As a technology company, Kyloe are always on the lookout for people with great computer skills. Even if you’re not a techie person, there are still lots of opportunities to get involved with Kyloe! They’ve recently recruited for roles in marketing, sales, and office management. Since 2015 they've created 40 jobs (including developers, HR, marketing, accounts, sales, and technical support) within Orkney's community, tapping into some seriously underutilised talent! Click on the image below to learn more about the roles they have. “We need good people with the right attitude and enthusiasm to work for a forward-thinking technology company that has customers all over the world,” says Kyloe co-founder Stewart Morgan. “Our vision is about having a sustainable growing business, headquartered in Orkney, that has long term value for the recruitment industry, so if there’s anyone out there who thinks they can contribute to that vision, get in touch.” Our next staff focus from the Community Learning and Development team at Orkney Islands Council, is from Richard Smith, CLD Team Leader. When he was 16, Richard was part of a development programme with the Prince’s Trust, which sparked an interest in working in a similar role when he was older. He developed a love for music and went to Perth College to study Sound Production. Struggling to find a job in the music industry, he began working in sales and then applied for a volunteering opportunity in South Africa, volunteering at an orphanage for children affected by HIV, abuse and neglect. Another volunteering opportunity in India led to Richard studying Community Development at university. Richard then worked for colleges and his local council developing programmes for young people before moving to Orkney for his current role. Next in our Social Media Takeover, we hear from Lindsey Johnson, the Employability Team Leader with the Community Learning and Development team within Orkney Islands Council. After leaving school, Lindsey initially studied Aromatherapy and Reflexology at College before studying Podiatry at University while working part-time in a bar. After having a baby, she returned to night school to study for her Certificate in Education, alongside working as a Support Worker in the local college during the day. After achieving her Diploma in Education Lindsey became a Tutor at College, before working with Barnado’s. Following a move to Orkney, Lindsey started working at the Connect Project, eventually becoming the Project Co-ordinator, a role she did for 10 years. Alongside working, she also gained her Masters in Education in 2019. Lindsey moved to her current role in 2020. Orkney Harbours Authority is responsible for the natural harbour at Scapa Flow and 29 piers and harbours around the islands. They operate their own tugs and launches. The inter isles ferry fleet, six airfields on the isles and have an in house marine environmental unit that monitor the waters around Orkney. You can learn a bit more about the careers with Orkney Harbours Authority and the skills and qualifications they look for in their staff on their Business Focus. Would you like to get a degree but not sure if University is for you? A Graduate Apprenticeship gives you the chance to gain a degree, up to Masters level, while working. They combine academic knowledge with skills development. Several universities in Scotland offer Graduate Apprenticeship programmes, including some who offer the chance for people in Orkney to take part via distanced learning. For more information click here. Many of the businesses taking part in our social media takeover offer Modern Apprenticeships to their staff. They are a great way to develop skills while working. A Modern Apprenticeship can be undertaken by a school-leaver who is aged 16 years and over. You will be a full-time employee and your training will be undertaken while you work, meaning you can apply what you learn in a practical way. There are over 100 types of Modern Apprenticeship available. If you want to find out more, read our Apprenticeship Focus below, speak to your Guidance Teacher or a Careers Adviser, or you can read more here. Have you ever considered a Foundation Apprenticeship? A Foundation Apprenticeship lets you undertake work-based learning while still at school to help you gain valuable experience and knowledge. They count as one of your subject choices and give you a qualification that is the same level as a Higher. There are four subjects available in Orkney as a Foundation Apprenticeship: Business Skills, IT: Software Development, Social Services: Children & Young People and, Social Services & Healthcare. You can find out more information about Foundation Apprenticeships in our Apprenticeship Focus below. You can also find information on this website, here, or by speaking to your Guidance Teacher, Careers Adviser or Orkney College UHI. Visit www.apprenticeships.scot for more info. In the final post from EMEC, we hear from Corrine Sinclair, Contracts Manager. Corrine left school after her fifth year, going on to College in Kirkwall to study for an NC, which she failed. She then moved to Dunfermline to study for an HND and, after completing the course, she returned to work for a year out. She remained in Orkney for 12 years, undertaking a variety of jobs. When Corrine was 30 she applied to study Law at University in Glasgow where she graduated with the First Class Honours Degree. After15 years living away from Orkney, undertaking further study and qualifications, progressing