Orkney Islands Council
Forget images of remote islands
Orkney is well served by superb modern transport links
Forget the idea of a few people in the middle of no-where - Orkney is home to over 20,000 people.
Orkney may bring to mind certain images, but the chances are they are, to say the least, a little off the mark. Sure, we're a bit off the beaten track, but the needs of our community are just the same as anywhere else. And, as a result, the opportunities we can offer you are comparable with those you'll find elsewhere. Of course, there are a few differences: for starters Orkney consists of 100,000 hectares spread over 70+ small islands (19 of which are inhabited), so, like our service users, you'll need to make the most of the transportation links which are vital to Orkney's social and economic well-being.
Orkney Islands Council may be the smallest local authority in Scotland, but we can offer some big challenges. And big opportunities. This could be your big chance to make the move, and make a difference.
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Working Here
Working on the Orkney Islands
With 2,000 staff serving a population of 20,000, we're the largest employer within the islands. Our main office is in our capital, Kirkwall, where you'll find all the usual amenities you'd expect from a town, including a hospital, a secondary school and two primary schools.
These are exciting times for Orkney Islands Council. Along with NHS Orkney, we're at the forefront of a Scottish joint working programme which is exploring the potential of shared services which will help make our public sector more efficient. As a result of this innovation, it's likely that in the future, many of our vacancies will be joint funded.
Because of our unique location, working with us means that you may need to travel to the mainland in the course of your job. But thanks to some great transport links this isn't a problem – there are daily flights to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness, plus several daily sailings of the ro-ro ferries to the North of Scotland (average journey time is 90 minutes).
Like every council, we offer a range of opportunities, from manual to professional roles, however, the most common opportunities we have are within social services, teaching and technical services. Plus, as one of the few local authorities with a Harbour Department, we may also have openings in this area.
So, whatever your skill set, if your ambitions match ours, Orkney could be the place for you.
