Investment in people pays off with three top work awards - Scottish Sea Farms
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News from around Scottish Sea Farms and the sector
August 2021
Investment in people pays off
with three top work awards
Scottish Sea Farms has won a hat-trick of prestigious Investors in People (IIP)
accolades for its sustained investment in jobs, training and staff wellbeing.
The internationally recognised awards, ‘We are now able to offer a really completed the We Invest in People
re-accredited every three years, are wide-ranging suite of support: from survey, slightly up on three years ago.
seen as the global benchmark in people our employee assistance initiative ‘People clearly felt that their voices were
management. and various training programmes to going to be heard and we got great
new innovations such as the Healthy feedback, which has been very useful,’
The We Invest in People Platinum Award,
Advantage app, as well as one-to-one she added.
first achieved by Scottish Sea Farms in
help with employees’ physical, mental
2018, has been retained, as has the We Continued on page 2...
or financial health.
Invest in Young People Award at Gold
level, while the company has scored ‘We’ve also added staff wellbeing to
Gold for the first time in the We Invest in our health and safety meetings as a
Wellbeing category – making it only the further way of checking that we’re INSIDE
second company in Scotland to do so. doing everything we can to support
our people.’
Head of Human Resources Tracy Bryant-
Shaw said: ‘We have worked hard over To help recruit and nurture future Grieg acquisition: Q&A
the past three years to build on our 2018 talent, the company has launched with Jim Gallagher
performance and reach even higher a collaboration with Argyll College Quality team grows
standards.’ UHI to offer Modern Apprenticeships as volumes increase
in Aquaculture and is liaising with
Key has been the introduction of a
local schools to introduce the next Sector safety initiative
comprehensive new health and wellbeing
generation to the sector. underway
strategy; something that was already
underway prior to the arrival of Covid Winning IIP accreditation is a UK-wide shortage of
but gathered new momentum in the painstaking process, involving a series logistics staff
months thereafter, says Bryant-Shaw. of surveys and interviews. More than
90 per cent of staff responded to the One to one with our new
‘During the pandemic, when we couldn’t
We Invest in Wellbeing questionnaire Head of Freshwater
see everyone, we looked at what more
– ‘an incredible level of participation,’
we could do for our employees and their New-look long service
said Bryant-Shaw – and 85 per cent
families. awards
Company news
...Continued from page 1. Q&A with Jim Gallagher:
Following the surveys, more than
70 interviews were conducted acquisition of Grieg
Seafood Hjaltland UK
with selected employees, across
all age ranges, over the phone
and in person at South Shian and
Barcaldine.
The next challenge for the Human
Resources department is to try to
improve on an already impressive
achievement. But Bryant-Shaw is
not complacent.
‘People clearly felt that their
voices were going to be heard
and we got great feedback,
which has been very useful’
‘We’re thrilled to be where we are
but there is much more we can do,
in terms of employee engagement, Scottish Sea Farms Managing
Director Jim Gallagher
management behaviours and
skills, and attracting our future
workforce as well as taking into
account the feedback we received Scottish Sea Farms Managing Director Jim Gallagher on the
through the questionnaire and our benefits of buying Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK.
assessors’ reports,’ she said.
Q: Why now and why Grieg? However we commit a huge amount
‘And we will soon be integrating
A: We’ve always been interested in of time to learning the lessons of every
Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK into
growing our business but the timing generation of fish, at every farm, and
Scottish Sea Farms, aligning
in this instance was really dictated by we’ve seen real advances as a result.
their people with the company
so they feel equally valued and Grieg Seafood Group looking to sell off We’re confident that by pairing the
empowered.’ its Scottish operations. That said, we’ve skill and know-how of the two teams,
worked incredibly hard at developing our and by continuing to invest where it’s
farming approaches, infrastructure and needed most, we can further enhance
Just some of the new team, consistently ranking among the fish welfare and, in turn, grow volumes
initiatives introduced highest performing salmon farmers for across the combined estate.
since the last awards: biology, survival and profit – not just in
Scotland but in the global marketplace. Q: Is the increased demand for farmed
So we feel in a really strong position to salmon due to retail customers or
Investing in our People
build on that. export markets?
