EmPowering Shetland

Sustainable development, community benefit and growth

EmPowering Shetland sits within the Shetland Partnership and supports a collaborative and place-based approach to investment in Shetland. The partnership includes Shetland Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, UHI Shetland, Lerwick Port Authority, Shetland Net Zero Forum and Norn Engineering Alliance.

The idea is to give Shetland a clear, consistent and constructive voice – helping investors understand local priorities early on and reassuring communities about how development is being approached.

EmPowering Shetland does not replace existing planning and consenting processes, but focuses on shared understanding and early engagement, so opportunities and challenges can be discussed openly and constructively.

Shetland’s location, experience and capability make it a natural place for investment.

Situated at the northern edge of the UK, at the meeting point of the North Sea and North Atlantic, Shetland has a strategically important position for marine and offshore industries. This geography provides direct access to deep water, open sea routes and natural resources, supporting activity across sectors such as clean energy, fishing, aquaculture and space.

Long-established activity in fishing, marine services and energy has helped develop a skilled local workforce, with strengths in engineering, logistics, marine operations and environmental management. This experience has created a strong culture of problem-solving and adaptability, shaped by decades of working in challenging environments.

Shetland also benefits from established ports, infrastructure and a robust local supply chain, with many businesses experienced in supporting complex operations and large-scale projects. This allows new projects to draw on local knowledge and de-risk project delivery while building strong links with the local economy.

EmPowering Shetland is focused on sectors where the islands already have strong foundations and clear future potential. A key principle of its approach is sectoral co-existence. Shetland’s economy is diverse and new development should complement, but not compromise, the industries that already play a crucial role in island life.

Through early engagement and collaborative planning, EmPowering Shetland supports development that allows new activity to sit alongside established sectors, helping protect livelihoods, maintain environmental standards and support balanced, sustainable growth.

Across all sectors, the focus is on long-term value – supporting local supply chains and good quality jobs, encouraging skills development and ensuring infrastructure investment strengthens Shetland as a place to live and work.

Shetland’s economy depends on continued activity across a range of sectors. New development plays an important role in sustaining our economy, supporting jobs, keeping young people in the islands, strengthening communities and building resilience for future generations.

There is a strong and justified expectation that investment in new developments should deliver clear and lasting benefits locally. In Shetland, this is about securing a fair share for the islands – making sure developments bring local value, whether through jobs, skills, supply chain opportunities, community benefit or long-term investment in infrastructure.

EmPowering Shetland reflects that shared aspiration: to attract investment that contributes to Shetland’s economy and leaves a positive legacy for communities. The emphasis is on shaping development in a way that’s best for Shetland now and in the future.

The development of the Sullom Voe terminal in the 1970s is a good example of how a collaborative approach to investment can work. For more than 50 years, Sullom Voe has shown what's possible when industry and local community work together.

The terminal brought major investment to Shetland, but its impact didn’t stop at the boundary fence. Revenues and agreements associated with the development helped fund harbours, roads, schools and community facilities like public halls, leisure centres, and public services that continue to benefit Shetland today. Local businesses grew alongside it and new skills and opportunities emerged across a wide range of sectors.

Crucially, Sullom Voe wasn’t just about accommodating a major industrial development. It was about shaping it through partnership, giving Shetlanders a voice and a share in its success. That experience still informs how many Shetlanders think about investment today.

Read more about the positive economic impact of Sullom Voe on Shetland.

Recent experience has underlined how vital it is to get this right. Communities across Shetland care deeply about how development happens, who benefits from it and its legacy.

Large-scale developments can have a disproportionate impact on island communities. This makes it essential that new developments are appropriately scaled and shaped to avoid adverse impacts on Shetland’s environment, economy, landscape, and community, and that the community secures a fair share from the projects which share space on Shetland.

EmPowering Shetland is about learning from the past – looking at what has worked well and what could have been done better – and applying those lessons to future opportunities. It supports development that is commercially sound, socially responsible and rooted in genuine partnership with the community.

EmPowering Shetland has helped to develop a ‘Fair Share for Shetland’ framework, which underlines shared expectations around community wealth building, fair value and local benefit, particularly in relation to energy developments.

The framework intends to provide clarity and consistency. It helps investors understand local priorities early on, while giving communities confidence that the benefits of major projects are actively being considered.

By being clear about expectations and open about ambition, Shetland can continue to be a place that welcomes investment while securing a fairer, more resilient future for its people.

The Shetland Development Charter, led by EmPowering Shetland, sets out key expectations from investors undertaking developments in Shetland.

Its main aims are to ensure:

• Shetland’s move to renewable energy is fair for everyone

• The local community is heard and local needs are considered

• There is joined-up thinking when it comes to developments, to avoid duplication of infrastructure and protect our environment

• Projects deliver clean, secure, and affordable energy

• Projects deliver a legacy for Shetland residents and industries

The charter does not replace existing planning and consenting processes. It covers nine priority areas.

1. A Just Transition

2. Ownership

3. Environmental Protection

4. Our Economy

5. A Fair Share for Shetland

6. Community Benefit

7. Local Supply Chain Integration and Community Wealth Building

8. Housing

9. Fiscal and Regulatory Changes

It also includes commitments from Shetland as a community to ensure Shetland benefits proportionally from hosting developments. Those signing the charter will also create an accompanying delivery plan to show how they will uphold its principles. You can read more about the charter here.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please email enquiries@hient.co.uk with 'Empowering Shetland' as the subject line of your email.