College workers get living wage

EMPLOYEES of West Highland college UHI are to be paid a ‘living wage’.

The decision by the college’s board of management will see around eight per cent of the 150-strong workforce receive a pay rise to the living wage of £7.85 an hour.

Lydia Rohmer, principal and chief executive of West Highland college, said: ‘Despite the very difficult economic times we face, we want to act fairly and responsibly to ensure no member of staff earns less than the living wage, as annually set by the Living Wage Foundation.

‘ We believe this is the right thing to do as one of the larger employers in the West Highlands to ensure that we are contributing to creating a fair and equal society.’

First time voters urged to register

A CAMPAIGN to encourage all first-time voters to register has been launched.

Highland council is reminding anyone who will be 16 or 17 before the Scottish parliament elections in May 2016 that they are now eligible to vote following a change in legislation.

Bill Gillies, electoral registration officer for Highland and Western Isles, said: ‘Not everyone may know about this change which is why we are working with the electoral commission to raise awareness and to encourage registration. It’s important those who will be 16 or 17 by next May don’t miss out on having their say because they didn’t know they could register or because they don’t know how to register.’

Voters can register online at www.gov.uk/register-tovote.