BAR ONE IN INVERNESS TO HOST 'CELEBRATING SEX AND THE CITY'

02 May 2010

The American TV series ‘Sex and the City’ is set to bring good news to a Highland charity when it hits the big screen in Inverness later this month.

‘Sex and the City2: the Movie’ will be seen by 110 women from the Highland area during an evening of events focused on the film, with the proceeds from the raffle going to the Highland Hospice.

The event is being held in Inverness at the stylish Bar One. Those attending ‘Celebrating Sex and the City’ can look forward to themed cocktails, canapes, and then travel to Eden Court Cinema to see the movie in its first week of launch. They will then return to Bar One for remaining cocktails and a chance to chat about the movie.

Bev Alexander, area manager of Bar One said: “This will be a great opportunity to get on those dresses and high heels and enjoy the movie with a bit of fun at Bar One. The film has been much awaited and there is a fantastic amount of demand for the tickets. There are lots of women out there wanting to make a night of their movie experience with their girlfriends. And the fact the proceeds from the raffle will be going to a worthwhile charity just adds to the occasion."

The event starts at 6.30 for 7pm on Friday, 28th May. More information is available from www.lucidmessages.com or through the ticket hotline (01463) 724577.

The event, starting at 6.30 for 7pm on Friday, 28th May 2010, will include:
• Three SATC2 inspired cocktails with canapés in BAR ONE in Inverness
• THEN luxury coach travel to Eden Court Theatre to watch Sex and the City 2: the Movie
• Reserved seats in the cinema (drinks are available to buy outside the cinema)
• Travel back to Bar One for remaining cocktails and a chance to talk about the movie
• There will also be a luxury raffle and fabulous party bags
• All for £45 with proceeds from the raffle going to the very worthy Highland Hospice

NEW SOLUTION FOR £MULTI-MILLION OFFSHORE ENERGY PROJECT RISKS

30 April 2010

Potential disasters facing multi-million pound offshore energy projects are the focus of a groundbreaking ‘nerve centre’ system developed by a Scottish energy company.

Pioneering offshore wind and marine renewables developments, accelerating around the shores of Scotland and internationally, must overcome multiple barriers of risk and uncertainty to succeed. Now energy consultancy Xodus has developed an intelligent, web-based tool to anticipate and avert costly set-backs, from delayed consenting procedures to major production breakdowns in renewables and oil and gas sectors.

“Oil and gas operators across the world are constantly looking for better risk management and, with the offshore renewables industry blazing the trail for the rest of the world here in Scotland, this is good timing for a system that integrates and simplifies the process,” said Liz Foubister, Orkney-based Alternative Energy Director at Xodus, who are headquartered in Aberdeen.

Replacing traditional, fragmented risk management systems, the ‘Xrisk’ management tool deals with likelihood, severity and cost implications of risks, and prioritises counter-activities.

“Most systems involve emailed sharing of reviews and actions on various documents and spreadsheets, making activity relatively slow and inefficient,” said Ms Foubister.

“This internet-based system combines a single, securely shared risk register, enabling managers located anywhere in the world to build clear plans with actions assigned, managed, tracked and auditable.”

Xodus staff have already used Xrisk successfully in risk management consultancy for major oil and gas and renewables operators and are now developing it as a stand-alone tool for direct use by client companies.

Xodus’s Orkney office is central to the Pentland Firth area, where 10 major marine energy projects are currently seeking consent, and close to the European Marine Energy Centre, also in Stromness, where full-scale wave and tidal devices are trialled.

HIE APPROVES ASSISTANCE TO ROSS-SHIRE ENGINEERING FIRM

26 April 2010

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has approved £620,000 funding towards the expansion of a local engineering and fabrication firm. Isleburn Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Energy Group Ltd, applied for HIE funding towards a new fabrication workshop and shot blast and paint shop in Invergordon. HIE has approved up to £433,040 with an additional £186,960 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) towards the project.

Susan Smith, Head of Operations for HIE, said: "Invergordon and the area to the north of the Cromarty Firth has a wealth of fabrication and welding skills. Global Energy Group is a major player in the global energy and engineering sector and its increased investment in the area is strongly welcomed. HIE is delighted to be able to offer support to the project as it has the potential to put the Cromarty Firth at the forefront of the renewables industry in Scotland and possibly the UK."

