News

A talented team of pupils from Hermitage Academy have made it through to the UK finals of the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge.   The youngsters beat off stiff competition in the West of Scotland heat last month and will now go head to head with other teams from across the country at The Big Bang Fair in Birmingham on 15 March.  

This week is Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2019. As a council we are proud to run the 'Growing Our Own' scheme – introducing youngsters to a professional working environment. Since 2014, Argyll and Bute Council has employed over 50 modern apprentices. These are some of our current modern apprentices who are working throughout various departments within the council:

The Leader of Argyll and Bute Council has welcomed today’s announcement that Argyll and Bute is to benefit from an allocation of £1,242,000 from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund.   The Town Centre Fund is aimed at driving forward economic growth and helping town centres to become more diverse and sustainable.  

Pupils at Barcaldine Primary School are polite, enthusiastic and friendly children who demonstrate creativity and independence in their learning.   These were the words of inspectors from Education Scotland following a recent visit to the school.   In a glowing HMI report, pupils at Barcaldine are described as being kind and supportive to one another, and are rightly very proud of their school and their many achievements.  

It was the end of an era at Kilmory last week when members of the WW1 Commemorative Steering Group gathered for their last ever meeting.   The group was established five years ago to actively engage with people of all ages, and support an ambitious programme of commemorative events.  

An S3 pupil from Tobermory High School has become the first student in Argyll and Bute to achieve an industry recognised qualification that’s aimed specifically at teaching staff.   Jakub Marzec is one of a number of pupils at the school using Google’s G Suite to develop their digital skills, but the youngster has done so well that he’s gone on to gain Level 1 Google Certified Educator status in process.  

“The challenges we face are substantial. We need to have the ambition, the determination and the drive to do more than just survive, to do more than just protect the existence of this council and its essential services. “Setting a responsible budget for Argyll and Bute is about making choices that support people and communities now, and also look after the future of Argyll and Bute – and that’s what we’ve done.” These were the words of Councillor Aileen Morton, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, following the budget-setting meeting today (21 February).

Len Scoullar, Councillor for the Isle of Bute and Provost of Argyll and Bute, said: “Words cannot begin to explain the pain and anguish being felt by everyone in our very caring community here on Bute. Alesha will never be forgotten by the people of Bute, and my thoughts are with Alesha’s loved ones at this most awful time.”

A team of budding young entrepreneurs from Dunoon Grammar School will see a tasty sandwich they created being sold in over 100 fast food stores across the West of Scotland, after winning a national competition organised by Subway.   More than 80 entries were submitted to the fast food giant’s annual ‘Design a Sub Challenge’, but only six teams made it through to the ‘Dragon’s Den’ style finals in Glasgow – two of which were from Dunoon Grammar.  

Successful partnership working between Argyll and Bute Council and Police Scotland, which secured a conviction following a horrific livestock attack last year, has led to improved working practices which could be shared throughout Scotland.