• This is the second iteration of AUKUS Pillar 2’s Innovation Challenge Series which will run concurrently in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• The UK competition run by DASA is open to all nations, although entrants from Australia or the United States can refer to their national competition page if they prefer.
• Up to $8m USD in funding is available.
Learn more and submit a proposal
Cairngorms Business Partnership, Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Inverness Chamber of Commerce, and West Highland Chamber of Commerce have written today to Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, requesting an amendment to the Visitor Levy (Scotland Act) 2024 (Tourist Tax).
They are calling for local authorities to have the option of setting a flat or banded rate, rather than being required to implement a percentage-based levy.
In December, the four Chambers jointly called on The Highland Council to pause the implementation of the levy. Since then, they have engaged closely with their member businesses, and it is clear that while a slight majority support the principle of a visitor levy, there is no business support for the Highland Council’s current proposal.
On 12 February, Highland Council Convener Bill Lobban wrote to the Minister, reiterating the Council’s longstanding preference for a flat-rate levy and asking whether there is scope to amend the regulations. The four Highland Chambers fully endorse Councillor Lobban’s request.
Highland accommodation providers have raised a number of concerns about Highland Council’s proposal, including:
• A percentage-based rate will be burdensome to collect.
• The levy is subject to VAT.
• The levy will apply to all visitors using overnight accommodation, including Highland residents traveling for business or medical appointments.
• Unlike in other council areas, there is no proposed compensation for businesses to cover the cost of collecting the levy.
• The Highlands’ seasonal tourism economy is not reflected in the proposal, which would apply the levy year-round.
Additionally, accommodation providers feel that key details should have been clarified before the consultation period to allow respondents to make informed choices. These include:
• The collection method is still unknown, meaning the administrative burden remains unclear.
• Highland Council’s plans for spending the levy are less developed compared to other local authorities.
• Highland Council has not yet specified who will sit on its Visitor Levy Forum, so it is unclear who will be advising on spending decisions.
The Chambers continue to work closely with The Highland Council on this issue and are optimistic that substantial changes will be made once consultation responses have been fully considered.
In the meantime, they reiterate their call for a pause on implementation and welcome the Highland Council Convener’s request for the legislation to be amended.
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has published updated guidance for its Open Call for Innovation service.
The refreshed guidance includes updates to the submission cycles for 2025-26, as well as other updates to information and pre-sift requirements contained within. These updates aim to streamline the application process and provide clearer parameters for innovators.
The new guidance will take effect from 1200hrs 25 February 2025 (GMT). All submissions from this date will need to align with the updated requirements.
We encourage potential applicants to:
• Review the new guidance before submitting proposals
• Check the submission deadlines for 2025-26
• Contact the DASA team with any questions via accelerator@dstl.gov.uk
For full details of the updated guidance, visit DASA Open Call for Innovation and select the link for the current open cycle.
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Market Exploration around Non-Compressible Haemorrhage (NCH).
Run on behalf of Research and Clinical Innovation (RCI) Research, Surgeon General’s Department, this Market Exploration is seeking to identify existing technologies and to understand who is doing work in this area and to uncover novel solutions for treating NCH at a combat casualty scene.
NCH refers to bleeding from anatomical structures that cannot be controlled, or only partially controlled, with application of external pressure, undertaken through an overlying tourniquet or direct manual pressure. Such bleeding is the chief cause of otherwise preventable battlefield death. NCH is highly lethal with a mortality rate of 85%.
If you work in this area or have an innovation that you think could be relevant to this area of research, please read the full Market Exploration document and submit a proposal!
The deadline for submissions is midday 12:00 (BST) on 15 April 2025.
In short:
• DASA has launched a new Market Exploration: Non-Compressible Haemorrhage – Novel Technologies
• Submissions close at midday on Tuesday 15 April 2025 (BST)
Learn more and submit a proposal
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch a new Themed Competition called ‘Innovations in dermal protection against liquid chemicals’.
Run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Home Office, this competition is seeking proposals that will address the challenge of developing a solution to the problem of providing dermal protection against liquid chemical contamination.
We are interested in treatments, fabric design, novel constructions or any other approach that prevents the penetration of low surface tension liquids.
Do you have an innovation that fits the bill? Read the full competition document to find out more.
In short:
• DASA has launched a new Themed Competition: Innovations in dermal protection against liquid chemicals
• This competition is funded by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Home Office
• The total possible funding available for this competition is £2.6 million (excluding VAT)
• Competition closes midday on Tuesday 15th April 2025 (GMT)
Learn more and submit a proposal
Apprenticeship Opportunity at the Caithness Chamber of Commerce
Location: Caithness Chamber Offices, Naver House, Thurso
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Apprentice Opportunity
Are you looking to take your first steps into a career in communications, event planning and business administration? Caithness Chamber has an exciting opportunity for an apprentice to join it’s vibrant and fast paced team. The Chamber is dynamic and influential organisation that serves as the voice of the business community in the North Highlands.