Isleburn Ltd currently has around 260 staff, of which 57 are direct employees, across four locations in the Highlands; Nigg, Evanton, Deephaven and Invergordon. The new fabrication workshop will be built on land leased from the Cromarty Firth Port Authority with the shot blast and paint shop located at the Cromarty Firth Industrial Estate.

Both facilities will enable the business to potentially employ an additional 61 staff directly and 600 contract workers, supporting the business to compete worldwide in opportunities arising in the renewables industry.

Cromarty Firth Port Authority completed a ‘fast-track’ lease with the Global Energy Group to help meet the company’s urgent need for the new building.

Port authority manager and harbourmaster Ken Gray said: “We saw the need to quickly finalise a lease on the land and allow an early start on construction of the new building. There was an urgent requirement to keep the employment in the area and retain a wide range of valuable skills to maintain the region’s strong momentum in the energy sector.

“By securing this operation here in the Highlands, we have also helped to underpin our ambition for the Cromarty Firth, with its world-leading port and harbour infrastructure and skill-sets, to become a centre of excellence in servicing energy industry needs, from rig inspection to subsea and from offshore wind to wave and tidal.”

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO CONVERGE ON SHETLAND

25 April 2010

Twenty-two international partners engaged in an ambitious environmental improvement project will gather in Unst, the most northerly of Shetland’s islands, this week.

The partners, from six northern European countries, are working to develop island-based approaches to the sustainable use of energy, water and natural and man-made materials.

At the meeting on Tuesday (26TH April), they will hear of recent developments made on several island pilot projects, which already are being transformed into sustainable solutions to water, energy and waste issues.

Unst’s Pure Energy Centre has developed a ‘wind to wet’ system. Its benefits include the ability to store heat for use as required. The ‘wind to wet’ system is the next generation of sustainable heating systems, stemming from the ‘wind2heat’ system they developed in 2003, which was replicated throughout Scotland.

The partners involved in the ‘Cradle to Cradle Islands’ project come from the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and United Kingdom. They represent ten islands, regional authorities, knowledge institutes, environmental agencies and district water boards.

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Islands is an Interreg IVB North Sea Region Project, led by the Province of Friesland. The project commenced in 2009 and over a four year period €3.5 million has been made available for the pilot projects.

“Shetland’s particular interest in the C2C Islands Project is in developing sustainable solutions and the knowledge transfer between the island groups,” said Elizabeth Johnson, Business Development Manager at Pure Energy Centre.

Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands is co-ordinating the energy pilot projects. Dutch water technology research institute, Wetsus at Leeuwarden, is co-ordinating the water activities, and Michael Braungart, the German founder of the cradle to cradle philosophy, is leading the work on materials.

To follow-on from Tuesday’s meeting, Shetland Islands Council and PURE Energy Centre will be hosting a Sustainable Shetland Conference on Wednesday in Scalloway. The conference, to be held in the NAFC Marine Centre will provide a platform for local people to demonstrate how the Cradle to Cradle Islands concept has been adopted and applied in the Shetland Islands.

The project themes and identity of the project partners can all be found at the Cradle to Cradle Islands® website www.c2cislands.org

New world first for pioneering renewables centre

15 April 2010

The world’s first full-scale marine energy test centre has put forward the first set of global standards for judging the performance of wave and tidal-powered devices.

The draft standards have been developed under the leadership of the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre, to achieve common worldwide yardsticks in the pioneering field of sea power.

Now the global electrical standards ‘watchdog’ body will next month scrutinise EMEC’s proposed global measures for device performance, wave and tidal site resource assessment in considering a certification scheme for devices.
   
They are part of a wider suite of marine energy standards developed by EMEC in six-years of pioneering marine power development. These propose measures for the performance, reliability and survivability of devices, as well as for assessing wave and tidal site resources, and for key aspects including design and manufacture, environmental appraisal, and health and safety practice.

The move marks another renewables innovation for Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, where the world’s first deep-water offshore wind demonstration project is operating and which last month became the location of the world’s first commercial wave and tidal leasing round, for ten major marine energy developments from Caithness to Orkney.

Already more than 4,000 copies of the draft standard documents have been distributed worldwide to users from industry, academia, other test centres and national governments. With the standards regularly in practical use, EMEC is also collating essential feedback to keep the documents current as the industry rapidly develops. Over 150 industry people were involved in preparing the standards which were each drafted by relevant experts, with professional commentary and editing by the British Standards Institution.

