In our final Sector Spotlight on Orkney Islands Council, we hear from Lynne Nicolson who is Team Manager in the Adult and All Age Learning Disabilities Social Work Team. Lynne left school at the end of sixth year and went south to study nursing. After qualifying, she returned to Orkney and had children. While her family were young she undertook a variety of jobs before deciding that she wanted to work with the elderly, which led to roles within care homes and homecare. Lynne then made the move to Social Work, becoming a Student Social Worker and undertaking her degree while working. Being able to able to gain qualifications while working, with the support of her employer and colleagues, has enabled Lynne to develop further and progress to her current role. Continuing our Sector Spotlight on Orkney Islands Council, today we hear from Ellie Newlands, who is a Cook Supervisor at Papdale Primary School. After time working in a busy restaurant, Ellie started her career in the school kitchens as a relief worker, filling in if someone was off ill. After completing mandatory food hygiene qualifications at Orkney College UHI – which was a requirement to be able to get a cook’s position in school meals, Ellie started a full-time post as Assistant Cook before progressing to her current role. Alongside this, she has also achieved her NHC in Cookery. In today’s Sector Spotlight, we hear from Mark Coleman who is an Environmental Health Officer (Commercial) and Lead Food Officer with Orkney Islands Council. Mark qualified with a degree in Environmental Health, while there are multiple disciplines within this area, he has always specialised in food and health and safety. During his career has worked for local Authorities in Scotland and England, supermarket chains and has been a consultant in Health and Safety. In our second Sector Spotlight on Orkney Islands Council, we hear from Cheryl Moar who is an Administrative Assistant with Orkney Islands Council. After leaving school at 16, Cheryl went straight into employment as she knew she didn’t want to live away from Orkney. She worked in various jobs before getting married and having children. After 12 years in her previous job, she was ready for a change and moved into her current role with Orkney Islands Council, which has given her the opportunity to develop her skills and gain additional qualifications. Our Sector Spotlight campaign has returned for the Easter holidays, and this week we are shining a light on some of the jobs available with Orkney Islands Council. In the first, we hear from Steven Poke who is a Building Standards Service Manager with the OIC. After completing his sixth year at Stromness Academy, Steven undertook a construction-based degree at university. He returned to Orkney after graduation and undertook a temporary role within the Economic Development team at the council. After taking time out to travel, he secured a role as a Building Control/Planning Technician with the OIC and has progressed to his current role, undertaking continuous professional development and gaining additional qualifications along the way. In our last Sector Spotlight on Career Education, we hear from Findlay MacLeod, a Careers Adviser with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in Orkney. After leaving school Findlay went straight into work while he planned his next steps. He then went to Orkney College UHI to study Business Management, on completion of his degree he began working as a Trainee Careers Advisor with SDS Orkney, where he completed a Postgraduate qualification in Career Guidance and Development with the West of Scotland University. In our next Sector Spotlight on Career Education, we hear from Gemma Mackay, who is a Careers Adviser with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) Orkney. An interest in social subjects at school led Gemma to study History at the University of Strathclyde. She then applied for a postgraduate teaching qualification but wasn’t successful so came home to Orkney, where she did some work shadowing with the team at SDS Orkney and when a position opened up soon afterwards, she applied. Continuing our Sector Spotlight Campaign on Career Education, we hear from Kerri Liddle who is the Team Leader for Skills Development Scotland in Orkney. After leaving school, Kerri originally planned to go to university, but realised she wanted to stay in Orkney so began working as a Dental Nurse, which enabled her to work alongside studying. A move into Oral Health Education