As an apprentice, you will have the chance to earn while you learn, gaining valuable workplace experience alongside a professional qualification. This role provides a well-rounded introduction to key areas, including business administration, digital communications, event planning, and business operations, all while receiving structured workplace training.
Key Responsibilities
Social Media & Digital Communications
- Assist with Chamber communications, creating and distributing internal and external communications, collating monthly newsletters, and recording meeting minutes.
- Create and schedule engaging social media content across multiple platforms.
- Help maintain and update the company website.
- Design basic graphics for social media use.
Events & Administration
- Welcome visitors, manage phone enquiries, and take messages.
- Support the team with event planning, coordination, venue bookings, and presentation preparation.
- Assist with general administrative tasks, including managing incoming enquiries and responding to emails, maintaining databases.
- Coordinate meeting arrangements and oversee calendar management.
- Provide general office support, such as mail handling, photocopying, and scanning.
Skills and Attributes
- Confident and with a good understanding of digital skills, including Microsoft 365 and using social media platforms
- Good level of written, verbal and numeracy skills
- Good organisational skills and ability to deliver tasks and work to deadlines
- Personable and friendly with great interpersonal and communication skills
- Motivated with a positive ‘can do’ attitude
- Trustworthy & reliable, and a great team player
About Caithness Chamber of Commerce
Caithness Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation with some 230 members and is the voice of the business community in the North Highlands.
Established to foster economic growth and collaboration, the Chamber connects businesses of all sizes and industries, providing them with the tools, resources, and advocacy needed to thrive in a competitive marketplace.
With a commitment to supporting local enterprises, Caithness Chamber of Commerce offers a wide range of services, including events and business networking opportunities, business advice, training programmes, and promotional initiatives. It acts as a bridge between business, government, and the wider community, ensuring that the interests of its members are represented, and that the North Highlands remain a vibrant place to live, work, and invest.
How to Apply
Please send a full CV along with a supporting letter indicating why you are the best applicant for the post. The letter should give examples of how you have demonstrated the attributes and skills listed above.
CV and letter should be e-mailed to Trudy Morris, Chief Executive: recruitment@caithnesschamber.com
Caithness Chamber is a Living Wage Employer
Norscot, a leading manufacturer of timber frame kit homes, windows, and door is delighted to announce its partnership with Origin, the UK’s leading manufacturer of bespoke aluminium doors and windows. This collaboration positions Norscot as the most northerly supplier of Origin’s renowned, award-winning range of products, bringing unparalleled style, performance, and functionality to homes and businesses across the Scottish Highlands.
Expanding Horizons with Origin’s Premium Aluminium Range
With over 40 years of experience in manufacturing superior-quality windows, doors, and timber-frame homes, Norscot’s partnership with Origin expands its offerings to include a full suite of premium aluminium products. These include:
- Windows (OW-70 and OW-80): Offering unmatched thermal performance, these customisable windows suit both modern and traditional homes.
- Front Doors: Durable, secure, and stylish, these aluminium front doors are available in a wide variety of colours and designs to enhance any home’s curb appeal.
- Bi-fold Doors: Sleek, secure, and stylish, these doors offer seamless indoor-outdoor transitions while maximising natural light.
- Sliding Doors: With ultra-slim sightlines and panoramic views, these doors combine elegance with exceptional energy efficiency.
- Internal Doors: Origin’s internal doors provide a bespoke and classic way to divide your space with a sleek, modern design. Available in various configurations, including French, single, and corner doors, they feature a classic Georgian style that complements any interior.
Origin offers over 150 RAL colours for their aluminium products, allowing colour matching or contracts to existing décor. Finishes are available in satin, matt, or gloss, with textured options also offered.
All Origin products are proudly crafted in the UK and come with an industry-leading 20-year guarantee, ensuring peace of mind for homeowners and property developers alike.
A Perfect Partnership for Scotland
Norscot’s local expertise complements Origin’s reputation for innovation and quality. Located in the Scottish Highlands, Norscot is uniquely positioned to cater to the specific needs of northern customers, offering tailored advice and reliable service throughout the design, manufacturing, and installation process.
“This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to bring Origin’s cutting-edge aluminium products to customers in the Scottish Highlands,” said Iain Sutherland, Norscot Area Sales Manager in Inverness. “Our shared commitment to quality and sustainability ensures we can deliver superior solutions for even the most demanding projects.”
Discover the Best in Aluminium Design
Customers can now explore Origin’s full product range through Norscot’s showroom or online at www.norscot.co.uk. With expert guidance and installation services, Norscot ensures a seamless experience from selection to installation.