in her career, she returned home and took up her current role with EMEC. Corrine’s career journey shows that you can change your mind about what you want to do at anytime. So, even if you realise that one course or career choice isn’t for you, you can still find something that is better suited to your skills and interests. Now we hear from Richard Ainsworth who tells us about his journey to his current job as US Project Engineer with EMEC. Richard explains that his career path wasn’t straightforward. He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, where he worked as a science communicator and developed a passion to help others understand the world around us. Following university, he lived and worked in New Zealand and Australia before returning to the UK to work with British Airways as an Aircraft Mechanic. Wanting to make a positive impact on the world, he returned to university, gaining his MSc in Marine Renewables Energy at Heriot-Watt ICIT in Stromness, before joining EMEC. EMEC's next Staff Focus is Lara Santos Ayllon, who works as Stakeholder Engagement Officer at EMEC in Stromness. Lara graduated with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and originally wanted to work in the political and activism sectors. However, her first role was an internship in a Communications and Public Relations agency which she saw as a chance to gain transferrable skills and learn more about the sector. This role helped her realise she wanted to change career direction into the energy and climate change arena and she undertook a Masters Degree in Energy, Society and Sustainability where she learnt about EMEC. When an opportunity came to work at EMEC, she applied straight away. As part of EMEC's takeover of our social media, we hear from John Skuse who tells us about his job as Operations and Maintenance Manager and the journey he took to get there. John started his career with a summer job in a maintenance department, that turned into a permanent role when he left school. By his own admission, he didn’t do well in school as he was more interested in taking things apart and putting them back together. However, he has gained qualifications alongside working through day release and night school. Experience has also helped him to develop some key employability skills such as team work, communication and management skills. Continuing EMEC's takeover of our social media, we now hear from Danielle Moodie a Project Manager with EMEC. While studying French, Italian and EU Studies at University, Danielle worked for a building society in Orkney and Edinburgh, taking on a full-time job position after graduation. She then worked in South Africa on a funded work placement in local government. During a trip back home, she saw a temporary Admin Assistant role with EMEC advertised and was successful in getting the job. She has since worked in various roles within the company, developing new skills and knowledge. Now we hear from James Ferguson, who is a Research and Development Engineer with EMEC. James studied Chemical Engineering in an integrated Honours-Masters programme at the University of Edinburgh. After taking some time out to travel, he then began his Doctorate, working with EMEC on their hydrogen project. After he completed his Thesis, he was offered a job with EMEC. The first Staff Focus from EMEC is Elaine Buck, Technical Manager, who tells us about her career journey. Elaine started by studying Radio, Television and Film, before changing to Marine Sciences, planning to become a Marine Biologist. She then spent 20 years in the Oil and Gas industry, before the environmental impact of fossil fuels saw her consider a switch to renewable energy. After completing her MSc in her mid-40s, she started working with EMEC. Elaine reminds us that there is no wrong path into a career, and we will all experience many twists and turns on our career journey, constantly learning new skills. The European and Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) is based in Stromness and provides open-sea testing facilities to developers of wave and tidal energy converters. They are also involved in hydrogen production, consultancy and research. This Business Focus will provide you with more information about what EMEC do, the careers they have available and the sorts of skills or qualifications you may need to work with them. For more information visit emec.org.uk As part of Employment Support’s takeover of our social media pages, we now hear from Danny Oliver and Employability Co-ordinator. Danny left school with no interest in further education so, having left his part-time job in a supermarket, he signed on at the Jobcentre and started doing casual voluntary work for a voluntary sector organisation supporting people with learning disabilities. This led to full-time work and the opportunity to complete a social care qualification with the support of his employers. He stayed with the organisation for 14 years, before a move to Orkney saw him take on his current role with Orkney Health and Care. The Employment Support Service are based within Orkney Health and Care (OHAC), which is a partnership between OIC and NHS Orkney. The team support people with learning disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorders to gain employment/work. There are currently two staff members in the team who work as Employment Co-ordinators. To learn more about how they can support individuals and how to access their support, read their Support Focus.
