COPE appoints new manager

SOCIAL Enterprise COPE has appointed Ingrid Webb as its new general manager.

Mrs Webb is a qualified social worker and was the manager of the council run Eric Gray Centre, in Lerwick, before emigrating with her family to Australia, in 2006. 

Down under she has been working as operations manager of ‘Life Without Barriers’ a non-governmental organisation in Queensland, which provides services for the disabled. 
 
Mrs Webb will take up her duties at COPE’s office at the Port Business Park in January next year.

Interim general manager Malcolm Bell will stay in his post until Mrs Webb has arrived back in Shetland.

She said: “I can’t wait to get started when we return home to Shetland in January. 

“I have been in close contact with Malcolm over the past few weeks and I have been very impressed with what COPE have been doing in the time since we left Shetland.

“I am really looking forward to working alongside everyone to build on the success that has already been achieved and work towards new and exciting projects for the future.”

Chair of COPE’s board of trustees, Jim Smith, added: “We are pleased to welcome Ingrid to the key leadership position in our organisation. 

“Ingrid has all the skills required for this job and the trustees were impressed with her work in the past, both in Shetland and Australia, in similar organisations.”

Community Opportunities for Participation in Enterprise (COPE) works closely with Shetland Islands Council providing meaningful work opportunities for adults with disabilities throughout Shetland.