Real Living Wage
As for why Grieg, with both Scottish Sea A: Both. The boost in retail sales
Family friendly policies Farms and Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK experienced during lockdown has
Management Academy having a number of farms and facilities held steady and export markets are
in Shetland, our operations are very re-opening keener than ever for our
Modern Apprenticeships in complementary. By bringing these premium Scottish-grown salmon, which
Aquaculture via Argyll College speaks volumes about the effort we put
together, our intention is to make our
Leadership programme via future in Shetland even more secure. into every stage of the lifecycle.
SAIC Demand for this highly nutritious, low
Q: What appeals most about Grieg carbon food is quite literally insatiable.
Move to online learning
Seafood Hjaltland UK? Globally, we normally see strong
Discounts on fitness A: Two things. Firstly, the increased market growth of six to seven per cent
equipment and activewear scope to ensure the best growing annually, but with limited growth in
Young People conditions for our salmon. Bringing the supply predicted for the next two to
Young People’s Council two farm estates under one farming three years, we anticipate strong market
strategy gives us greater influence over returns going forward.
Aquaculture Academy
several key biological factors including
Wellbeing fish health, stocking regimes and sea lice Q: What happens next?
My Healthy Advantage app management. A: First and foremost, the acquisition
Secondly, the skill and passion of Grieg’s must be approved by the relevant
Scottish team. Prior to making our bid, competition authorities and customary
we were given the opportunity to visit, as closing conditions, with the transaction
were other interested parties, and farm anticipated to close in Q4 2021. That
after farm I was struck by the care and done, we can really get going, bringing
dedication I saw. These are people who the two farming estates and teams
care greatly about their fish – these are together to begin working as one.
very much our kind of people. Until then, it’s hugely important we stay
focused on the day job: clean nets, low
Q: Both farming companies have faced sea lice levels, minimal impact on the
their challenges in Shetland. How will environment, maximum number of fish
the acquisition help? through processing and a strong return
Scottish Sea Farms Head of HR Tracy Bryant-Shaw A: As with rearing any livestock, farming from our customers.
with Emma Leyden and Claire Scott salmon is by its very nature challenging.
2
Quality
team grows
as volumes
increase
Quality assurance is key to the production process at Scottish Sea Farms and as the
company grows, so too is the team working to maintain the highest food safety standards.
Several new roles have recently been Jamie’s counterpart in Orkney and tonnes of salmon. This year we’re on
created on the quality team. Shetland is Cameron Mullay, replacing target to produce over 36,000 tonnes.
Freya Robinson who has moved To help ensure we continue to meet our
There are three new Quality Monitors in
overseas. exemplary food safety standards, we
Scalloway, Lori Smith, Harry Bedding and
need to increase our team.
Matt Bracegirdle, with Matthew Palmer The auditors are a familiar presence
promoted to Team Leader. on the farms, ensuring compliance ‘We have also taken on new tasks,
with Scottish Sea Farms’ own internal helping the company in its journey
Meanwhile, Evangelos Ntalagiannis joins
standards and external certifications towards ASC certification, which
South Shian as Quality Monitor, bringing
such as RSPCA Assured, Global GAP, involves a huge amount of extra work.’
each monitoring team up to four.
Label Rouge, and individual retail
Scottish Sea Farms is aiming to have its
Also new in South Shian is Aquaculture schemes.
first two farms ASC certified by the end
Technical Coordinator Jamie David,
Andy Gourlay, Head of Technical, said the of the year.
formerly of Aquascot, who takes on
quality team was now up to 21 staff; the
the auditing duties of Anna Price, now The lab workforce has also increased,
reasons for the expansion being twofold.
overseeing Scottish Sea Farms’ ASC with Rebecca Buchanan becoming the
programme. ‘We’re processing more fish than ever third full-time member of the team,
before. Last year this was around 24,000 based at South Shian.
