Also in the news / Innovation award, MRI scanner arrives, Mind Your Head donation, live music and more…
A SCOTTISH Sea Farms IT engineer has been named Digital Professional of the Year at a national awards ceremony for an innovation that ensures the smooth transit of farmed salmon from wellboat to harvest station.
David Lipcsey was working as a supervisor at Scottish Sea Farms’ processing and packing facility in Scalloway, Shetland, when he spotted the potential for improvement.
Combining his experience in processing with his programming skills, he developed new software to accurately count the number of fish coming into the harvest station.
He picked up the prize at the 2021 Herald Digital Transformation Awards.
“When I first came up with the idea, I never thought it would gain traction so quickly,” Lipcsey said.
“It’s great to see the software being used on a daily basis, as well as being rewarded for it. Such appreciation really provides motivation to push on with new ideas.”
NO DECISION has been made on the future use of the former Lerwick Post Office building on Commercial street.
Postal services moved out of the building – which is owned by Royal Mail – last year.
“The site is still in use by Royal Mail and no decision on future plans has been made,” a spokesperson told Shetland News.
A MOBILE MRI scanner has arrived in Shetland to support an enhanced elective care programme which will get underway in January.
Watch the mobile unit arrive at Lerwick’s Gilbert Bain Hospital below.
The scanner will depart Shetland on 10 November.
MENTAL health charity Mind Your Head has secured a £1,000 donation from Yorkshire Building Society’s charitable foundation.
Mind Your Head received the donation after being nominated by colleagues at the society’s Inverness Branch as part of a scheme to support UK charities.
Finance and office manager Joanna Breeze said: “This money will go towards providing Feel Good Bags to people living in Shetland.
“Now more than ever we need to take time out for ourselves and these bags provide items to promote self-care and have been hugely popular. The money awarded to us will help us to help more people. Thank you to everyone at Yorkshire Building Society.”
LOCAL folk music group Herkja will perform two concerts in country halls at the start of December which will explore Shetland’s audio and visual heritage.
Inspired by Shetland Film Archive, the evening of music and film will “celebrate crofting, fishing and crafting tradition” as well as nodding to Herkja’s recent EP.
They will play at the Vidlin Hall on 1 December and the Levenwick Hall on 2 December, with tickets on sale now.
Tickets are also now on sale for Americana artist Rachel Baiman and her trio at Mareel on 19 January.
Support on the night will be local act Kansa.
THE SCOTTISH Government has launched a survey to understand how ready the country’s fishing sector is to respond to the climate change challenge.
The survey launches during COP26 and is open until the end of November. It will inform a workshop on climate change and fisheries to be held next year.
Responses will help the Scottish Government map out how it can support the fishing industry respond to climate crisis and move towards net zero.
Anyone with an interest in Scottish fisheries can take part here.
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