Orkney Skills Academy

By coordinating external trainers travelling from mainland Scotland to deliver courses locally, the Skills Academy removes one of the biggest barriers to professional development in our community: the cost and disruption of travelling to the Scottish mainland for training.

While the initiative begins here in Orkney, our ambition is to extend the Skills Academy to all Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ) partners and regions, including Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.

The ReFLEX Skills Academy is designed to support all types of learners. For those already working in a particular field, we offer the opportunity to upskill and gain new qualifications without leaving the island. For retired or semi-retired individuals, the training opportunities may provide a route to retrain or put their experience to use in new ways – with the added flexibility of working in their own time, to their own schedule. We will also support those entering or returning to the workforce – including single parents and parents returning to work– by creating a clear open pathway into employment, qualifications, and a rewarding career in Orkney's growing green economy.

Training Opportunities