Lack of an up to date access guide was the catalyst for this project, and with a similarly out of date Orkney business directory it made sense to combine the information gathering into one exercise. Awareness of the existence of businesses is important for a vibrant local economy, and assists in keeping money in the county. Inward investors and people thinking of moving to Orkney also may be reassured to find the local availability of products and services. Knowledge of the size of various sectors allows the economic development agencies to target and prioritise efforts. Access information is important for local residents and visitors alike. As the next stage of the Disability Discrimination Act came into force in October 2004 (requiring businesses/service providers to consider reasonable changes to their buildings and services in order to provide improved access to their services) businesses were never more likely to have this information at their fingertips. The timing of this project was carefully planned to take advantage of this.

This project is using funding from Orkney Enterprise, Orkney Islands Council and LEADER+ to produce a combined business directory and access guide, which will be presented as a printed document similar in size to The Orcadian telephone directory, and as a searchable online guide similar in format to the online version of the VAO Community Directory on www.orkneycommunities.co.uk. The online guide is proposed to be presented through www.orkneycommunities.co.uk and www.orkney.gov.uk. A CD version may also be produced. Entries in the directory will be classified and will consist of contact details, a brief description of the business and information about access provision if provided.

The directory is not designed to be a medium that carries advertising space, as there were existing commercial media providing this facility. Entries will follow a standard format, with information provided through text, or pictograms to concisely convey access provision.

The access part of the questionnaire has been designed to be as straightforward as possible to complete, and the grading of access will be carried out by Orkney Disability Forum using the information supplied.

A total of 940 businesses have provided information for the directory and the project is on track for a launch in May 2005.