Taking a job and creating a new life in Orkney can be a daunting prospect for those thinking about applying for work in the islands.

But now specialist staff considering a career with NHS Orkney, Orkney Islands Council or in the private sector can be presented with a high tech snapshot of life in the county.

The two agencies have joined forces with Orkney Enterprise to produce a CD-ROM containing a wealth of information about living and working in Orkney.  Copies of the interactive disk will be made available to Orkney businesses and organisations seeking to recruit specialists from further south.

Starring roles are given to seven people who have found jobs and a lifestyle they enjoy by moving to the islands.  In video interviews incorporated within the CD-ROM, they give very personal accounts of the positive impact a move to Orkney has had on their lives.

The three organisations all recognised that in a competitive market place, a challenging job and an attractive salary may no longer be sufficient when it comes to securing the services of specialist staff from out with the islands.

They decided the Orkney lifestyle could offer them a recruitment advantage over other areas of the country and came up with the idea of a CD-ROM highlighting the attractions of island life.

Jeremy Baster, the council's director of development and protective services, said: "As a local authority, we have experienced difficulties in recruiting specialist staff.  We felt that in many cases, this is because someone thinking about applying for a job might have little idea of what life in Orkney would be like for them, their spouse and their family.

"In partnership with NHS Orkney and Orkney Enterprise, we came up with the idea of using the latest interactive technology as an effective, cost efficient way to show exactly what living here is like."

Ruth Kirkpatrick, Orkney Enterprise's senior development manager, said using computer technology helped demonstrate that this is a modern, forward thinking community.

"At the same time, the content of the CD-ROM shows clearly that there is a unique quality of life here in Orkney with a strong sense of community and a wonderful environment," she said.

Stephanie Lawton, NHS Orkney's assistant director of human resources and training, added: "Selling a lifestyle is an approach that certainly seems to be solving some of our recruitment problems.

"The job experience we can offer is second to none, but there is no doubt that it is the lifestyle choice that is ultimately going to clinch the deal.

"Orkney is a vibrant community and a very welcoming, happy place to be and that is amply demonstrated in this innovative approach to giving potential employees a taste of life in the islands before they make long journey north."

The CD-ROM covers the geography, culture and heritage of Orkney and provides information about recreation, education, housing, transport and shopping.  Interactive links are provided to airlines, ferry companies, solicitors and estate agents, as well as to tourism, accommodation and leisure websites.

One of the video 'stars' is Gillian Morrison, head of strategic services with the council's community social services department, who moved to Orkney from Perthshire two years ago.

She said: "With a husband and two young children, this was a very big decision.  It was a complete change of lifestyle for us all.

"For us, it would have been helpful to have had something in advance that painted a very honest picture of what a move to Orkney would be like.

"I am very enthusiastic about Orkney and I think the CD-ROM shows that life here is very special.  Hopefully it will prove invaluable in helping others considering a big, life changing move to a new job in the islands."