This week’s Sector Spotlight is on the Leisure and Sports industry. Today we hear from John Cairns who is the Rugby Development Officer with Orkney Rugby Football Club (ORFC).
 
John worked in a range of facilities and sport roles which led him to be offered the job as Rugby Development Officer.

​This week’s Sector Spotlight is on the Leisure and Sport Industry. Today we hear from Karen Walker who is the Principal Librarian for Orkney Library and Archive.
 
Karen didn’t know what she wanted to do when she left school. She joined a Youth Opportunities Programme and was offered work in the Laing Street Library. She loved this work and continued training in her role and worked her way up the ladder.

​This week’s Sector Spotlight is on the Leisure and Sport Industry. Today we hear from Mark Jenkins who is the Chair and Programmer for West Side Cinema.
 
Mark’s career has come full circle. He has worked in cinemas, gone to university, won a Scottish BAFTA and finally he helped set up the voluntary community cinema in Stromness – West Side Cinema.

​This week’s Sector Spotlight is on the Leisure and Sport Industry. Today we hear from Joanne Bamford who is a Community Sports Officer with Orkney Islands Council.
 
Joanne has worked in Scotland and America in various sports roles before she moved to Orkney to continue her journey in the sector.

​In the last of our Sector Spotlight on Land-based industries, we hear from Ann Scott, who is the Secretary of the Orkney Agricultural Society (OAS).  The OAS Committee are responsible for the organising and running of the County Show, as well as the County Ploughing Match and Harvest Home.
 
Ann works part-time for the Orkney Business Ring as a Training Co-ordinator, alongside her voluntary position as Secretary.

​This week’s Sector Spotlight is on Land-based industries, which includes farming and the various businesses that support it.  Today we here from Madeleine Brady who is a Vet with Northvet.
 
Madeleine trained to be a vet straight out of school in her native Australia.  After she qualified, she worked for a couple of years in Australia before heading off on her travels which saw her spending two years working around the UK.  After being in Orkney in 2016, she decided to move back earlier this year.

This week’s Sector Spotlight is on Land-based industries, which includes farming and the various businesses that support it.  Today we hear from Kerry Omand who is a Regional Policy Advisor for NFU Scotland and a Farmer.
 
Kerry began her career working the care sector before going back to farming and taking on her role with NFU Scotland.  Last year, Kerry was awarded the Young Livestock Ambassador Award at the Royal Highland Show and she writes a monthly column, ‘Kerry on Farming’ in The Orcadian.

This week’s Sector Spotlight is on Land-based industries.  This includes those who work in farming and the various industries and businesses that support it.
 
Today, we hear from Lindsay Grant who is a Registered Veterinary Nurse with Northvet.  Lindsay always knew she wanted to work with animals and started with Northvet on a work placement while still at school.  This led to a Saturday job and, after leaving school, training to be a Vet Nurse and a full-time job with the business.  In addition to this, Lindsay runs dog grooming business Hair Off The Dog from home.

In the next post in our Sector Spotlight on Health and Beauty, we hear from Keri Brandish who is a self-employed Hairdresser at The Peedie Salon, and Lecturer in Hairdressing (Course Lead) at Orkney College UHI.
 
Keri discovered a love for hairdressing while undertaking a Skills for Work course while still at school.  At 16, she secured a job with a salon where she worked while also undertaking training south through block release.  Throughout her career, Keri has undertaken different training and qualifications, developed her skills and taken on new challenges, which led her to becoming a Lecturer at Orkney College, which she now does alongside her hairdressing.
 
Here, Keri tells her a bit about both of her roles.

​As we continue our Sector Spotlight on the Health and Beauty industry in Orkney, we have spoken to Inga Cooper who owns Image, and is a Beauty Therapist and Body Piercer.
 
Inga’s interest in beauty therapy started with painting nails at two years old, she then trained as a Beauty Therapist and set up her own business from home before working on cruise ships.  She then got the chance to take over an existing business in Orkney, which she now runs.

​In today’s Sector Spotlight on Health and Beauty we hear from Kirsten Sinclair, who is a Podiatrist and business owner.
 
After school, Kirsten studied Podiatry in Edinburgh and once qualified, worked for NHS Orkney.  After starting her family and not wanting to return to work full-time, she set up her own business which gave her the freedom to fit work around her family’s needs.  Now that her children are older, Kirsten has been able to focus on growing her business and recently opened the Hygge Clinic, which offers a variety of therapies including podiatry, sports therapy and counselling.

