Shetland Partnership Network Tuesday 27th February 2024

The event was focused on the Draft Energy Strategy for Shetland, followed by an update on Place-Based Working in practice. It was also a chance for Partners to reconnect as we look ahead for 2024. 

The Shetland Partnership Network aims to help partners create a sense of shared ownership of community planning and to create a safe environment for open and honest conversations around the challenges and opportunities to tackle inequalities in Shetland. The Network brings together representatives of all community planning partners in Shetland and offers opportunities for information sharing, developing ideas and building relationships. 

Firstly, representatives from Shetland Islands Council’s Future Energy Team gave a presentation on the Draft Energy Strategy for Shetland. There was an opportunity for discussions and questions during and following the presentation.

At a time of rapid global energy transition, Shetland needs to be clear on its ambitions for clean, secure and affordable energy. The strategy aims to facilitate a fully just Energy Transition for Shetland, through encouraging all projects to embrace the main elements of social justice at each stage of project development and delivery. 

The Draft Energy Strategy sets out the components of energy transition for Shetland, considers the current position and looks to the future for each, with associated “We Will” statements to support the alignment of action. These components highlight a range of interlinkages and dependencies.   The ambition is “to achieve secure and affordable energy future for Shetland while reducing carbon emissions to net zero.” The four long term outcomes are: 

• Reduce emissions
• Secure affordable energy
• Create and Retain local wealth 
• Build skills and capacity

The consultation is open until Friday 8th March 2024 and Partners were encouraged to take part. 

Following a discussion and networking break, representatives from Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland gave an overview of three significant projects which are taking place in the North Mainland. This links to the overarching Place-Based Improvement Programme in the Shetland Partnership Delivery Plan for 2023-28. The three projects have begun to develop plans for working together, and are keen to share in order for more partners to be involved. 

The Shetland Partnership has recognised the importance of ensuring projects are integrated, wherever possible. The work is moving into a phase of checking out plans with communities and looking at implementation from April 2024 onwards.

If people have any questions or suggestions, they can contact Emma Perring at emma.perring@shetland.gov.uk. 

Representatives of 13 partners attended. Feedback showed that updates on projects, developments and strategies were appreciated, as well as the opportunity to network while gaining insight to local issues.

The next meeting of the Shetland Partnership Network will be held in April.