The International Electrotechnical Commission, which sets global standards to improve industrial efficiency, safety, environmental protection and world trade, will review the EMEC proposals through a meeting of its marine energy technical committee on 13-14 May. The agenda includes reports from the sub-committees working on wave and tidal performance testing as well as wave and tidal resources assessment, and the use of a certification scheme based on the EMEC guide is under discussion.

EMEC, which began testing and accreditation of grid-connected marine energy prototypes on-site in Orkney in 2004, has developed the overall suite of 12 draft standards and guides through industry cross-section groups of technical, regulatory, academic, utility and renewable project development experts.

Standards project director John Griffiths said: “It is vitally important that the marine energy industry develops standards that provide international credibility and these documents are an important step forward.

“A standard is simply an agreed, repeatable method and EMEC wants to help grow the industry by sharing experience. Agreed assessment standards and guidelines are essential for consistent and accurate industry approaches and will improve the reliability and effectiveness of what we do.”

The draft marine energy device standards range from setting out water depth, current and wave behaviour criteria, to meteorological recording, power measurement instrumentation and reporting regimes. The proposed certification scheme, for individual devices or whole marine energy farms, covers procedures for checking conformity in areas including performance, reliability, power network inter-action, and safety.

EMEC began standards development work in 2003, the year of its inception, when it pioneered methods for characterising localised wave energy levels and matching these to electrical power measurement to consistently gauge wave energy device performances.

The centre’s development has been funded through partnership involving the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Orkney Islands Council, the UK Government and the Carbon Trust.  Apart from being the first centre in the world to test full scale grid-connected prototype devices in rigorous wave and tidal conditions, EMEC assists other test centres and is a lead player in international marine energy development co-operation.

Issued by Lucid PR, Events and Marketing

Electrical Growth Sparks International Expansion for Highland Company

12 April 2010

A Scottish energy equipment supply company with increasing global ambition is expanding its international reach through new office bases in Melbourne, Australia, and Qatar in the Middle-East.

MacLean Electrical, headquartered in the Highlands of Scotland, has opened the new offices following record growth in turnover, which last year topped £100 million.

The company – which supplies industrial and specialist hazardous area electrical equipment and cables to the oil and gas, wider energy sector and other markets from industrial to local government – already has a Middle-East presence in Dubai and took a direct foothold in the Asia-Pacific region three years ago by buying a supply company in Perth, Western Australia.

Now the latest base in Australia’s south-eastern state of Victoria provides a platform for real-time customer communications and new growth across the continent and further afield.

Meanwhile, the Qatar office provides the essential local presence needed to win business in the country’s massive gas market. The Perth and Melbourne offices, together employing 25 people, operate under the “JT Day” name of the Australian supply company purchased by MacLean, who plan to significantly grow their Asia-Pacific business from the current sterling equivalent of more than £14million.

Founded in the 1970’s to supply the North Sea oil and gas industry, MacLean Electrical employs 190 people and its international network also includes the USA, two business units in Aberdeen, and others in Wick, Cumbernauld and Newcastle.

The company is also looking to the fast-growing global renewables sector through its International Projects Group at its Dingwall, Ross-shire HQ in the heart of the Highlands and lslands, where burgeoning ‘new energy’ industries include onshore and offshore wind, wave and tidal energy.

Managing Director Donnie MacLean said: “Our Australian and Middle-East operations have proven very successful and recent wider group development has included greatly enhancing our systems and services to ensure we are the leading supplier of choice". “Global economic conditions will affect many companies in the current year but we are fitting ourselves for a forthcoming new wave of energy and other project releases, and we fully intend to invest further in the Middle-East, Asia-Pacific and beyond.”

Issued by Lucid PR, Events and Marketing

Lucid launches new Blog

03 April 2010

Lucid PR, Events and Marketing have launched a new blog. It is part of the company's wider use of new media and using internet tools.

Lead director for Lucid, Peter Kane, said: "The new blog allows us to step out of the website and explore various events happening in our service areas. It also enables us to have a look at the lighter side, at times, of PR, events and marketing.

"We intend to have guest bloggers and a few fun surprises. We hope it will add to the knowledge and experience of visitors to the site."
View External Site >>>

Scottish Team Set to Take International Lead in Marine Energy Research

26 March 2010

A specialist team is being assembled in the Highlands of Scotland to give the country an international lead in a new sector spun out from the fast-growing marine energy sector. As wave, tidal and offshore wind-power generation technologies are rolled out across the Scottish Highlands and Islands, a Caithness organisation is creating a team of more than 20 experts to carve a specialism in addressing the new industry's environmental issues.

