Eco-travel, sustainable tourism, and cruise liner strategy are just some of the topics up for discussion at this year’s Orkney Tourism Summit, which gets underway next month.

Open to all Destination Orkney members, the free online summit will run for six evenings across a two-week period from 9 November, with a line-up of key industry speakers and a range of special training sessions on offer.

Vital connectivity services for Orkney, has been completed by Exchange Communications, one of the UK’s leading telephony and digital transformation specialists, streamlining council services and providing enhanced services for more than 22,000 residents.

Exchange Communications won the contract with Orkney Islands Council to install a future-proof new communication infrastructure for its 750 office based employees, which will help them deliver council services more effectively across the islands as services and amenities continue to increase. 

Seven organisations in Orkney are to benefit from funding totalling almost £450,000 to support employment, community resilience, health and wellbeing.

Enterprises in Hoy, Eday, North Ronaldsay, Sanday and the Mainland are set to receive a collective total of £445,224.05 from the Scottish Government’s £2 million Island Communities Fund.

Age Scotland Orkney (ASO) have secured a long-term future premises within the town centre thanks to support from the Council.

ASO were able to purchase their existing office base at 46 Victoria Street in Kirkwall after receiving a loan from the OIC.

A dedicated grant supported by sportScotland to help sportspeople in Orkney with the costs of attending competitive and training opportunities has received a £3k boost from Stagecoach.

The Athlete Travel Award Scheme is a partnership between sportScotland and participating local authorities - Orkney Islands, Western Isles, Shetland Islands and Highlands Councils. It’s aimed at helping ‘elite pathway’ athletes – athletes with potential to reach elite levels of competition and performance - from the Highlands and Islands gain better access to competition and training opportunities without having to relocate from their communities.