Orbex sponsors national rocket-building championship and encourages gender diversity

A space engineering company based in Forres is sponsoring a national rocket-making competition, which includes a deal to encourage gender-diversity. Orbex, based at the Enterprise Park, will be the title sponsor of 2020-21 UKSEDS Orbex National Rocketry Championship. The 2020-21 championship challenges teams to design, build and launch a mid-power rocket with the primary goal … Read more

Graduate post heralds launch of rural energy efficiency project

Finderne Development Trust (FDT) has announced that it will launch a new project for the area which will help increase the energy efficiency of households. And with it, comes a role for a new Community Energy Graduate.  Pery Zakeri, FDT Development Manager, explained, “With its many traditional buildings, there are great opportunities for energy efficiency … Read more

Click-and-collect now only for essentials, takeaways limited to doorways and hatches

The First Minister has made further ‘regrettable but necessary’ restrictions to control the spread on Covid-19. On Wednesday Nicola Sturgeon announced the following additional restrictions and amendments Click and collect Only retailers offering essential items will be allowed to offer ‘click and collect’. This will include food, clothes, footwear, baby items, books and homeware. All … Read more

Love will line streets of Forres on Valentine’s weekend

An artistic and imaginative project that will show how much love shines all around us, is coming to Forres. The Window Wanderland is billed as a fun community project, and something that everyone can get involved with. Illuminations have been key to lifting spirits of people constrained by the pandemic. Brodie Castle featured a month-long … Read more

Businesses closed in Level 4 to get financial boost on top of grant

Hospitality, retail and leisure businesses will get between £6000 and £25,000 on top of other grants if they have been closed by the Level 4 restrictions. The significant top-up to the grant support follows an announcement by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes. In addition to the grants businesses receive through the Strategic Business Framework Fund, eligible … Read more

Online service goes live at Forres Health Centre, with round-the-clock help

An online service which will let patients submit consultation requests has gone live at the Forres Health and Care Centre. The service, eConsult, will allow patients to submit requests and easily access self-care, pharmacy, local self-referral services and appropriate signposting round the clock. Further information is available on the Culbin and Varis Practice websites: Varis … Read more

People ordered to ‘stay at home’ as lockdown tightened till end of January

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a tightening of lockdown measures similar to that of last March in a bid to act quickly and concisely to slow the spread of coronavirus, particularly the recently identified ‘new strain’. From midnight tonight (4 January) everyone currently in Level 4 should stay at home, and this will become … Read more