The Environmental Research Institute is putting together the specialist academics, technical and support staff to tackle areas including assessing wave and tidal resources, monitoring ecological and wildlife impacts of power devices, and planning for environmental and community sustainability.

"Despite rapid development of marine generating devices - often pioneered in this region - knowledge of environmental issues is much less advanced and we have the opportunity to establish academic leadership in this field," said ERI Director, Professor Stuart Gibb.

ERI is to open the £3million Centre for Energy and the Environment at its location in Thurso, beside the Pentland Firth which this month became the location of the world's first commercial wave and tidal leasing round, for major energy developments on ten sites from Caithness to Orkney.

With a management team in place and £4million funding for a multi-topic research project, ERI are now recruiting a programme leader and researchers. The £4million will fund the Marine Renewable Energy and the Environment (MaREE) programme, which ERI will lead, in partnership with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Dunstaffnage, Argyll.

Professor Gibb said: With some of the world's best natural resources and a leading-edge in renewables technologies, the Highlands and Islands region is developing a worldwide reputation in the marine renewables sector. Our role is to advance understanding of the, often complex and challenging, marine environmental issues.

"This task will bring significant numbers of new knowledge-based jobs to the area. Through them we aim to achieve the highest academic standards and ensure the value of the work - from contributing to sustainable development to engaging our young people through the education sector - is fully realised"

In just a decade, ERI, together with SAMS, has achieved recognition for high academic standards through the national Research Assessment Exercise programme, which has classified 85 per cent of its work as of international quality, ranking it second only to Edinburgh University in its field in Scotland, and 13th in the UK.

Funding for the MaREE programme, which will account for about 13 of ERI's new team, including four PhD students, has come from the EU, Scottish Funding Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Apart from personnel, it enables the two institutes - both partners in UHI, the emergent University of the Highlands and Islands - to acquire key equipment, from an undersea remotely operated vehicle to imaging sonar, for use from their coastal survey vessels.

ERI's Centre for Energy and the Environment, a sustainably-designed complex of laboratory, workshop, seminar and other resources is due for completion before the end of the year.

The Crown Estate's wave and tidal leasing round for the Pentland Firth, announced on March 16, allowed developers to enter planning consent processes - including environmental assessments - on 10 different marine sites from Caithness to Orkney. Their total proposed installed capacity by 2020, at 1.2 gigawatts, is similar to that of a large nuclear power station.

Highlands and Islands Forges Energy Links With Brazil

18 March 2010

Businesses from Scotland’s Highlands and Islands are bound for Brazil to pursue opportunities in South America’s biggest energy market.

The three companies, all providing specialist oil and gas and other services internationally, will meet key energy industry decision-makers in Brazil’s second city, Rio de Janeiro, and in Macae, the country’s main oil and gas operations centre.

As the Highlands and Islands continues to make its mark as the country’s ‘new energy’ hub, the businesses are going with the region’s North Scotland Industries Group for the four-day trade mission, starting on Monday, organised by Scottish Development International.

James Mowatt, design engineer and owner of Caithness firm MTDS, will be back in Brazil after earlier contacts through which his company are already set to run a full-scale demonstration project for their revolutionary ‘slow water’ renewable power turbine on the Amazon River. He said: “Apart from the turbine project, we know we can bring innovative techniques in designing machinery and plant in a range of energy fields, including responsible and safe decommissioning work, of which we have huge experience through our work at Dounreay.”

John Macritchie will represent Inverness-based international recruitment agency the Orion Group, 19 of whose 28 offices are overseas. He said: “I will be there to explore how we might set up in Brazil to supply personnel to the energy sector, taking into account key challenges there, which include visa, work permit and tax compliance issues.”

Orkney business Opus Plus are represented by Business Development Manager Rik Dawson. The Opus company, who employ 20 on the island of Flotta within their wider UK-based operation, develop and provide process optimisation, installation and other oil and gas services. Their Orkney-developed ‘Mares Tail’ device, which removes residual oil from water discharged as by-product from oil and gas production units, is already in use in locations including offshore UK, Indonesia, West Africa and Brazil itself. A new generation Mare’s Tail is set for market launch later this year.