This week's Sector Spotlight is on Health and Beauty.  In the first of our interviews, we have spoken to Carol Evans, a Skincare Formulator and the Owner of Orkney Organics. Her career journey has included working in shops, an office, a local jewellery firm and working with people with learning disabilities. Carol turned a lifetime interest in organic skincare into her own business.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we spoke to Rhiannon Phillips who is a Primary Care Facilitator.  After completing an HNC in Business Management, she struggled to get a job due to lack of experience, however working for the Admin Bank at NHS Orkney led to a full-time role and opportunities to develop herself further through work-based learning.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we spoke to Sarah Rendall, Facilities Support Officer.  Sarah started her NHS career with a Relief position on the Switchboard, this lead to a chance to take on an Admin role before she moved into Facilities and her current role.

As part of our Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we have spoken to Karen Spence, Public Health Administration Manager.  Karen joined NHS Orkney in 2010 in a role in the Switchboard.  She has undertake various roles in the organisation, developing her skills and undertaking additional qualifications.  She is currently studying for a Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we have spoken to Martha Gill, who is a Community Island Nurse.  Originally from Australia, Martha undertook her BA Nursing in Glasgow before returning to Australia where she undertook a variety of roles within home care and Primary Care, which is community based, while also undertaking a post-graduate qualification in Nursing Practice.  She then moved to Orkney to undertake her current role.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we have spoken to Angus Rafferty who is a Recruitment Officer.  After completing a degree in Applied Geology, Angus moved to Orkney and began working with NHS Orkney as an Administration Assistant.  He then completed a Modern Apprenticeship through Orkney College UHI, before moving into his current role.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we spoke to Neva Spence, Dental Nurse.  Neva became a Trainee Dental Nurse with a local practice when she returned to work after having her family.  Once qualified, she applied for a post with the NHS and now works with the Oral Surgeons.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we have spoken to Mandy Ward, who is the Facilities Manager at Balfour Hospital.  Mandy began her career in Hospitality before working as an office temp, which led her to NHS Orkney.  She got a permanent role in the Finance Department, before moving into Estates where she was given the chance to develop her role and gain some work-based qualifications.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we have spoken to Amanda Manson, who is a Specialist Cardiac Nurse.  Amanda knew she wanted to be a Nurse when she left school.  After training in Orkney and Aberdeen, plus 15 years working in hospitals south, she returned home to work for NHS Orkney.

Our Sector Spotlight campaign has returned for the summer holidays.  Following the opening of the new Balfour Hospital, we will be focusing on the range of clinical and non-clinical careers available within NHS Orkney and - due to the number of jobs within the NHS - we will be shining a spotlight on this sector for the next two weeks.

For our first Sector Spotlight on NHS Orkney, we have spoken to Lizzie Morris, Medical Records Officer.

Lizzie first started with NHS Orkney on a work placement, which helped her secure a permanent job with the organisation.  She has undertaken different roles in the organisation and has completed two Modern Apprenticeships while employed with NHS Orkney.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on Aquaculture and Fisheries, we have spoken to Fiona Matheson, the Secretary to Orkney Fisheries Association. Fiona never knew what it was she wanted to do as a career, only that she wanted to make a difference where she saw things were unfair to people.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on Aquaculture and Fisheries, we have spoken to Cara Duncan, a Fisheries Researcher at Orkney Fisheries Association. Cara studied Zoology and for her Master’s Degree she specialised in shellfish research, which brought her to Orkney for her dissertation. Since then Cara has worked in research for local companies in Orkney.

​As part of our Sector Spotlight on Aquaculture and Fisheries, we have spoken to Harry Baird, a Modern Apprentice Marine Engineer at Scottish Sea Farms Ltd. After secondary school, Harry decided that university was not for him so he applied for jobs and was later offered a job as an Apprentice Engineer.

As part of our Sector Spotlight on Aquaculture and Fisheries, we have spoken to Fiona MacInnes, the General Manager of the Orkney Fishermen’s Society. Her career journey has included being a full-time mum and working in finance for local authority, an accountancy firm and Orkney Fishermen’s Society before gaining her role as General Manager.