followed but looking for a change Kerri started studying with the Open University to increase her opportunities. She then started working with Skills Development Scotland as a Personal Assistant, and while in that role was offered the chance to train as a Careers Adviser, before progressing into her current role as Team Leader. Starting the second week of our Sector Spotlight on Career Education, we hear from Samantha Craigie who is a Careers Adviser at Skills Development Scotland Orkney. Samantha left school at the end of S4 and initially studied for an Admin qualification through college and work-based learning. She then went on to work in a variety of roles, during which time she gained Higher English through an evening class, and began studying with the Open University. After completing her degree, Samantha worked in the careers service in Manchester. A move back to Orkney saw her working with Skills Development Scotland as a Careers Adviser in a temporary role, before working as a Journalist for five years. She then returned to Skills Development Scotland in a permanent post and completed her postgraduate qualification. Concluding the first week of our Sector Spotlight on Careers Education, we hear from Charlotte Hoque, who is the DYW School Co-ordinator for Sanday, Stronsay and Westray Junior High Schools. After leaving school, Charlotte gained a scholarship at the Millennium Dance College in London before working as a dance teacher for several years. She then moved into support for learning roles within schools and colleges. Following a move to Orkney with her family, she continued working as a Learning Support Auxiliary at Sanday Junior High School before moving into her current role. Today’s Sector Spotlight on Careers Education features Rachel Scarth, Project Manager for Developing the Young Workforce Orkney. While at school, Rachel wanted to be a journalist, but after she didn’t get into her preferred university course, had to reconsider her options. She completed an HND in Journalism, followed by a degree in English. During a year out travelling, Rachel wrote about her travels for a local newspaper and undertook work experience with them on her return, alongside full-time working. Time spent working for a temp agency undertaking various admin roles led to a typist job with Grampian Police and when a job came up in their Corporate Communications Department as a Media Officer, she applied. Rachel spent 12 years with the police in a variety of roles before returning to Orkney to take on her current role with DYW Orkney. In our next Sector Spotlight on Careers Education, we hear from Leah Rendall, who is the DYW School Co-ordinator for Kirkwall Grammar School. Leah has always wanted to work with children and young people and began her career as a Support for Learning Assistant at Stenness and Stromness Primary Schools before working at Glaitness Aurrida for over 14 years. She then moved to Women’s Aid Orkney as a Children and Young People Outreach Worker. She has also run her own business before returning to work in schools as an Early Years Practitioner and a Support for Learning Assistant at Papdale Primary School. Our Sector Spotlight campaign has returned for the October break. Over the next fortnight, we will be focusing on Careers Education, hearing from staff at Skills Development Scotland and Developing the Young Workforce Orkney. We start with Andy Tait who is a Modern Apprentice Administration Assistant with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Orkney. Andy left school aged 16, going to Orkney College to join their Preparation for Progression course. This course helped him realise he wanted to work in Administration, so he went on to complete an NC in Administration, alongside working part-time at Bryan J Rendall Electrical. Andy then worked for a few other organisations before he gained employment at Restart Employability Orkney and then joined DYW Orkney. In our final sector spotlight on the Hospitality sector, we hear from Paul Doull who is the Chef and owner of the Foveran Restaurant. After leaving school at 16, Paul completed a two year further education course in hospitality. He then began working at the Foveran before moving onto The Albert Hotel, St Rognvald’s House, Flotta Oil Terminal and The Queen’s Hotel, before purchasing the Foveran in 2000 with his brother and his wife. In the next Sector Spotlight on the Hospitality industry, we hear from Eilidh Gorman who is a receptionist at the Orkney Hotel in Kirkwall.