New net cleaners off to a flying start
Farm teams at Kishorn ‘They provide full visibility and video
footage of the net cleaning process
and Nevis are reaping and have already assisted in increased
the benefits of new net containment security on our farms.
cleaners that improve ‘And they have superior cleaning over
efficiency, result in better our current systems, particularly with
containment, boost fish the new HDPE SealPro nets, fitted to
prevent predator attacks.
health and ensure greater
‘They also effectively clean the entire
safety for staff. base of the net, and are faster and
more reliable than manual systems.’
Two FNC8s, or Flying Net Cleaners,
supplied by AKVA, have been installed Scottish Sea Farms Head Engineer
on service vessels Lady Christine and for Mainland Marine, Craig Cameron,
Solas Na Mara, following extensive described the difference as ‘totally
trials starting last year. night and day.’
The ROV (remotely operated vehicle) ‘They clean eight cages a day
systems have in-built cameras and compared to five before and are
sensors that help reach parts other net automatic, so less labour intensive;
cleaners can’t reach and enable farmers we needed two people to operate
to see the whole net during cleaning. the manual cleaner but this just
needs one person to drive it.’ Photo: Peter Coull, Farm Manager, Nevis C
The feedback so far confirms they
are doing an ‘excellent’ job, said Innes Operators are trained by AKVA and
Weir, Regional Production Manager Cameron said they have been finding can compromise fish health by
for the Mainland. that the younger generation gamers, reducing oxygen levels and harbouring
who are used to PlayStations, become pathogens.
‘The FNC8s provide us with several
‘experts straight away’.
advantages over our manually operated Weir said he would now like to see
systems. They allow our dedicated net The cleaners are out every day and FNC8s installed aboard more service
hygiene staff to operate and view the there has been a ‘huge improvement’ vessels, allowing dedicated net
nets from inside the wheelhouse or in the cleanliness of the nets, said servicing teams to provide ‘best in
purpose-built console, improving safety Cameron. This, it’s hoped, will lead class service’ to Scottish Sea Farms’
by keeping them out of the elements. to better gill scores, as fouled nets marine sites.
3
Sector news
Government reassures
sector over Green fears
The Scottish government has reiterated its support for rural employment following concerns
that a political pact with the Scottish Greens would be damaging for the salmon sector.
Kate Forbes, the SNP’s Finance salmon farms and the expansion of
Minister and MSP for the Skye, existing ones, and the phasing out of
Lochaber and Badenoch, told the open cage farming.
BBC’s Good Morning Scotland
Scottish Sea Farms Head of Sustainability
programme that she was ‘acutely
& Development Anne Anderson said the
conscious’ of the importance of
Greens’ policies would have a ‘catastrophic
rural jobs.
effect on salmon farming’.
‘I would say that most, if not all, are
And the Scottish Salmon Producers
in my constituency so I am acutely
Organisation (SSPO) joined other
conscious of the importance of our
rural economy and the importance
Scottish Sea Farms Managing Director Jim Gallagher trade bodies, including the Scottish
with Kate Forbes MSP
of these very rural jobs in very Gamekeepers Association, in voicing alarm
remote areas. Nicola Sturgeon announced she was over the Greens’ rural economy agenda.
seeking a more formal ‘cooperation The talks between the SNP and Scottish
‘We are still the government but we
agreement’ with the smaller, pro- Greens have been ongoing during the
have outlined a number of areas we
independence party. summer recess and focus on six main
are going to be focusing on [with
the Greens],’ she added. The SNP has pledged to continue areas: Covid recovery; the climate
backing the sustainable growth of the emergency; the constitution; public
The SNP was returned to government
farmed salmon sector, with manifesto services; infrastructure; and making
after the Scottish elections in May
promises to ‘reform and streamline Scotland more equal.
but with one seat short of an overall
regulatory processes.’ It is not known whether aquaculture is on
majority. Although in previous
parliaments, the party has relied However, the Scottish Green Party the table but Forbes said the government
on the Greens to pass legislation, spelt out in its own manifesto plans for would ‘explore with the Green Party those
including its budget, First Minister a moratorium on the licensing of new opportunities for cooperation’.
