Continuing our Sector Spotlight on the IT and Communication, today we hear from Ross Mackie who is a Technical Solutions Architect at Kyloe in Kirkwall.
 
Ross started at Kyloe as a Software Developer.  From there, he progressed onto the role of Lead Developer for Services before starting his current role.

In our next Sector Spotlight Campaign on IT and Communications we hear from Gordon Robinson who is a Product Manager at Kyloe.
 
Gordon left school at 16 and joined the Fleet Auxiliary as a Marine Engineer Officer.  He then joined the NHS as an Admin Assistant on a temporary basis, but remained for eight years, leaving as a Senior Manager.  Gordon then worked in product management for a healthcare software company in Edinburgh, before joining Kyloe last year as Product Manager.

We are continuing our Sector Spotlight series on the IT and Communication industry and we now hear from Garry Peace, a Software Developer (Products) at Kyloe.
 
Garry started his studies at Orkney College after leaving school, achieving his HND.  He then worked in various jobs before going back to college to get his degree in Computing Science,  after which he started working at Kyloe, initially as an SQL Developer before moving into his current role.

In our next Sector Spotlight on the IT and Communications industry we hear from Graeme Scollay who is Operations Manager at RM Computing.
 
After leaving school, Graeme worked at a BT call centre in Thurso which included various roles which led onto him pursuing a career in IT.  He moved into a role on the IT Helpdesk for another business in Thurso, developing his skills and knowledge and progressing to a Team Leader role.  Graeme returned to Orkney in 2017, joining RM Computing as IT Support Team Leader before progressing into his current role.

This week’s Sector Spotlight is on the IT and Communications industry.  Today we hear from Andrew Stevenson who is a Software Developer at Kyloe.
 
After graduating with a degree in Computer Science, Andrew  worked in different roles including in a bar and on WordPress sites for a work uniform company, before moving back to Orkney to undertake his current role.

​In our second Sector Spotlight on IT and Communication we hear from Amaya Capracci, who is a Product Consultant at Kyloe in Kirkwall.
 
Amaya has always had an interest in technology and taught herself to code simple things as a teenager.  She has a a Bachelors degree in Journalism as well as an MBA in Marketing and Sales Management and has previously worked as a Marketing Manager.

In our first Sector Spotlight on the IT and Communications industry we hear from AJ Smith, who is a UX/UI Developer at Kyloe in Kirkwall.
 
AJ graduated from Portsmouth University and worked in a local IT company before working freelance while he travelled around Australia.  He then moved back to the UK and worked for another company before moving to Orkney in 2017 and started working at Kyloe.

For our next Sector Spotlight on the Retail industry we hear from Shannon Foubister who is a Customer Service and Office Administrator at Willamsons Butchers.
​
Shannon’s career path has seen her work at NorthLink as a Customer Service Assistant while completing her NC Administration at Orkney College.  Alongside that she also ran her own business ‘Brough Bakes’, before joining Williamsons Butchers.

In our first Sector Spotlight on the Retail industry we hear from Andy Tennant, who is the Store Manager at Tesco in Kirkwall.
 
Andy went to a University in Glasgow where he studied Marketing.  He then joined Safeway Supermarket as a Department Manager in 1997, before moving to Tesco in 2001 where he worked his way up to his current position as Store Manager.​

This week’s Sector Spotlight is focusing on the Construction Industry.  Today, we hear from Jacqueline Argo, who is the Apprenticeships Officer for the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

Jacqueline started her career as an Office Junior before becoming an Accounts Assistant.  She then became Office Manager for a construction company, and moved into her current role 12 years ago.

This week’s Sector Spotlight is on the Construction Industry.  Today we hear from Andrew Harvey, who is an Apprentice Wood Machinist with R Clouston Ltd.

​Andrew began his apprenticeship straight from school and is currently in his second year.

This week’s Sector Spotlight is focusing on the Construction Industry.  Today, we hear from Scott Barnett who is a Site Manager at Casey Construction Ltd.
 
