An Orkney abattoir took a positive step forward with a Scottish Government grant of £15,000 to support Orkney Auction Mart in making the business case for a new facility.
The award was announced by First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, at the Mart, part of his two-day visit to Orkney.
FM John Swinney said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting small producers and strengthening Scotland’s food supply chain. We know that local marts and abattoirs play an important role in supporting island businesses and ensuring the best animal welfare.
“A new facility in Orkney would bring many benefits for the people who live and work here, supporting economic growth in the area and the future sustainability of the island’s food production industry. We will continue to work with HIE and the Orkney Islands Council as the project develops.”
Chair of Orkney Auction Mart Alan Corrigall said:
“We were delighted to welcome the First Minister to Orkney to explain, first hand, how vital a new abattoir is for our community. Our case has been well received and we very much welcome the Scottish Government’s support.
“We’re looking forward to working in partnership with local butchers and other stakeholders, to build a strong business case for this important project.”
The funding is part of the Scottish Government’s Small Producers Pilot Fund, which this year has provided a total of £256,500 to support private kill abattoirs including in Shetland, Wishaw, Barra, Dingwall and Mull. The fund replaces the Small Farm Grant Scheme.
The funding will be used to:
- support two small-scale abbatoir projects
- establish a new information resource webpage for small producers
- develop a framework to assess small producers data
- procure a service to deliver training courses for small producers
Pictures of John Swinney @ Scottish Government
Fiona Grahame
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