 This week is No Wrong Path week, when we are helping young people see the options that are available to them and that there is no wrong path to success.
As part of that we are continuing our Sector Spotlight campaign, which shines a spotlight on some of the different jobs available in Orkney, and the route people took into their current roles. This week we will hear from people in different sectors, and in our first post this week, we hear from Karyn Tait, Oral Health Team Lead at NHS Orkney Dental. NHS Orkney Dental provide dental care free to young people up to the age of 26, as well as undertaking work in schools and care homes to help promote good dental health.  In our last Sector Spotlight on Land-based Industries, we hear from Graham Low, Senior Auctioneer at the Orkney Auction Mart. The Mart is Orkney's only livestock market, selling sheep and cattle, as well as hosting a public cafe operated by a local butcher.
It's show season! The Mart plays a big role in ensuring the shows run smoothly. Look out for the shows happening over the next week, and keep an eye on our pages on Monday morning to find out about our next feature!  In our second Sector Spotlight on Land-based Industries, we hear from Becky Gibson, who is a self-employed Dog Groomer doing business under the name Pawfect Pamper.
 Welcome to our third week of Sector Spotlight for 2025! For our first Sector Spotlight on Land-based Industries, we hear from Karoline MacPhail, who is a freelance ACPAT Chartered Physiotherapist. Karoline runs Physio Phix, performing physiotherapy on animals as well as on people.
 In the last of our Sector Spotlight on Maritime Careers, we hear from Sinclair Pirie, who is the Chief Officer and Relief Master of the Varagen. Orkney Ferries operate the lifeline inter-island ferry service between the Orkney Mainland and the North and South Isles - the Varagen serves Sanday, Westray and Stronsay, alongside the Earls Sigurd and Thorfinn.
Orkney Ferries are currently running a recruitment campaign for their next cohort of Apprentices. If you're interested in a career at sea, make sure to apply on the Orkney Ferries website before the 27th July! Also, look out on Monday for which sector we'll be featuring next.  In our second Sector Spotlight on Maritime Careers, we hear from David Hulse, the Captain of the Pentalina. Pentland Ferries operates the shortest ferry crossing from Orkney to Caithness. Their newest ferry MV Alfred, which is currently on charter to CalMac, has achieved a Green Tourism Award for its fuel efficiency - the first of its kind in the United Kingdom.
 We're entering our second week of Sector Spotlight, where we're focussing on Maritime Careers! Today we hear from Erik Dearness, who is an Apprentice Deckhand at Orkney Ferries. OF operate the lifeline inter-island ferry service between the Orkney Mainland and the North and South Isles.
Orkney Ferries are currently running a recruitment campaign for their next cohort of Apprentices. If you're interested in a career at sea, make sure to apply on the Orkney Ferries website before the 27th July!  For our second Sector Spotlight on Sports and Leisure, we hear from Carolynn Leslie, Co-ordinator of Active Schools Orkney. Active Schools is a network throughout Scotland which aims to promote healthy, active living and sports in schools.
Keep an eye on our website and social media this Monday to find out which sector we'll be spotlighting next!  Welcome to our first Sector Spotlight of 2025! This week we'll be focussing on Sports and Leisure, and we hear first from Elspeth McLellan, who works part-time as Club Manager of Orkney Gymnastics. She also holds a volunteer role as Treasurer, and in addition she is serving this week as the Gymnastics Co-ordinator for the Orkney 2025 Island Games. Look out for the Orkney Gymnastics Club competing at Stromness Academy this week! If you can't make it, you can access live streams of the Island Games events on YouTube.
 For our final Sector Spotlight of this summer, we speak to Brian Cromarty, who works at Voluntary Action Orkney as a Youth Development Worker. VAO provides support to the third sector in Orkney by acting as a voice and a central source of knowledge for the third sector, building the capacity of volunteer organisations and their ability to connect with the community.
 In this edition of our Sector Spotlight on the Third Sector, we hear from Craig Nisbet, Purposeful Blide Coordinator at the Orkney Blide Trust. The Blide are a charity who aim to promote good mental health and wellbeing in Orkney through active and personalised support. They offer a variety of services to bring about their aim, including one-to-one support, counselling and befriending services, and a variety of events.
