Also in the news / Also in the news – 12 May 2026
- Funding to remove barriers to employment
- Storytelling workshops
- HIE chairman reflects on Shetland visit
- Orkney MSP to go for presiding officer role
A FUND designed to remove barriers to employment in Shetland has been launched again, with local organisations invited to apply within the next four weeks.
The scheme has been set up through the Shetland Employability Partnership and is part of approximately £400,000 received from Scottish Government’s ‘No One Left Behind’ initiative to help support people into work, including training, education and volunteering.
Shetland Islands Council’s economic development manager Tommy Coutts, who chairs the local Employability Partnership, said: “I’d urge any local organisations who employ folk in any capacity or who are in the business of removing barriers to employment to look at whether they could benefit from this funding.
“We want to make sure that everyone in Shetland has a chance to access opportunities for work, whatever their circumstances.”
For more information on eligibility and contact details, visit here.
STORYTELLING workshops, led by Liz Musser and Ruth Oliver, will take place over the coming weeks ahead of the second Shetland Story Slam in June.
In the two-part personal storytelling workshops, on Saturday 23 May and Saturday 6 June, participants will have the chance to look at crafting their own experiences into personal stories to share at the Shetland Story Slam, or at other public speaking events such as their next job interview.
During the two half-day workshops the same group of participants will explore story principles, mine their memories for story ideas, craft a five-minute story and share them with others in the group.
The Shetland Story Slam event itself will be held in Mareel on Friday 19 June, with the theme of the night being family.
Inspired by the award-winning Moth storytelling events first held in New York City 25 years ago, Shetland Story Slam is a night of live, personal storytelling.
Participants can fill out this form to put your name forward to tell a story. Anyone with questions is invited to contact shetlandstoryslam@gmail.com.
THE CHAIRMAN of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has reflected on an “inspiring” visit to Shetland.
Among the visits made by Angus Campbell were to Lerwick Port Authority, the town’s fishmarket, Sullom Voe Terminal, Bigton’s Stakkadale Coffee and Fair Isle.
Writing in a new blog, Campbell said: “As chair, I find visits like this invaluable.
“They highlight the diversity and resilience of our region and the importance of strong collaboration, while time spent on the ground deepens our understanding local economies and how best to support them.”
ORKNEY MSP Liam McArthur has announced his intention to stand for the role of Presiding Officer (PO) in the seventh session of the Scottish Parliament.
The vote to elect a new PO is expected to take place this Thursday 14 May after MSPs have been sworn in.
McArthur previously served as deputy presiding officer last session alongside Annabelle Ewing and under outgoing PO Alison Johnstone.
The Lib Dem was re-elected last week to the parliament after gaining 70 per cent of the votes in Orkney – largest share of the vote in a constituency in Holyrood history.
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