NSIG chief executive Ian Couper who leads the Highlands and Islands group on the trade mission, said: “With well over 100 members now, our group are there to identify and bring back practical information on the opportunities and pitfalls in the Brazilian market. The country’s oil and gas sector is maturing and modernising fast but they still need a lot of specialist international inputs, of the kind that our members can supply.”

The trade mission businesses will be meeting market intelligence sources, including British Consulate officials, consultants and UK companies operating locally. They will meet a range of Brazilian businesses, including Petrobras, the country’s biggest operator which is mainly state-owned.

Brazil has massive known reserves of oil, at nearly 15 billion barrels, and huge amounts of gas. Oil production has more than doubled to nearly 2million barrels per day in the past decade. Rapid growth in areas including exploration, drilling, pipelines, and refineries has produced huge technology, skills and labour requirements.

Scottish Company Pioneer Revolutionary Energy Technology on Amazon River

17 March 2010

Caithness firm MTDS has designed a unique device to capture energy from slow flowing rivers – an untapped commercial market across the world – and minimise any environmental impacts.

MTDS owner and design engineer James Mowat has spent three years developing the turbine which bucks conventional tidal designs – often resembling ‘underwater windmills’ – by instead using vertical rotors, like revolving doors.

Now the company is set to build a full-scale version for the 12-month demonstration project on the Amazon.

Advantages include its ability to extract power from previously unviable slow water currents, cheaper manufacturing, easier installation, low maintenance and much easier grid connections than for ocean environments.

Because the turbine’s blades move at about the same speed as the current – unlike conventional rotors that slice across the water flow – efficiency is maximised and potential marine life impacts are reduced or removed. With no need to dam rivers and estuaries, as needed for other turbines, habitat disturbance is minimised.

The components of the full-scale prototype, at nearly 50 tonnes and nearly 20-feet wide, are to be manufactured in Caithness, then shipped to Brazil and built and installed by the Scottish team by late 2010.

The Amazon was selected in partnership with a major energy-related organisation in Brazil, where oil companies often have to use generators to power their own operations and local communities, but are looking to cut fuel-shipping costs and environmental impacts.

After up to a year of operational and environmental monitoring, MTDS’s South American project partner, will retain the rights to license the device in Brazil, while the Scottish company will then market it elsewhere.

“There is huge potential for riverside villages and towns without access to sufficient power, or requiring green energy,” said Mr Mowat. “Prime markets range from Chile and Uruguay, through China, India and Russia.”

A scale model turbine has performed successfully in controlled trails and the full-scale version will now be built and tested to verify the power output. Despite its size, it will be smaller and many times lighter than other tidal turbines, allowing easier transport and installation.

Mr Mowat’s company employs 36 people and building the first turbine will employ an estimated 24 people for three months. “Further turbines for distant countries are likely to be built closer to their installation sites but we can build them here, for use in Britain and Europe, at the rate of between 12 to 24 units a year, creating major new local employment,” said Mr Mowat.

MTDS has developed through providing high-tech design and manufacture of components, structures, instrumentation and control systems for the oil and gas and nuclear industries. Now it is diversifing to meet opportunities in the fast-growing renewable energy sector.

“We saw the opportunity to apply the same high skill and innovation levels to take a lead in a growing sector with huge economic and environmental benefits,” said Mr Mowat, whose research and development on the new turbine has been assisted by regional development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Mr Mowat added: “This turbine can be used in previously unviable rivers and estuaries anywhere in the world, as well as faster marine tidal sites, and we are also looking at its use below existing hydro dams and in bridges, causeways and piers.

“Meantime, we are also talking to other potential partners about another full-scale river demonstration project here in Britain.”

Lucid Announces New Chairman

03 March 2010

Lucid PR, Events and Marketing has announced that leading Scottish businessman Joe Costello has joined the company as its chairman.

Joe is the current CEO of The essentiagroup, a contact centre company delivering health advice lines. During his tenure the company has grown from a turnover of £2million to more than £15million; staff numbers have risen from 60 to 500; and they have opened sites in London, Newcastle and Brora to complement operations at their Glasgow headquarters.

Joe Costello said: "I'm very much looking forward to delivering my role with Lucid. I have a personal interest in many of the services they provide and I look forward to helping the company progress and grow over the coming years."

Peter Kane, lead director for Lucid PR, Events and Marketing said: "This is great news for our company. It means we will have Joe's considerable expertise and experience aiding us to develop. He is also a business mentor in a programme run by Highlands and Islands Enterprise so his skills are widely recognised.

