Rural and Environment

  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 4

    5th March 2019 by

    As we continue our new series looking at the important and diverse role women play in driving and supporting Scotland’s rural economy, QMS Chair Kate Rowell gives us an insight into her career and experience.

    Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a farmer like my Dad, Grandpa and the many generations who came before them. I clearly remember being very put out when an elderly Aunt told my younger brother that he would take over the farm, completely ignoring me! Ever since then I’ve been aware of society’s overwhelming view that it’s only the boys who are destined to be farmers – and I’ve taken quite a while to reach the point where I’m comfortable describing myself proudly as a Farmer (and never with “Female” or “Lady” in front!).

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  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 3

    4th March 2019 by

    The third post in our new series looking at the important and diverse role women play in driving and supporting Scotland’s rural economy. This piece looks at the career and experience of Joyce Campbell of Armadale Farm in Sutherland.

    I’m blessed to be farming here at Armadale on the beautiful north coast of Sutherland and I love sharing my farming life and story through the lens of my camera on social media.

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  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 2

    4th March 2019 by

    As we approach International Women’s Day, this is the second post in our new series looking at the important and diverse role women play in driving and supporting Scotland’s rural economy. This piece looks at the career and experience of Fiona Matheson of the Orkney Fisheries Association.

    To be woman in the rural economy in Orkney is to live a life adapting to what jobs are available. It’s problem solving at every turn rather than ‘choice’ as a traditional career plan does not fit with rural life. Well paid jobs usually in government agencies, are scarce for everyone. Women still have less access to higher paid professional jobs and women’s work is dominated by the caring sector paid and unpaid.

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  • Women in the Rural Economy: Part 1

    1st March 2019 by

    As we approach International Women’s Day, this is the first post in our new series looking at the important and diverse role women play in driving and supporting Scotland’s rural economy. This piece looks at the career and experience of Claire Taylor, political reporter at the Scottish Farmer.

    I have been very lucky throughout my life and working career, that being a woman has never been a hindrance to my ambition to progress and a lot of that is down to the incredible female role models who have lined the way before me.

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  • In the news: climate change and business

    24th December 2018 by

    Findings released by World Wildlife Foundation Scotland today suggests that small to medium-sized businesses feel less prepared for the risks of climate change compared to larger businesses.

    The survey of 300 businesses shows that only 2 in 5 of Scotland’s smaller firms feel prepared for risks posed by climate change, while over three-quarters of larger businesses stated they are either fully or partly prepared.

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  • In the news: UK waste strategy

    18th December 2018 by

    You will no doubt have seen that many news outlets are running the a story this morning that the UK Government has published its Resources and Waste Strategy, which places more responsibility on manufacturers and producers to pay recycling and disposal costs.

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  • In the media: staying in the Highlands and Islands

    4th December 2018 by

    This morning Highlands and Islands Enterprise published a report that found efforts to attract and retain young people in the Highlands and Islands may be working.

    The survey found that increasing numbers of young people want to live and work in the Highlands and Islands, with the proportion of committed stayers increasing to 46%, from 36% in 2015.

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  • In the news: Marine litter

    29th November 2018 by

    This morning the Marine Conservation Society published its 25th Great British Beach Clean – a mass participation beach clean and survey event – that found there’s more litter on Scottish beaches than last year.

    The beach clean, which took place in September, saw volunteers remove 2,503kg of litter from Scottish beaches. In total, more than 75,000 items were picked up along the 15,680 meters of surveyed coastline, and found that cotton bud sticks at their highest level for eight years.

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  • In the news: Red meat levy success

    16th November 2018 by

    The Scottish Government and industry – particularly QMS and Jim McLaren, its recently retired Chairman – have worked tirelessly for the last decade to find a sustainable solution that would ensure that the monies raised through this levy could be used to benefit the Scottish quality meat sector, including marketing and promotion of Scotch beef, Scotch lamb and specially selected pork to consumers at home and abroad.

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  • Tackling marine plastics

    29th October 2018 by

    Scotland has shown leadership in resource use, increase in recycling and reduction in waste because we understand that we cannot continue to ignore the impact we are having on the natural world. The Blue Planet and Drowning in Plastics programmes brought home the horrific reality of that impact.

    Taking action on plastic waste and furthering our aims for a circular economy for the benefit of a global society is a crucial part of our agenda. That is why Scotland has taken the lead on plastics and will continue to do so.

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