Also in the news 22 October

A DIVERSION has been put in place due to a landslip affecting the road between Garderhouse and Reawick following heavy rain.

Traffic for Reawick and Skeld is being directed through the Houllmalees and Gruting, Shetland Islands Council said.

Work will shortly be underway to clear the road, which is expected to be open within a few hours.

SHETLANDER Katrina Coutts has been announced as a finalist for the AgriScot Business Skills Award 2026.

The award recognises outstanding agricultural professionals in Scotland between 18 and 25 years old.

Coutts recently graduated with a first class honours degree from the SRUC Aberdeen Campus and now works as an agricultural consultant with SAC consulting.

She said: “The business skills competition is pushing me out my comfort zone, developing my business skills, and helping make me new contacts within the agricultural industry.

“I entered the competition after hearing about this year’s theme, as it aligns perfectly with what I am seeing at work just now.”

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The Business Skills Award final will take place at AgriScot on Wednesday 18 November, where the winner will be awarded £1,000 in prize money, and the two runners-up will receive £250 each.

THE THIRD ‘Story Slam’ event is set to take place at Mareel in Lerwick on Sunday 1 November, promising a night of live, personal storytelling.

This instalment is also a part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2026.

The theme of the night is Bird and Beast, with folk invited to come along and hear stories of “extraordinary wildlife on our doorsteps in Shetland, or perhaps something that happened on the other side of the world”.

Ruth Oliver, who is one of the organisers, said there are some “great storytellers” signed up already, but there is still room for more.

“We’d love to hear from anyone who has a story to tell about birds or beasts of any kind,” she said.

“We’d also love to see you there in the audience – it’s always a great night, full of warmth and connection. It’s always fascinating to hear these five-minute windows into other folk’s lives”.

For more information on signing up, visit here. Tickets for the event are available online.

SMALL business owners and the self-employed are being invited to a free networking event to help make new connections and grow their businesses.

After a successful event in May, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is returning to Lerwick on 10 November, at Islesburgh in Lerwick, and is issuing an open invite to small local firms.

Running from 10am to 12 noon, attendees can “connect and collaborate to help grow their businesses, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere”.

The event booking page can be found here.

THE COUNCIL has warned drivers of an oil spill between Brae and Voe.

It said warning signs are being put up, and asked for motorists to take care in the area.