Click on map for larger image

Produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service
Image reproduced with kind permission of
Ordnance Survey and
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland

The Orkney and Shetland Islands represent the Northern Isles of Scotland, Shetland being the most northerly in the United Kingdom at 60° – 61° North. For the first time these two groups of islands have come together to administer a joint Leader+ Programme, with the aim of promoting rural and economic development in the areas, joint actions between the islands, and the sharing of information and ideas.

Orkney and Shetland are linked by both air and ferry transport.  There are air links from the Islands to Scotlands major cities, and ferry links to Scrabster and Aberdeen.  There are also ferry links between Shetland and  Faroe, Iceland, Norway and Denmark.

The Shetland Islands are made up of over 100 islands and skerries, only 15 of the Islands are inhabited, with excellent ferry services connecting the islands to the Mainland.  Lerwick is the capital of Shetland.  The islands have a total land area of 1468 sq kilometres and a long indented coastline of kilometres.  There is little area further than 5 km from the sea.

The Orkney Islands are made up of some 70 islands, mainly low lying, green and fertile, 17 of which are inhabited.   Orkney has daily ferry services from the mainland to all of the outlying islands.  Kirkwall is the capital of Orkney.

Northern Isles Leader+ Plan
The overall aim of the LEADER + strategy for the Northern Isles is:
“to enrich the socio-economic life of communities, reflecting the distinctive character of the islands, in an integrated programme, focusing on the opportunities presented by the use of new technologies and know-how”

The programme is built around the theme of:
Use of new know-how and new technologies to make the products and services of rural areas more competitive’, with a complimentary theme of ‘Quality of Life’Projects supported must involve new technologies or new know how (which can be new forms of knowledge or activities.

The Objectives of the Programme are:

• To promote and exploit opportunities presented by new technologies and know how, in the sphere of culture and heritage
• To encourage diversification and new opportunities, through support for pilot projects using ICT, new know-how and technology in micro businesses and community enterprises
• To promote innovative access to services and facilities through the use of ICT and new know-how in the remoter communities
• To encourage the development of creative industries in the Northern Isles
• To encourage the development of new local research skills and resources, as well as links between businesses and the local Colleges.
• To support innovative approaches which reflect the potential value of the high quality natural resources and the environment of the islands.

The target groups for the Northern Isles Programme are women and young people, although it will also focus on the other national target groups – the underemployed and micro-businesses. The following principles should be kept in mind when designing Leader+ projects:

• A bottom-up approach – projects should embody the bottom up approach.
• Pilot Actions - Projects should demonstrate an innovative approach for their area.
• Equal Opportunities – equality of opportunity will be safeguarded and promoted in the broadest sense of the term
• Sustainable Development – all projects must be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
• Transferability – projects should consider the transferability of their project.
  

One element of the Programme aims to support transnational and transregional projects, this is designed to promote joint working between areas. If you are interested in undertaking a transnational or transregional project, please get in touch with the Leader+ Coordinator who will assist you in locating other eligible areas or groups, and can submit project ideas for partner searching.