Rural Business Category

  • March solar eclipse to test Europe’s electricity system

    European transmission system operators (TSOs) say they have been preparing for the 20th March solar eclipse for several months because of concerns over the impact of the eclipse on solar electricity generation. Under a clear morning sky on 20th March 2015, some 35,000 MW of solar energy might gradually fade from Europe's electrical system before being gradually re-injected: all in the space of two hours while Europeans and their offices begin a normal working day. TSOs are warning ...

    Posted at February 24, 2015 | By : | Categories : News,Renewables,Rural Business | Comments Off on March solar eclipse to test Europe’s electricity system
  • OS launches new digital map

    Ordnance Survey (OS) is launching a new digital map, having already invited two hundred developers, innovators and entrepreneurs to trial some of the data in the hope that it will create fresh insights and innovative products and services. OS OpenMap, which will be available at the end of March 2015, has been designed to work with the latest mobile and web platforms. It incorporates some of the most sophisticated mapping data in the world and ...

    Posted at February 22, 2015 | By : | Categories : News,Rural Business | Comments Off on OS launches new digital map
  • Essential supplies guaranteed during business rescue

    Under proposals laid in Parliament this week, essential suppliers of IT, water, gas, electricity and communications services will be prevented from cutting off supply or charging premium rates while insolvency practitioners seek a viable solution to rescue a business. However, suppliers will be guaranteed payment ahead of others owed money for services supplied during the rescue period and can ask for guarantees of payment from the insolvency practitioner. Commenting on the news, Giles Frampton, R3 president, says: ...

    Posted at February 10, 2015 | By : | Categories : News,Rural Business | Comments Off on Essential supplies guaranteed during business rescue
  • Economic growth picks up

    UK economic activity increased at the fastest pace in four months, according to the latest Growth Indicator from the CBI. The survey of 769 businesses across the retail, manufacturing and services sectors revealed that growth rose at a solid pace in the three months to January, with a balance of +23 compared with +14 in December, following slowing momentum over the second half of 2014. The figures reflect a bounce-back in the business and professional services sector, ...

    Posted at February 2, 2015 | By : | Categories : News,Rural Business | Comments Off on Economic growth picks up
  • Emergency measures to protect sea bass

    As of today (28th January 2015) fishermen using pelagic trawls will not be able to target sea bass. The ban follows emergency measures announced by the European Commission to prevent fishing from the southern North Sea in the east round the south coast of England to the Irish Sea in the west. Closures are now in place until the end of April, having followed sustained lobbying for action across Europe to improve bass numbers and fish more ...

    Posted at January 28, 2015 | By : | Categories : News,Rural Business | Comments Off on Emergency measures to protect sea bass
  • Production and construction sectors slow

    UK GDP is estimated to have increased by 0.5% in Q4 2014 compared with growth of 0.7% in the third quarter of last year. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), output increased in two of the four main industrial groupings within the economy: +0.8% in services and +1.3% in agriculture. During the same period, output decreased by 1.8% in construction and 0.1% in production, leaving GDP 2.7% higher than in Q4 2013.

    Posted at January 28, 2015 | By : | Categories : News,Rural Business | Comments Off on Production and construction sectors slow
  • £6bn package for UK science and innovation

    The Government has unveiled plans to support British science and innovation with a new Science and Innovation Strategy which sets out priorities for investment and support in the years ahead. Highlights include: £3 billion to support individual capital projects and institutional capital to maintain the excellence of laboratories at universities and research institutes £2.9 billion towards large capital projects to support scientific ‘Grand Challenges’, including a £30 million UK commitment to ‘XFEL’ – an international free electron laser ...

    Posted at December 17, 2014 | By : | Categories : News,Rural Business | Comments Off on £6bn package for UK science and innovation
  • Solid outlook for UK manufacturers

    Activity in the manufacturing sector remained steady in December and production is expected to continue rising in the next three months, according to the latest CBI Industrial Trends Survey. Output growth has been broadly steady since August, and has remained above average this month. Amongst the various sectors, growth in Motor Vehicles & Transport Equipment rose to a nine-month high. The survey of 485 manufacturers found that total order books edged up slightly, remaining strongly above average. ...

    Posted at December 16, 2014 | By : | Categories : News,Rural Business | Comments Off on Solid outlook for UK manufacturers
  • New £97m supercomputer for Met Office

    Government plans for a new £97 million Met Office supercomputer mean forecast updates will be available every hour, with higher detail weather information for precise geographical areas. The world-leading High Performance Computer will help the UK to predict disruptive weather events such as flooding, strong winds, fog and heavy snowfall more effectively. It will also open up the potential for higher resolution models, which will have the ability to pinpoint more detail for small scale, high-impact ...

    Posted at October 28, 2014 | By : | Categories : Farming,News,Rural Business | Comments Off on New £97m supercomputer for Met Office
  • Subsidy for solar farms ends in January

    Farmers are to lose their right to claim subsidies for fields filled with solar panels under new government plans aimed at ensuring more agricultural land is dedicated to growing crops and food. From January 2015, farmers who use fields for solar panels will not be eligible for any farm subsidy payments available through the Common Agricultural Policy, for that land. Environment secretary, Elizabeth Truss, comments: "English farmland is some of the best in the world and I ...

    Posted at October 19, 2014 | By : | Categories : News,Rural Business | Comments Off on Subsidy for solar farms ends in January