Northvet are a mixed veterinary practice, meaning they look after small animals (such as domestic pets) and large animals on farms. They have three surgeries in Kirkwall, Stromness and Harray.
In this film you will hear more about the variety of careers available with Northvet, some of the different pathways into these career and learn about some of the skills you might need to work in a Veterinary career. For more information visit www.northvet.co.uk
Job CentrePlus is a government-funded employment agency overseen by the Department of Work and Pensions. Its purpose is to help people find work through services such as job-hunting programmes and external job vacancies, while it also provides financial support to eligible job hunters.
In a film from earlier this year, you can get an overview of their services, information on Universal Credit and how they can help individuals into work. For more information, contact the Kirkwall Job Centre on Tankerness Lane.
Pentland Ferries operates the short sea ferry crossing from St Margaret’s Hope in South Ronaldsay to Gills Bay in Caithness. It is a family business, which has been operating since 2001.
There are career opportunities available shoreside as Shore Staff, in Customer Services and Booking Agents. On their ferry the MV Alfred, there are careers such as Masters, Engineers and Stewards. For more information visit www.pentlandferries.co.uk As part of our Social Media Takeover, we now hear from Claire Mullins, an Administrative Assistant with Heriot-Watt University at their Orkney Campus. After studying Music at University, Claire qualified as a Music Teacher and taught for seven years. After deciding she was wanted to change direction, she took time out and worked in Starbucks, before picking up some work as a supply Teacher. She then became an Exam Invigilator before moving into the role of Exams Officer which was a more administrative role, managing exams in schools and colleges. A move to Orkney prompted her next career move, and she initially managed a café before applying for her current role at Heriot-Watt University. The final Staff Focus from OHAL’s takeover of our social media pages is from Leanne Omand, Customer Service Assistant. After leaving school at the end of sixth year, Leanne initially struggled to find a permanent job, before starting work as a Shop Assistant. After a couple of years, she saw a Modern Apprenticeship opportunity with OHAL’s administrative team and was successful in applying for the job. During her time with OHAL she completed her SVQ Level 2 and Level 3 Modern Apprenticeship before being offered a permanent role with the organisation. Leanne believes that a Modern Apprenticeship is a great way to get the skills and experience you need to start your career. Our next Staff Focus from Orkney Housing Association Ltd. (OHAL) is from Richard Flett, Development and Properties Manager. After school, Richard went to Edinburgh University to study Civil and Structural Engineering, during summer holidays he undertook work experience with Orkney Islands Council (OIC). After his graduation he worked for the OIC in the Roads Department for a year before moving onto to work with a local Consulting Civil and Structural Engineer. After 11 years, he joined OHAL as Development Co-ordinator, before being promoted to Technical Services Manager in 2016. Next in our Social Media Takeover, we hear from Mhairi Hughes from Orkney Housing Association Ltd (OHAL) who tells us about her role with the organisation. Mhairi joined OHAL 24 years ago, moving from another local firm where she worked in accounts. She originally joined as Office Manager, but over the years the job has evolved, and she is now the Head of Corporate Governance. As part of our Social Media Takeover, we now hear from Suzy Boardman, Communications and Engagement Officer with Orkney Housing Association Ltd. Initially, Suzy’s role with OHAC focused on tenant participation but she spotted an opportunity to develop the role and her duties expanded to include writing for the newsletter and the annual report, updating the website and organising events. Suzy continues to explore different says to develop the role and help OHAL stay connected with their customers and staff. |
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