"We are also pleased to announce that Joe will be delivering business skills, management and leadership mentoring for Lucid clients. This expands our services and what we offer for clients."

Kane Communication growth sees development of LUCID identity

30 November 2009

Kane Communication Ltd became LUCID PR, EVENTS AND MARKETING Ltd on December 1st 2009. It is a development which comes about because of the company's growth.

Director Peter Kane said: "It is an exciting time for the company. We have moved to larger premises and developed our own brand which has resulted in a name change.

"We have increased our skill sets and services so clients can expect even more of us. We have received a great response about our developments and we're looking forward to building on our developments."

Kane Communication manages Holyrood awards event

16 January 2009

Kane Communication will manage the Scottish Countryside Alliance Awards at the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, on February 11th.

The awards will be hosted by Roseanna Cunningham MSP and will feature leading businesses and organisations from across rural Scotland. Members of the Parliament will also be in attendance and the awards winners will go on to the UK finals being held at the House of Lords on the 18th of March.

The awards are hosted by the Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA), a leading authority on rural issues. Geva Blackett, chief executive of the SCA, said: “The nominations for the awards are made by the public. They represent genuine recognition of the wonderful business and community stories to be found right across Scotland.

“We are excited about the quality, enterprise and commitment of the nominees, they deserve great praise for the work they have done in the past year in particular.

“It will be an extremely tough task to select the winners and we are confident that whoever wins will be superb representatives for Scotland at the UK final.”

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Christmas with Comedian Craig Hill

23 November 2008

Kane Communication have announced their latest new event. The Ladies Only Christmas Party will be hosted at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness by top Scottish comedian Craig Hill.

Abba tribute performers Abba's Angels will also provide entertainment along with a disco, food, wine and cocktails.

Organiser Suzanne Kane said: "This follows on from our successful Sex in the City film premiere which was also for ladies only, except this time Craig Hill will be our fantastic host. He will join us for cocktails and then perform throughout the evening.

"This Christmas party will be one of our 'Little Black Dress' events which will be run for women only."

For more information about remaining tickets, call Suzanne on 01463 871600.

Capercaillie concert is resounding success for Highland Hospice

16 November 2008

The 21st Birthday Gala Celebration for the Highland Hospice, event managed by Kane Communication, has been hailed as a memorable and resounding success, not least because it sold out Eden Court.

The celebration (November 15th) effectively incorporated three separate events. There was the launch of the Hospice's new Ambassador Programme (which is aimed at fundraising) that took place in Eden Court's Bishop's Palace; then a concert featuring traditional supergroup Capercaillie, talented singer and musician Iain Morrison as support, and renowed Scottish comedian Craig Hill as host for the night in the Empire Theatre; and finally, an aftershow private party for the artistes, sponsors and Hospice staff. All of this was managed by Kane Communication.

Organiser Suzanne Kane said: "We were delighted to be given such an important task by the Highland Hospice when invited to manage these events which involved over 1,000 people in the audience and behind the scenes. Those attending loved the attention to detail and special extras we arranged such as fire-eaters outside Eden Court, a balloon drop during Capercaillie's encore, and birthday cake for everyone leaving the theatre.

"It was a special night and delivered exactly what the Hospice was looking for - a superb thank you to the people of the Highlands for their support of the charity over the years. The fact that it sold out was very rewarding. Working with the Hospice team was a joy and we are looking forward to working with them again in the near future."

David Welch, Director of Fundraising for Highland Hospice said: "Really, the event could not have been more perfect. 10 out of 10 to Kane Communication. We had a spectacular night that was incredibly well organised and everyone who was there had a fantastic time."

Kane Communication Launches 'Celebrating Sex and the City'

24 April 2008

Kane Communication is to stage a special event focused on Sex and the City: The Movie. The much awaited film of the TV series about four women living in New York, comes to Inverness at the end of May.

The event starts at 4pm, May 31st. It will include:

• Exclusive pre-dinner Cosmopolitan cocktails in the Piano Bar of the
  Glenmoriston Town House Hotel in Inverness
• A two-course 'Sex and the City' dinner especially prepared by the
  Glenmoriston’s top chef
• Wine and coffee with your meal
• THEN luxury coach travel to the Vue cinema to watch
  Sex and the City: the Movie
• Reserved seats with drinks for sale in the cinema
• Travel back to the Glenmoriston for a final Cosmopolitan and a chance
  to have a gossip about the movie
• There will also be a luxury raffle and fabulous party bags
• Proceeds on the night will go to the Highland Hospice

More information is available by email or telephone (01463) 871600. Spaces are limited and tickets cost £45.