 For our first Sector Spotlight on the Third Sector, we hear from Kara Leslie, who works as a Specialist Sexual Violence Prevention Practitioner at ORSAS, or the Orkney Rape and Sexual Assault Service. ORSAS is a relatively new addition to the Rape Crisis Scotland network, whose centres offer support to local areas in supporting sexual abuse and assault survivors, as well as prevention of sexual violence through campaigning.
Kara also works part-time as a lecturer at UHI Orkney, in the Inclusive Practice department.  In the final entry of our Sector Spotlight on Engineering, we speak to Melanie Smith from R S Merriman Ltd, who works as an electrician. Merrimans are an electrical contractor based in Stromness who undertake a variety of works throughout the county across domestic, commercial and industrial facilities.
 For the third edition of our Sector Spotlight on Engineering, we hear from Dain Koshy, a Junior Project Engineer at Leask Marine. Leask Marine carry out a variety of marine work around the Northern Isles, such as marine construction, inspection, diving, and installation and maintenance of tidal and wave energy devices.
 In this edition of our Sector Spotlight on Engineering, we hear from Sandy Linklater of Linklater Engineering. LE are a local agricultural engineering company based in Stenness, who stock and maintain Massey Ferguson farming machinery.
 Beginning our Sector Spotlight on Engineering, we hear from Elsa Ramírez Santiago of Leask Marine, where she works as Lead Project Engineer. Leask Marine carry out a variety of marine work around the Northern Isles, such as marine construction, inspection, diving, and installation and maintenance of tidal and wave energy devices.
 In our final Sector Spotlight on Aquaculture, we speak to Michael Lewington, the Factory Manager at Cooke Aquaculture Scotland’s Orkney Packing Station (OPS). OPS is responsible for processing, packing and distributing superior whole Orkney farmed salmon to suppliers locally, nationally and internationally.
 For our second Sector Spotlight on Aquaculture, we hear from PJ Dempsey, who works in Marine Husbandry and Fish Health at Scottish Sea Farms. SSF are a nationwide salmon farming company who provide secure, well-paid and highly skilled roles to many workers throughout Orkney.
 For our first Sector Spotlight on Aquaculture, we hear from Kevin Doherty, Dispatch Supervisor at Cooke Aquaculture Scotland’s Orkney Packing Station (OPS). OPS are responsible for processing, packing and distributing superior whole Orkney farmed salmon to suppliers locally, nationally and internationally.
 In our final Sector Spotlight post on Administration, we speak to Kendall Pyke, Organisational Development & Improvement Adviser at NHS Orkney. We’ve been very grateful to hear so much from NHS Orkney about their admin roles – it really is a huge part of running a hospital smoothly!
Keep an eye on our pages this coming Monday to find out what our next sector will be.  In the final day of our Sector Spotlight on Administration, we hear from the last of our respondents from NHS Orkney, the first of whom is Ellie Walker, Recruitment Adviser.
The roles we've highlighted this week are far from the only administrative roles within the health service - there are still yet more we haven't covered!  In the second-last day of our Sector Spotlight on Administration, we hear from one of our own: Caitlin Walls, Administrative Assistant at DYW Orkney. The Administrative Assistant position at DYW rotates every few years as the person in the role gains their Modern Apprenticeship qualifications, and Caitlin is DYW Orkney’s third admin assistant.
 In day 3 of our Sector Spotlight on Administration, we hear from Elise Doull, a Medical Records Officer at NHS Orkney. This is just one more administrative job role of many within the health service, with more to come later in the week.
 In this edition of our Sector Spotlight on Administrative roles, we speak to Victoria Dixon of NorthLink ferries, who works as a Social Media Officer. NorthLink ferries, operated by Serco and funded by the Scottish Government, run two of the essential ferry links between Orkney, Shetland and the Scottish Mainland, and boast a healthy online presence.
 In our second Sector Spotlight on Administration, we hear from Kelly Reid, Clinical Admin Supervisor at NHS Orkney. This is just one more job role of many, as a strong administrative team is integral to the day-to-day running of the health service, and we'll be featuring more of them as the week goes on!
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