An agreement to invest £100 million in the future economic
prosperity of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides was signed
today (20th January) in Orkney by UK and Scottish Government
Ministers and the Council Leaders of the three island groups.
Up to 1,300 jobs and £393 million of investment is anticipated to
result from the signing of the transformative Islands Growth Deal
between UK Government, Scottish Government, Comhairle nan Eilean
Siar, Shetland Islands Council, and Orkney Islands Council.
Over a ten-year period, the Islands Growth Deal will invest in 16
projects and programmes that capitalise on the Islands’ unique
assets. These are built around three strategic themes of low
carbon, supporting growth and future industries, and thriving
sustainable communities, subject to approval of Full Business
Cases.
Jointly funded by up to £100 million - £50 million from each of
the Scottish and UK Governments - the Islands Growth Deal will
attract further investment of up to £293 million in match
funding.
The Deal (full
document) has been developed by the three island Councils,
together with public, academic, business, community and third
sector partners.
The first year of the ten-year programme is anticipated to see
investment across the islands, including in UHI’s campuses in
Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, and the pan-island Islands
Centre for Net Zero, which will be based at the Orkney Research
and Innovation Campus in Stromness.
Following the signing within Orkney Islands Council’s chamber, UK
Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:
This will not just boost local economies and create jobs, but
also empower communities to get the most out of the many assets
and attributes that make the islands such unique and special
places to live.
This deal is packed with a broad range of high-impact projects,
whether it’s leading the transition to net zero or developing
‘must-visit’ destinations such as the St Kilda trail.
The UK Government’s £50m support for the Islands deal, in
addition to other levelling up investments, shows our continued
commitment to the Scottish Islands.
Scottish Government Business Minister said:
This Growth Deal will be a game-changing initiative for our
islands – enabling sustainable economic growth and delivering new
and internationally significant port infrastructure that will
play an important role in achieving net zero targets.
This £50 million Scottish Government investment will support the
transition to renewable energy sources – including equipping the
workforce with new skills – and trial emissions reduction
initiatives on islands. It will drive innovation in key space,
food and drink and creative industries sectors; help develop
significant tourism and cultural attractions and expand education
provision.
We are determined that our islands should be attractive places to
live and work and are able to maximise their contribution to
Scotland’s sustainable economic transformation.
Councillor James Stockan, Leader of Orkney Islands Council, said:
The signing of this important document today in Orkney marks
another significant milestone in our collaborative journey and
future vision for our three island areas.
We have worked together to successfully achieve an impactful
growth deal from our governments in both London and Edinburgh
that will help secure a better future for us all. Not only does
the agreement recognise all our unique challenges faced as island
areas, but also the strength of our assets and opportunities that
we offer.
Councillor Paul Steele, Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,
said:
The signing of the Islands Growth Deal is both the culmination of
a vision set out by the Islands Councils and the UK and Scottish
Governments and the beginning of the implementation of that
vision.
It is a milestone towards achieving our aims of securing 1300
jobs and £393m of investment over 10 years through the Islands
Deal, using the resources of our Islands and capitalising on our
natural assets and most importantly, our people.
Councillor Emma Macdonald, Leader of Shetland Islands Council,
said:
The Deal contains projects which are island-specific and focus on
local opportunities and priorities, as well as those which,
working in partnership, will help us unlock more economic success
for all our islands. These vital projects supporting our
islands’ sustainability could not have progressed without the UK
Government and Scottish Government’s support and investment
Our partnership has developed as we have developed the Deal, and
I look forward to seeing how it develops over the coming decade.
The UK Government’s £50 million investment will be shared across
the following projects:
- £16m for Islands Centre for Net Zero
- £11m for Outer Hebrides Energy Hub
- £2.6m for Creative Islands Wellbeing
- £4m for Outer Hebrides Destination Development
- £1m for Orkney World Heritage Gateway
- £1m for Orkney Vertical Farm
- £4.4m for Shell-volution
- £1.5m for TalEntEd Islands
- £8m for Orkney Research and Innovation Campus