Eilidh’s first job was working in a café while still at school. She then became a Receptionist in a sports centre. After some time away in Edinburgh studying towards a degree in Performing Arts and Dance, she returned home at the start of the pandemic and looked for work locally, starting in her current role. In our first Sector Spotlight on the Hospitality sector, we hear from Gary Sutherland who is the Head Chef and owner of Twenty One. Gary started his career as a Trainee Chef at Helgi’s during which time he also completed four years at college gaining qualifications in professional cookery. He was then offered a Head Chef job at the Standing Stones Hotel in Stenness at the age of 20 before working for Neil Stevenson at Archive Coffee and then setting up Twenty One. In our final Sector Spotlight on the Food and Drink sector we hear from Jane Ellison from JP Orkney. As well as being the partner/owner of JP Orkney with her partner, Paul, she also works as a Home Economics Teacher at Stromness Academy. After completing her GCSE’s, Jane spent time travelling in Malaysia before returning home to complete her A Levels. She then went to University where she achieved an HND in Hospitality Business Management, and a degree in Food Systems and Quality Assurance. Following graduation, she worked in restaurant management before undertaking a post-graduate qualification to become a teacher. A move to Orkney saw Jane and Paul setting up their hospitality business offering guided tours, Orkney made produce and electric camper van hire. Continuing our Sector Spotlight on the Food and Drink sector, we hear from Graham Bruce who is the Visits and Retail Operations Manager at Highland Park Distillery. Graham started his career with Boots in a temporary role over Christmas. He remained with the business for 10 years working in a variety of roles. Graham then started working at World Duty Free as part of the management team specialising in selling malt whisky. He then moved into roles in the financial sector before moving to Orkney with his family and taking up a role with Highlands and Islands Enterprise before moving into his current role at Highland Park. In our next Sector Spotlight on the Food and Drink sector, we hear from Glynis Leslie who is the owner of Orkney Isles Preserves. On leaving school she studied languages in Aberdeen including French, German and a bit of Spanish. She worked in Germany, but hated city life and was very homesick. Eventually she gave up her course to come home to Shapinsay and work for her folks, who ran a shop and haulage business. Glynis went on to marry and start a family. Looking for something for herself that would fit in with family life, she started making jams and chutneys for the local craft shop and since then the business has grown. In our first Sector Spotlight on the Food and Drink industry, we hear from Callum MacInnes who is the Director of The Island Smokery. Callum started his career as an engineer working on military aircraft and equipment. He then moved to Orkney and changed direction buying and running shops before starting The Island Smokery. In our final Sector Spotlight on Creative Industries, we hear from Carol Dunbar who is the Learning and Engagement Programme Manager at the Pier Arts Centre. Following school, Carol studied Woven Tapestry and Printmaking at Edinburgh School of Art, spending 18 months working in Australia as a tapestry weaver after her graduation. When she returned to Scotland, she worked as a freelance artist and tutor. Throughout her career, she has spent time working for a local textile design company, delivered classes and workshops and working as a part-time lecturer at Orkney College UHI. She joined the Pier Arts Centre in 2005 as Education Officer. In our next Sector Spotlight on Creative Industries, we hear from Isla Holloway who is the Marketing and Customer Service Manager at the Pier Arts Centre in Stromness. Isla has a lifelong desire to go to Art School, which she achieved by attending Edinburgh College of Art to study Tapestry. Following her graduation, she worked as an artist in Edinburgh for a few years, supplementing her income with part-time work. On returning to Orkney, she worked in retail until the role of Marketing and Retail Development Officer came up at the Pier Arts Centre. In today’s Sector Spotlight on Creative Industries, we hear from Alison Firth who is a Director at Ortak Ltd. Alison left school at 16 and started working with Rolls-Royce as a secretarial trainee. From there, she went to Thurso College where she gained her HND in Business Studies. She continued to work with Rolls-Royce undertaking various roles which helped her develop different skills and undertake additional training. She then gained her degree through the Open University and trained to become a Chartered Accountant. In 2014, she invested in Ortak and became a Director of the business. In our next Sector Spotlight is focusing on Creative Industries. Today we hear from Carrie Paxton, who is a Glass Artist based in St Ola, Kirkwall. Carrie started her career as an apprentice in a design studio, she then undertook a degree and post-graduate qualifications as a mature student after starting her family. She now runs her own studio and produces a range of items as well as undertaking commissions for businesses and individuals. For our next Sector Spotlight on the Creative Industries, we hear from Erica Drever who is an Enameller at Sheila Fleet’s. After studying at Orkney College UHI, Erica was looking for a job and, as she has always admired Sheila Fleet’s jewellery, she phoned up the workshop and asked if there were any job opportunities. She was invited in for a trial and 10 years later she is still there. |
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