The Unst Response Team (URT) has appointed a full-time project officer, Marie Robertson and a part-time administrator, Josie McMillan.

Marie has worked with AB Associates in Shetland for the past two and a half years and previously worked with both the Unst Partnership and the Unst Heritage Trust on summer placements.

Marie is a member of several local groups and organisations including the Shetland Choral Society (she is also the treasurer), the Isleburgh Drama Group, the Shetland Fiddler's Society and the Lerwick Boating Club.

In the past Josie worked at RAF Saxa Vord but more recently she has worked for the Bank Of Scotland on a part time basis and is office manager for the Unst Partnership, administrator for Initiative at the Edge and clerk for Unst Community Council.

In her spare time Josie is the Guider for the 1st Unst Brownies and joint Guiding District Commissioner for the Unst area.  She is also treasurer for the Brownies and Trustee and treasurer for the Unst Heritage Trust.

Shetland Enterprise, on behalf of the economic development agencies in Shetland, set up the URT in September to help the community of Unst tackle the economic impact of the closure of the Saxa Vord RAF base on the island.

Formed for a three year period, the URT is managed by team leader Fiona Stirling, who was appointed to the role last month.  The URT are based in Unit 2, Hagdale Industrial Estate, Baltasound on Unst, to provide a local economic development presence on the island.

Dr Ann Black, chief executive of Shetland Enterprise, said: "It's great to finally get the full team in place.  It is very important for the community of Unst that they have the support of this specially created team at this difficult time."

The key economic development objectives of the URT will be to:
* Identify opportunities to diversify the economy of Unst that arise from the physical and human assets in the RAF base;
* Help to develop and improve the entrepreneurial culture of Unst and the North Isles;
* Harness, where possible, the skills available at the RAF base to improve the competitiveness of Unst and the North Isles;
* Develop other short and medium term proposals and actions through which the performance of the North Isles economy can be improved;
* Ensure the support of the stakeholder organisations in pursuit of the planned activities and actions;
* Help to build confidence and capacity in the North Isles.

The team will report directly to Dr Black and will also report quarterly to a sub-group of the Community Planning Board which has been specifically set up to co-ordinate and oversee efforts to minimise the impact of the job losses.  The URT will also work closely with North Isles Initiative at the Edge.