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Marine / Tall Ships team grows as preparations continue for 2023

Lerwick harbour is set to welcome the Tall Ships Races in summer of 2023. Photo: Ryan Leith

PREPARATIONS for the Tall Ships Races’ visit to Lerwick next year are stepping up with a new website and staff appointments.

The team is also branching out to social media, including video app TikTok.

The website, developed by NB Communication, will be updated as details are confirmed on the public social programme and ships signing up to visit.

Meanwhile the office-based project team is now established with Shona Bairnson and Lakota Clubb joining as project assistant and digital media assistant respectively.

Emma Miller is already signed up as project manager.

The digital media assistant post has been part-funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Other members of the non-office based event team include Tim Matthew as music programme coordinator and Yvonne Reynolds as family entertainment coordinator.

Anyone who would like to submit their interest in providing musical or family entertainment services can contact them at tim.tallshipsshetland@gmail.com and yvonne@realtaevents.co.uk.

The company is also currently recruiting for a chief liaison officer role and is tendering for a health, safety and environment manager in addition to a PR and marketing contractor to oversee national and international media relations.

Miller said: “The team is really coming together now and preparations are definitely stepping up a gear for next year’s event.

“There are certainly a number of additional challenges facing us in planning a large-scale event after the industry has been on hold for two years, but the positive attitude and enthusiasm we are seeing from the public, and from businesses as potential suppliers and sponsors, is fantastic.”

Shetland Islands Council chief executive Maggie Sandison added: “It’s great to see the project get to this stage, and the Tall Ships team coming together so impressively. It’s also fantastic to see the support coming forward from local businesses and organisations. I think the event is going to be a tremendous boost to the local economy, and a much-needed celebration for the community.”

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The Tall Ships visit to Lerwick is also being supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s director of events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting Lerwick to host the Tall Ships Races in 2023 and showcase the region’s amazing scenery and culture to an avid audience of sailing enthusiasts.”

HIE development manager Gabbi Heaton-Armstrong also said the digital media assistant post will be “instrumental in helping to attract thousands of visitors to the island during the four-day event and in communicating real-time interaction with key audiences leading up to the event”.

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