Amongst the measures the UK staff coinciding with a significant
Supply
Government is taking to help tackle increase in airfreight.
the shortage is the allocation of
Mark Kelly, UK Operations Manager
additional hours and staff into HGV
chain rallies
(Logistics Division) at DFDS said:
testing, with the number of passes
‘Typically, a driver would run a full lorry
per week having increased from
load down to Heathrow and bring a
as staff
1,150 pre-Covid to 1,500.
full lorry load back. But owing to the
Plans are also underway to enable shortage of warehouse operations staff
shortages
key workers in lifeline sectors, and longer turnaround times, we’re
including food supply, to become now having to pay some drivers to
exempt from self-isolation if fully come back empty just to ensure we
sweep UK vaccinated.
Meanwhile, salmon farmers and
get the vehicles back in time and keep
our service levels up.
logistics partners have been working ‘To help in the longer-term, we’ve
more closely than ever to help rolled out the driver apprentice
mitigate any impact on customers. scheme ‘Warehouse to Wheels’ to
Scottish Sea Farms Supply Chain support any of our existing team with
Coordinator Lyndsay Foster said: ambitions of becoming an HGV driver
Photo: DFDS to gain their licence.’
‘What was a very slick system has
become a complex juggling act on
Scotland’s salmon farmers and logistics a daily basis. That said, our ongoing Photo: Northwards
partners have been working around the investment in IT systems has really
clock to keep supplies moving in the face come into its own, with our logistics
of a UK-wide shortage of road haulage, partners DFDS having direct access
warehouse and distribution staff. to what fish will be packed, where
it’s destined for and by when,
The shortage is thought to stem from
and Northwards receiving regular
several factors, not least a reduced
updates, giving both the maximum
number of EU nationals post-Brexit,
amount of time to plan.’
some workers still being on furlough
and others self-isolating, as well as a It’s not only domestic deliveries that
serious shortfall in the number of HGV are under pressure but exports too,
driving tests last year due to Covid. with shortages in freight forwarding
4
Sharing
good
practice in
health and
safety
A new Health & Safety Working Group has been set up by Scotland’s salmon
producers with the aim of addressing issues that affect the whole sector and
standardising responses.
Health & Safety representatives from Standardising signage around farms standards, and will involve all the
all the Scottish salmon companies is another goal for the safety group, Health & Safety managers of all the
have been invited to attend, along so other marine users are clear about salmon companies getting together
with members of the Scottish Salmon messaging that is designed to safeguard and deciding what issues they want
Producers Organisation (SSPO). them, farm staff and livestock. to look at.’
Scottish Sea Farms Health & Safety And McCormick hopes the group will The Health & Safety Working Group,
Manager Gerry McCormick said a be able to develop a unified strategy chaired by Colin Blair, Managing
common approach to sector wide towards unauthorised access at farms, Director of Cooke Aquaculture
challenges will make it easier to identify which is a potential safety risk if, for Scotland, plans to meet quarterly.
problems and devise solutions. instance, people are not wearing
lifejackets or if farm operations or Scottish Sea Farms
‘Health and safety are very high on
infrastructure are compromised. Health & Safety Manager
each individual company’s agenda Gerry McCormick
but have not to date been part of the At the first meeting in July, salmon
SSPO board’s remit, as other aspects of company Health & Safety managers
farming, such as quality control, are. identified and agreed specific project
areas to investigate.