Kane Communication client joins The Listening Company

15 April 2008

One of Kane Communication's clients, The essentiagroup, has joined The Listening Company in a notable business move. Kane Communication was responsible for the brand development and communication tools of The essentiagroup, including the company's website.

The essentiagroup employs 450 people in its Glasgow, Newcastle and Brora contact centres. Its advice lines cover such issues as smoking cessation, substance misuse and sexual health. Its prestigious client list includes the COI, the Scottish Government, the British Medical Association, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Department of Health.

The combined Listening group of companies will employ over 2,500 people in six locations in the UK, will manage over 31 million conversations a year and will have revenues of over £55 million.

Chief Executive of The Listening Company, Neville Upton, said: "We are delighted to acquire The essentiagroup. Our growth strategy requires us to be innovative in the way we develop our products and services accross multiple channels, and this acquisition makes that more possible."

Joe Costello, Managing Director of The essentiagroup, said: "It's great to be part of The Listening Company. As a leading provider of specialist contact centres, The essentiagroup perfectly complements the range of services that The Listening Company provides in the marketplace. This is a very positive development and we look forward to working and growing together."

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101 Useful Websites

11 April 2008

A new listing of 101 Useful Websites has been published by Kane Communication.

Available in pdf format for download from this website, the listing details websites covering the areas of technology, entertainment, house & home, advice & information, social life, shopping and travel.

Free to browsers, the listing is also available in word document format.

Click here to download your pdf version of 101 Useful Websites

To receive a word document version of 101 Useful Websites, please email
Kane Communication and we will send it by return

Internet to become obsolete?

07 April 2008

THE internet could soon be made obsolete. It is being widely reported that the scientists who pioneered it have now built a lightning-fast replacement capable of downloading entire feature films within seconds.

At speeds about 10,000 times faster than a typical broadband connection, “the grid” will be able to send the entire Rolling Stones back catalogue from Britain to Japan in less than two seconds.

The latest spin-off from Cern, the particle physics centre credited with creating the web, the grid could also provide the kind of power needed to transmit holographic images; allow instant online gaming with hundreds of thousands of players; and offer high-definition video telephony for the price of a local call.

David Britton, professor of physics at Glasgow University and a leading figure in the grid project, believes grid technologies could “revolutionise” society. “With this kind of computing power, future generations will have the ability to collaborate and communicate in ways older people like me cannot even imagine,” he said.

For the story in full, please visit our link:View External Site >>>

'Cyber-squatters': 'fake' website causes problems for Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL)

05 April 2008

A Norwich company has set up a website which has left Highlands and Islands Airport (HIAL) unhappy. The site is for Inverness Airport and looks official but is not connected to HIAL.

It highlights the problem of 'cyber squatters' where companies appear to offer the same services as another company or organisation.

Kane Communication's Peter Kane said: "This could be a problem not only for HIAL but for travellers intending to fly in or out of Inverness Airport. Timetables on the unofficial site appear to be out of date. This could lead to a loss of business for HIAL or even complaints if they are unfairly seen to be the source of wrong information. Travellers may try to book the wrong flight times or alter their arrangements to travel by rail or road because they think the flight times don't suit them."

For more information on the story, please visit our link.

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Kane Communication Mind Gym Launched

05 April 2008

Kane Communication have launched their new Mind Gym on their website.

Said Director Peter Kane: "There is a lot happening in the various fields of communication. We give browsers something to look at when they have a five minute coffee break or are researching new developments. We have educational and testing elements such as Word for the Day and an internet Crossword. We also have unusual and surprising stories from around the world.

"As an extra bonus, we will also be featuring useful websites which are great for individual or company use. Our 101 Useful Websites pdf is available from April the 9th as a free download. We hope the Mind Gym will provide our clients and browsers with an interesting take on communication."

New Kane Communication website launches

03 April 2008

Our new website launched today, featuring a clean branding and designed to be as user friendly as possible.

It was developed in conjunction with Highland web design company Plexus Media, using their webstarter content management system.

We hope our clients and browsers will get a lot of information from the site as we add different features to teh site over the coming months.