Visitor centre plans attract £166,000 funding

Sheila Fleet Jewellery has secured £166,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards a new visitor centre in the East Mainland

The project will include the redevelopment of the disused church next to the company’s existing workshop in Tankerness, and is expected to create several new jobs. It also includes a new casting workshop and improvements to the existing workshop.

As a result, it is understood the business will employ more people.

Ruth Kirkpatrick, HIE’s head of business growth in Orkney, said: “This is great news for Sheila Fleet Jewellery and for Orkney.

“It will add to Orkney’s tourism offering, create an excellent visitor attraction for the East Mainland and attract more visitors to this part of Orkney.

“And, of course, it will also provide valuable job opportunities as well as spin-off benefits for other businesses in the East Mainland and linked South Isles.”