‘The new group gives us an opportunity
to share information. For example, if we The SSPO’s Director of Strategic
compare accident data, we can look Engagement, Hamish Macdonell, said:
at trends across companies and target ‘The group is about shared good
improvements as a sector.’ practice and ensuring Health & Safety
Photo: Anthony Robinson,
Short-term fix
Engineer, Barcaldine Hatchery
for Norwegian
wellboat crews
Norwegian wellboat crews Norwegian wellboat company Solvtrans on holiday, or if there are new crews
applied for 116 frontier worker permits,
operating in Scotland which can be granted to Europeans
who haven’t worked in the UK before,’
said Hamish Macdonell, SSPO director
are optimistic they will who worked in the UK in 2020. of strategic engagement.
secure enough temporary These will ensure seamless monthly ‘So, we obviously need a more long-
shift changes, involving approximately
work permits to continue 50 crew at a time, until a more
term solution as well as this short-term
fix which we have managed to get.
working in Scottish waters permanent solution is found.
‘We are continuing to talk to the Home
as post-Brexit changes to The Scottish Salmon Producers Office, Defra, and the Scotland Office.’
Organisation (SSPO), which lobbied the
employment rules come UK government on behalf of Solvtrans Current exemptions to the legislation
into force. and its customers in the Scottish include some fishing boat crews, who
salmon sector, is now looking at the are on the designated occupation list
options going forward. and could qualify for skilled worker
As of July, all EEA (European visas.
Economic Area) nationals are required ‘When you only have a small pool
to have dispensation to work in the of people who can qualify for these To meet the criteria for these visas,
UK. Norway is not in the EU but is a frontier worker permits, there are going applicants need to sit an English test
member of the EEA. to be problems if people go off sick, or and earn more than £26,500 a year.
5
Photo: Angela Hand
Our people
People on
the move
Our regular round-up of internal
promotions within Scottish Sea Farms
New-look long service
Stephen King Erin MacAulay
awards unveiled
Scottish Sea Farms’ employees celebrating a special
workplace anniversary can look forward to a new-look
long service award.
Colin MacDonald Luke Murray Under the long-running scheme, all service milestone this year will be
& Liam McClure employees reaching 15, 20, 25 and the first to receive them.
30 years’ service receive a signed
This includes mainland farm
certificate and voucher of their
managers George Prosser and David
choosing.
MacMillan who recently notched up
Whilst the voucher will remain, the more than 40 years between them,
certificate has been given a fresh after starting together at Loch Creran
new look, complete with a special as husbandry staff.
countertop display frame.
For Prosser, becoming a farm
Ross Johnson Matthew Palmer
Managing Director Jim Gallagher manager has been his greatest
Within freshwater, Stephen King has explained: ‘Every company benefits achievement: ‘Being in charge, you
been promoted from Engineer to from having a healthy mix of new get a chance to do the things you’ve
Senior Engineer, based at Barcaldine people and ideas, and longer serving learned over the years, when working
Hatchery. employees who have grown along under other people, but in your own
with the company. way.’
Also at Barcaldine, Erin MacAulay
– daughter of Scottish Sea Farms’ ‘The new-look awards are our way For MacMillan, whilst there has been
legend ‘Spout’ – has taken on the front of expressing how much we value huge technological advances over
of house role of Receptionist/ HR employees’ loyalty and the retention the past two decades, the core focus
Administrator, having moved across of their skills and knowledge within on producing great fish has remained.
from Processing at South Shian. the business.’ ‘It’s a credit to the company that we
In marine, Aoife Brennan has been don’t have a high turnover of staff. A
Whilst Covid delayed the awards’
promoted from trainee manager lot of the employees are the same as
launch, scheduled for the start of
to farm manager of Nevis B. Aoife when I started here, in the office in
2021, no-one will miss out – those
originally joined Scottish Sea Farms Stirling as well as on the farm.’
who have already celebrated a long
as an environmental scientist, later
transitioning into production where
she has gained knowledge of day
Double honour for
to day operations, logistics, H&S,
feeding and health monitoring.
fish welfare initiative
Scottish Sea Farms’ vessel crews
have seen promotions too. On the
Helen Mary, Liam McClure becomes
Senior Technician as manager
Colin MacDonald moves to oversee Photo: Gordon Siegel Photography
commissioning of the Kallista Helen.
On the Fair Isle, Luke Murray has An in-house innovation to improve through harvesting per minute and
been promoted to Skipper, while Ross fish welfare and increase efficiencies adjust the flow as and when necessary.
