Members of the public in Shetland are being invited to meet the chairman and chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) at an informal public meeting on Monday (22 March).

HIE chairman Jim Hunter will chair the meeting, which starts at 5.30 pm in the North Atlantic Fisheries College, Port Arthur, Scalloway, following a meeting of the HIE board. 

Others taking part include HIE chief executive Sandy Cumming and Shetland Enterprise chairman Brian Isbister and chief executive Ann Black.

It is the first meeting of its kind to be held anywhere in the area covered by the HIE network and could become a regular event, as Dr Hunter explained.

"The HIE board has a long tradition of holding meetings in the various communities covered by our local enterprise companies," he said.

"That's always been valuable because it allows board members to see at first hand how the Network is investing public money in key projects and as well as meeting local business people and community leaders and listen to their views.

"We're now keen to go a step further by holding an open meeting which anyone can attend and raise the issues which they feel we ought to be addressing in their area or, indeed, the wider Highlands and Islands."

After the public meeting, HIE board members will meet the board of Shetland Enterprise and representatives of Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Renewables Forum to discuss opportunities for renewable energy in the islands.

On Tuesday, they will visit a number of business locations, including North Ness Business Park, Lerwick, and the proposed site for Blackwoods Distillery at Catfirth.

In Vidlin, the HIE board will visit Johnson Seafarms and Grading Systems and hear a presentation on challenges facing the aquaculture industry from David Sandison of Shetland Salmon Farmers' Association.  The final stop on their tour is at the Nufish cod hatchery, Sandwick.