Talking Point! Orkney Digital Roadshow Event hailed a success

Partnership working between teams at Orkney Islands Council and BT helped deliver a successful Roadshow event at the Orkney Library & Archive communicating key messages to more than 200 folk ahead of the 2027 digital switchover.

The level of interest in the two-day Mainland event has led to the possibility of the BT Roadshow being rolled out to Orkney’s Outer Isles.

The Council’s Graduate Trainee (Digital Engagement & Enterprise), Ewan Kennedy, said: “It was great to see so many people at the BT Roadshow event at the Orkney Library and Archive.  This demonstrates how important this issue is to Orkney. I think the opportunity to speak to someone face-to-face about the move from the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to digital services offered reassurance to those who attended. 

“Orkney Islands Council is now working with BT to deliver training to Island Development Trusts and the third sector to enable similar types of events to be delivered in the isles over the next year or so ahead of the switchover in 2027.”

BT Digital Roadshow presenter, Naveed Hussain, discussed the digital switchover and answered questions relating to BT’s Digital Voice and the switchover. Vicky Hicks, Senior Engagement Manager at BT, said: “We held this event in Orkney to give our customers the chance to speak to us face-to-face about the upcoming changes to landlines, and it was great to see such a strong turnout with over 200 customers visiting us over the two days.

“Being able to partner with Orkney Islands Council has helped make sure our message reaches even more customers, and we look forward to working with them further on this important project over the coming years.”

If anyone has any queries about the digital switchover, they should contact their telecoms provider. If anyone has general questions on digital connectivity, please contact digital@orkney.gov.uk

The roadshow last month (July) also offered a chance for those without any digital skills to come forward and express interest in being part of an “Absolute Beginners Course” (ABC). 

Chrissie Matthews, Senior Adult Support, The Learning Link, said: “We were delighted to see so many people come along to hear more about the digital switchover but, importantly, it was a golden opportunity to try and engage with those with no digital skills at all in Orkney.

“We had already been approached by several people who were anxious about the switchover – who now have some basic digital skills and are still engaging and learning.

“I contacted Orkney Library and Archive to enquire if they wanted to be joint partners in devising an absolute beginner's course and they were keen to work with me. I am working with Steven Gough, who is a Senior Library Assistant, to get the course ready. Seven people have signed up to learn new skills on the pilot ABC programme, which starts on Monday 28 October. Several others enquired about specific skills and another member of The Learning Link team will be working with these folk.”

During the two-day event information was available from OSAG (Orkney Scam Action Group), which The Learning Link is a part of.

If this course proves to be successful, The Learning Link is keen to roll it out in other communities if possible.

Contact The Learning Link to register your interest in a beginner’s course in digital skills on 01856 879200 or email thelearninglinkenquiries@orkney.gov.uk

Picture caption from the left: Naveed Hussain (BT); Ewan Kennedy (Digital Engagement & Enterprise); Steven Gough (Senior Library Assistant); Vikki Kerr (Orkney Library and Archives Team Manager); Chrissie Matthews (Senior Adult Support Community Learning Development & Employability).