Latest News

Orkney Islands Council has welcomed news HIAL and the Prospect workers union have established a ‘mutually agreeable approach for the modernisation of air traffic services at HIAL’s airports’, with Prospect agreeing to suspend all industrial action from 12.00 today, Monday 25 October 2021, while talks on the implementation of HIAL’s Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) continue.

Orkney Islands Council’s Political Leader, James Stockan, has been shortlisted as ‘Leader of the Year’ in a national councillor awards scheme.

Flagstone repairs are due to be carried out in Stromness over the coming months, starting on Monday 25 October through to mid-March 2022, with a suspension during the Christmas period.

These works, which are being carried out by BDS Surfacing Ltd on behalf of the Council, will cover sections of John Street, Victoria Street, Graham Place, Dundas Street, Alfred Street, South End and Ness Road. This will lead to sections of the street being closed at times - these will be signposted and kept to an absolute minimum.

An event to enable employers to learn more about how they can support young people in achieving a successful future is being held in Kirkwall.

The Young Person’s Guarantee Marketplace will be a chance for employers to learn about some of the support that is available locally to help them create opportunities in their business for young people.  A range of providers and support agencies will be on hand to provide information and support and answer any questions employers may have.

The drop in temperatures has reminded us that winter is on the way and in preparation the Orkney Local Emergency Co-ordinating Group (OLECG) has met to ensure partners are winter ready.

The group involves representatives from a broad range of organisations, including the emergency and public services, transport providers, the utilities and voluntary sector, and they gathered together virtually on Wednesday (20 October) to discuss winter readiness and ensure resilience plans are in order.

What are your climate action priorities?

If you are aged between 11-26, then you are being invited to join the Scottish Youth Climate Summit on Saturday 30 October to connect with other young folk, to learn from experts and create Scotland’s Youth Climate Declaration in advance of COP26.

The master and crew of the Earl Sigurd ferry have been praised for their quick thinking in attending to a poorly passenger on board.

Jane Rendall, a school cook, was travelling from Papay to Kirkwall on Tuesday tea-time when she began feeling very unwell.

An Orkney Head Teacher, who gave herself a mountain to climb to raise cash for a cancer charity close to her heart, has successfully completed the challenge.

Papdale Primary School’s Wendy Bowen decided to aim high taking on the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, in memory of a dear friend she lost to pancreatic cancer.

This year the Orkney College UHI annual special award presentations were a little different although no less special for those involved.

While these special awards are normally presented as part of the annual Graduation Ceremony, this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the university partnership made the very difficult decision to cancel face-to-face graduation ceremonies in 2021. 

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.