Johnson has been made First Mate. during harvesting, reported in the
The same project has also
September 2020 issue of The Source,
Back on dry land, Matthew Palmer – been shortlisted in the Digital
who joined Scottish Sea Farms from
has been shortlisted in not one but
Transformation category, alongside the
the banking sector in April – has been two categories of The Food & Drink
Federation Awards 2021. likes of the Food Standards Agency,
promoted from Quality Manager to the Red Tractor Assurance scheme and
Team Leader at Scalloway. David Lipcsey, formerly a Processing KP Snacks.
Commenting on Matthew’s new Supervisor at Scalloway but now part
of the IT team, has been shortlisted for The winners of this year’s Awards,
role, Scottish Sea Farms Head of
Technical Andy Gourlay said: ‘His Food and Drink Engineer of the Year which aim to recognise and
quick promotion is well earned, having for his work to programme software reward excellence for innovation,
brought himself up to speed with the capable of counting the number of competitiveness and talent across
sector in record time and utilised his fish entering harvesting and put that the UK food and drink industry, will
supervisory and mentoring skills from data onto an app, enabling well-boat be announced at a ceremony on 16
previous employment to good effect.’ crews to see how many fish are going September in London.
6
‘This was
a unique
opportunity I
wanted to grab’
Scottish Sea Farms’ new Head of Freshwater, Rory Conn, will
be better known in the business as UK Sales & Commercial
Manager, his role for the past 12 years.
Making the transition from one end They set high standards for themselves
of the value chain to the other has and take a lot of pride in what we’re ‘I have always had at the back of
inevitably brought challenges but there producing.’ my mind that I’d love a way to
are more similarities and transferable get into production but my family
Conn jokes that his switch to farming
skills between the two jobs than might doesn’t live on the west coast and I
from sales was his midlife crisis but, in
first appear, said Conn. couldn’t see a pathway to doing it.’
fact, he contemplated such a move in
‘Working with a team, having a long- the past.
term goal, deciding the direction we
want to go in, and keeping it moving ‘I have always had at the back of my
is the same whether you’re in sales or mind that I’d love a way to get into
production. production but my family doesn’t live can better withstand the cold
on the west coast and I couldn’t see a temperatures in the flow-through
‘It’s a big leap to freshwater, but over pathway to doing it. hatchery.
the years I have learned a lot about
how the sector works and have a broad ‘But this was a unique opportunity to Knock will continue to produce
understanding of production, as well as make that change and once I could around one million smolts which, said
a good knowledge of the company. see how it would work, I just wanted to Conn, will be of the same quality as
grab it.’ those coming out of Barcaldine.
‘Having relationships across
management and knowing who to There have been challenges, of course, The RAS plant has capacity for 12
speak to is really important for being the biggest being ‘coming to terms million smolts a year and is currently
able to get things done. with the feeling that you really don’t producing 10 million smolts, from
know the answer’, said Conn. 120g to just under 200g. The next
‘Since coming to Barcaldine and batch to leave will have an average
freshwater, the focus now is on ‘That has been a novelty after being in
my last role so long, but I have learnt weight of 220g, with some tanks at
acquiring that depth of understanding 280g, the biggest Scottish Sea Farms
of the day-to-day operations.’ to trust the team and my own instincts
that if something doesn’t look right, smolts yet.
Conn took up his new position in March, then it probably isn’t right. With ongoing investment and
replacing Pål Tangvik who returned continual improvements in freshwater,
to Norway having fulfilled his mission ‘It is getting easier as time goes on, but
the learning opportunities are when Conn’s leadership skills will clearly be
of delivering the company’s first full an asset. In sales, he was often the
generation of RAS-grown smolts. things are not 100 per cent as they
should be.’ public face of Scottish Sea Farms, and
The handover period was invaluable, he has hosted his first ministerial visit
said Conn, and so is the ‘great team’ His plans for Barcaldine and Knock are at Barcaldine. But he said he will rely
he inherited and whose experience he about optimising what they can both on his 25-strong workforce to share
counts on. produce, and he has already overseen the spotlight.
some changes.
