Enterprise chief to visit next week

The chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Alex Paterson will be in Shetland on Tuesday and Wednesday next week to see some of the work and projects HIE is supporting in Shetland.

His whistle-stop tour, on which he will be accompanied by HIE chair Lorne Crerar, will start in Unst at the Saxa Vord resort. HIE has invested in the resort to develop its tourist potential, and the HIE visitors will tour the facilities, including the new distillery which produces Shetland Reel Gin. They will also discuss future opportunities.

After lunch Mr Paterson and Prof Crerar will meet personnel from Unst Partnership to develop “income-generating opportunities”, then go on to the Pure Energy Centre, which has had HIE funding for marketing in the UK and internationally.

Later there will be a visit to Unst Inshore Services, run by Jack and Brydon Barclay, who produce fast rescue craft for the oil and gas industry and the emergency services.

Then it is back to Shetland Mainland to meet SIC personnel and chairman of the Shetland Partnership Board Ian Kinniburgh.

On Wednesday the HIE visitors will meet social firm COPE manager Ingrid Webb to discuss future projects to grow the business, and also to consider the success of the recent re-branding.