Scotland’s second biggest salmon farmer, which has nine marine farms in Orkney, has made two separate donations of £10,000 each from its Heart of the Community fund to the main Games and to the Orkney Islands Games Association’s team, which is fielding its biggest ever cohort of well over 200 competitors.
The team funding will primarily be used for kit and sporting wear, uniforms and strips, and Scottish Sea Farms is also the front of shirt sponsor for the Orkney team.
The company is donating 60kg of salmon to the event, and Scottish Sea Farms staff will be involved in volunteering to help the smooth running of the Games.
A giant marquee in the Pickaquoy Centre Campus in Kirkwall will feature an area for spectators, along with a variety of exhibitors, including Scottish Sea Farms, which will co-host a salmon sector stall.
The company, which last year donated £62,357 to various causes in Orkney from its Heart of the Community fund, supports local suppliers year-round, with a total spend in the region of £1.7 million in 2024.
With nine marine farms, Scottish Sea Farms, which also operates in Shetland and the Scottish mainland, employs almost 80 people in Orkney, with an annual investment in salaries of around £4 million, and in the last year sponsored 22 Modern Apprentices.
Well-staffed farms, along with recent infrastructure upgrades, have contributed to a high success rate and Scottish Sea Farms’ Orkney farms are among the company’s best performing, with 90.6 per cent survival at the marine stage last year.
Farm teams, always engaged with their communities, take part in career events and beach cleans and regularly host site visits. This week, all effort will be focused on the biennial International Island Games.
Area Manager for Orkney Will Scott, who has spearheaded Scottish Sea Farms’ support, said the company was proud to champion the week-long Games and the local team as it competes on home ground.
‘Sport plays a big part in the lives of our own team, whether participating or coaching or spectating, so it is natural that we would want to support the International Island Games here in Orkney.
‘We are incredibly excited about this prestigious event taking place on our doorstep, and being able to contribute towards the Games’ success is a huge honour for Scottish Sea Farms.’