Scott has worked at Casey Construction since 2004, prior to that he was the Assistant Manager at Jewson’s having started his career there as an Estimator.

​In our last Sector Spotlight focusing on careers in Financial Services we hear from Ryan Allan, who is an Associate Director with Scholes Chartered Accountants.
 
Ryan has always had an aptitude for numbers and started studying accountancy with finance at University.  However, when a trainee position came up at Scholes at the end of his second year, he decided to apply and left University to take on the role.  He has since completed his professional qualifications alongside working with the company.

Our second Sector Spotlight on the Financial Services features Kevin Hancock, who is the Senior Vice President of Marsh Commercial, an Insurance Brokers based in Kirkwall.
 
After school, Kevin went to University in Glasgow and after graduating began working for Royal Insurance.  He then returned to Orkney to work for a local insurance broker which was bought over by Clark Thomson Insurance, at which point Kevin was made Branch Manager.  He was promoted to his current role and given responsibility for all the offices in the Highlands and Islands.  Marsh Commercial bought Clark Thomson Insurance in May 2018.

​In our second week of Sector Spotlight features, we are focusing on careers in Financial Services.  Today we hear from Lois Canning, who is a Personal Banker with the Royal Bank of Scotland.  As part of her role, Lois travels to the outer isles to provide banking services to those communities and is known as the 'Flying Banker'.

​Lois has worked in financial services since she left school, working in a variety of roles and undertaking on-the-job training to develop her skills and progress in her career.

In the last of this week’s Sector Spotlight on the Energy Industry we hear from Stewart Esslemont, who is a Project Engineer with National Oilwell Varco (NOV) Wellstream Processing on Flotta.
 
After leaving school, Stewart originally started on the Clyde Marine Apprenticeship scheme to become a Mechanical Engineer.  He ultimately decided that was not the career choice for him, so returned to Orkney where he undertook various roles before becoming a Project Technician for Opus Plus Ltd (now NOV Wellstream Processing) eight years ago.  He was promoted into his current role four years ago.

In our next Sector Spotlight on the Energy Industry we hear from Craig Smith, who is a Senior Health and Safety and Environmental Advisor with Repsol Sinopec Resources UK.
 
Following university, Craig returned to Orkney to start his working life with an environmental consultancy in Stromness before moving to SEPA where he worked for over 15 years.  Alongside his role with SEPA he also volunteered as a retained firefighter with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.  Craig then took up a post as an environmental consultant on a cruise liner which sailed in Australia, New Zealand and Alaska.  He moved into his current role a year ago and is based on Flotta.

Continuing our Sector Spotlight on the Energy Industry, today we hear from Erica Mathers, who is the Marketing Officer for EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre).
 
After leaving school, Erica undertook a degree in Rural Business Management with Agriculture at SRUC in Aberdeen.  Following that, she worked as an Agricultural Consultant in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire before returning to Orkney three years ago to undertake her current role.

​This week’s Sector Spotlight is focusing on the Energy Industry.  Today, we hear from Siobhan Peace, who is a Study Director with National Oilwell Varco Wellstream Processing (NOV) on Flotta.
 
After starting a degree in Architecture, Siobhan realised that wasn’t the correct career path for her so switched to a degree in Zoology.  She started with NOV as a Laboratory Technician and worked her way up to her current role as Study Director.

Our Sector Spotlight campaign returns for the summer and we begin by focusing on the Energy Industry.  Today, we hear from John Corsie, who is a Production Technician with Repsol Sinopec Resources UK.
 
After leaving school, John undertook and completed a Modern Apprenticeship in Refrigeration, Air Conditions and Heat Pump systems with local business Steven R Paterson.  He then felt ready for a career change and was successful in applying for the OPITO Modern Apprenticeship Scheme, securing one of four spaces available on Flotta.  Following the completion of his apprenticeship, he was offered a full-time position with Respol Sinopec Resources UK on Flotta.

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.