‘I am very impressed by their high ‘I was very proud showing the
standards and their commitment All fish will now start their lives minister around, not just in terms
to what they’re doing, at our Knock in Barcaldine, with the Knock fry of the fantastic facilities but the
freshwater facility and at Barcaldine. transferred at 2-3g, when they freshwater team too.’
7
Community news
Orkney
film club
back in
business
Photo: Orkney film club
The Screen on the Square in St Club organiser Helen Butcher said the nights, and take turns choosing what
Margaret’s Hope might be modest money from Scottish Sea Farms’ Heart to watch from supplier Moviola.
compared to other film venues but it of the Community Trust will buy a new
projector and lens with LED lighting. ‘We tried arty films but the audience
is one of the main social attractions
numbers dropped off, so we’ve gone
of South Ronaldsay, Orkney. ‘We won’t need a bulb in the new back to more feelgood films,’ said
That is when the picture isn’t blurred or projector, which is good because every Helen.
the sound muffled, or the DVD player now and then the bulb would go in the
old projector and it had to be changed ‘It’s a very sociable club and we
doesn’t break half-way through a missed it desperately during Covid,
screening. in the middle of a film.
when there was nothing going on at
Despite the popularity of the local ‘We will also get a surround sound all. The nearest cinema is in Kirkwall,
film club – held every month in the system – at the moment we’ve only which is 13 miles away.’
village hall in Cromarty Square – the got stereo so the sound gets crammed
into the two speakers and it creates a She said the club found out about
technology can sometimes be a the Heart of the Community fund
disappointment. muffling effect.
through Voluntary Action Orkney, after
But not for much longer. The club has ‘And we’re planning to replace the unsuccessfully applying for Lottery
secured £5,000 from Scottish Sea screen which is from the 1940s! It’s funding.
Farms to upgrade its equipment and an amazing old thing that rolls down
and absorbs a lot of the image so the ‘We want to thank Scottish Sea Farms
enable even more people to enjoy its for selecting us, we’re really chuffed.
film choices, which have ranged from picture is quite dull as well.’
Our audience are very long suffering
the war film ‘2017’ to ‘Singing in the The hall, built at the turn of the last and it will be wonderful to give them
Rain’. century, seats up to 100 people but an experience where they can actually
around 30 regularly attend the film see and hear clearly.’
But lately, anyone using the premises ‘It’s used for all sorts of things,
Funding raises the has had to negotiate buckets
strategically placed to catch rainwater
from children’s parties to wedding
receptions and gatherings after
roof for another as the roof has fallen into a state of
disrepair.
funerals – it’s right next door to
the church. In recent years it has
generation Fund-raising for a new roof was halted
expanded to accommodate training
courses and a craft fair too.
during the pandemic but now there is
hope it will be fully restored, thanks in ‘The hall is very much the hub of
part to an award from the Heart of the the community, providing a venue
Community Trust. for social, cultural and educational
activities. But the roof has been in a
The hall committee applied to the poor state for some time and will cost
Scottish Sea Farms fund as the around £50,000 to replace.’
company is well known in the local
area, and was thrilled to receive King said there is still about £15,000
£10,000. to raise but other local employers
have contributed, including an offer of
Committee member Kathy King, help with building materials, so they
Photo: Ethel Johnstone, Learning &
Development Coordinator who returned to Appin following her are getting closer to the total.
retirement, said they hoped to have a
new roof in place by the winter. ‘It’s wonderful to have the support
The village hall in Appin has been a
from Scottish Sea Farms. It’s a good
feature of community life for generations, ‘I was born and brought up in the cause and, hopefully, will ensure the
playing a role in most major events in the village in the 1950s and the hall was hall is here for another generation.’
village, from agricultural show ceilidhs to always here,’ she said. ‘In a normal
amateur dramatic festivals. year, it’s in constant use.
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8
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