UHI Orkney
UHI Orkney is a public further and higher education institution in Kirkwall, Scotland, operating as an academic partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands. It delivers access programmes through PhD studies via blended learning, with strengths in archaeology, maritime, hydrogen training, and nursing for the Orkney Islands community.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersKirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What UHI Orkney does
UHI Orkney is a public further and higher education institution based in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland, operating as an academic partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) partnership. Founded as part of the UHI partnership which achieved full university status in 2011, it functions simultaneously as a college and a university, delivering educational programmes from foundational access courses through vocational qualifications (NC, SVQ, HNC, HND) to undergraduate degrees and PhD-level research. The institution is the sole FE/HE provider on the Orkney Islands and delivers a blended learning model combining face-to-face teaching at its East Road campus with video conferencing and online technologies across the UHI network. Core academic strengths include archaeology (hosting ORCA - Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology), maritime studies, renewable energy and hydrogen training, agronomy, nursing and health/social care, arts, and Northern Studies.
The institution monetises through three primary streams: tuition fees for FE and HE programmes (with fee waiver policies available for eligible FE students), Scottish Funding Council government grants, and ancillary commercial income including room hire (£25-£110 per session) to local businesses. Staff are employees of Orkney Islands Council rather than a separately incorporated entity, meaning the institution operates as a public-sector operational unit affiliated with the UHI partnership rather than an independent corporate. Strategic positioning centres on addressing geographic isolation in the Orkney Islands through remote-friendly blended learning, supporting regional workforce development in healthcare, maritime, and renewable energy sectors, and conducting research tied to Orkney's heritage and natural environment.
UHI Orkney holds a small set of distinctive assets: the world's first MCA-approved hydrogen seafarer training course (developed with EMEC and Orkney Ferries), membership in the Planetary Health Alliance via its One Health research strategy, and £1.17 million in Scottish Government offshore wind skills funding secured in June 2026. According to a 2020 Biggar Economics assessment, the institution contributes £36 million annually to the Orkney economy and supports 180 jobs. Student satisfaction stands at 85% in the 2026 National Student Survey, ranking 5th among 18 Scottish universities. Customer base is distributed across prospective and enrolled students; named customer segments include school leavers, mature returners, career changers, NHS Orkney, and local businesses using venue space. The institution is not venture-backed and operates entirely within the public-sector funding framework.
UHI Orkney firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UHI Orkney
- Legal name
- UHI Orkney
- Website
- https://orkney.uhi.ac.uk
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- UHI Orkney is a public further and higher education institution in Kirkwall, Scotland, operating as an academic partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands. It delivers access programmes through PhD studies via blended learning, with strengths in archaeology, maritime, hydrogen training, and nursing for the Orkney Islands community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UHI Orkney industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)
Keywords
Where UHI Orkney is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kirkwall, Scotland
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
UHI Orkney business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees: Revenue from course fees for further education and higher education programs, with fee waiver policies available for eligible FE students.
- Government Funding: Scottish Funding Council provides funding for further education student outcomes reporting and college operations.
- Room Hire Services: Business services revenue from hiring rooms (lecture theatres, conference rooms, meeting rooms, restaurant) to local businesses and organisations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lecture theatre / Conference room / Restaurant |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Meeting rooms |
| Subscription | Annual | Further Education Course Fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
UHI Orkney product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UHI Orkney operates as both a college and a university, delivering further and higher education programs ranging from foundational access courses through vocational qualifications (NC, HNC, HND) to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees up to PhD level. As an academic partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands, it delivers blended learning combining video conferencing, online technologies, and face-to-face teaching, with specialist departments in maritime studies, archaeology, health and social care, art and design, agriculture, and renewable energy/hydrogen training.
Product overview
UHI Orkney is both a college and a university — an academic partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands — offering educational opportunities from foundational access programs through to PhD studies. The institution operates a platform-plus-modules architecture comprising core educational programs (NQ qualifications, vocational training, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees) supported by essential student services (library, counselling, careers, financial support). Specialized offerings include world-leading hydrogen seafarer training and One Health research. Additional services include commercial room hire at the East Road campus and comprehensive student support systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UHI Orkney Educational Programs A comprehensive range of further and higher education programs including access courses, vocational qualifications (NC, SVQ, HNC, HND), undergraduate degrees, and postgraduate studies up to PhD level, delivered through blended learning combining video conferencing, online technologies, and face-to-face teaching for school leavers, mature students, career changers, and advanced learners.
- NQ Healthcare - Access to Nursing and Allied Health Professionals
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% overall student satisfaction in 2026 National Student Survey, ranking 5th among 18 Scottish universities
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use UHI Orkney
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
UHI Orkney technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
UHI Orkney partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)coreCollaboration with EMEC on the HyDIME project for hydrogen seafarer training. EMEC provided training rig facility at Kirkwall Pier Fuel Cell for practical hydrogen bunkering simulation training. This partnership enabled development of the world's first hydrogen seafarer training course approved by MCA.
- Orkney FerriescorePartner in HyDIME project to develop hydrogen-powered ferry operations. Crew from MV Shapinsay were the first cohort to complete hydrogen seafarer training. Collaboration focused on integrating hydrogen storage and fuel systems on commercial passenger ferry.
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)coreRegulatory body that supervised virtual assessment of hydrogen seafarer training course and recommended it for official recognition. The course is now a requirement for working on hydrogen-fueled vessels in UK waters.
- Scottish EngineeringmajorEmployer organisation partner in the Offshore Wind Skills Hub supporting development of skilled workforce for Scotland's offshore wind sector.
- Highlands and Islands EnterprisemajorRegional development partner supporting the Offshore Wind Skills Hub and workforce development initiatives across the Highlands and Islands region.
- Planetary Health AlliancemajorUHI became a member of this global network of 550+ universities, research institutes, NGOs and government organisations working on connections between environmental change and human health through its One Health strategy.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UHI Orkney competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SRUC (Scotland's Rural College): Scotland's tertiary provider for land-based, rural, and applied science education, with similar vocational/degree pathways, multiple campuses across rural Scotland, and strong links to industry and government skills programmes.
- UHI Shetland: Fellow remote-island academic partner within the University of the Highlands and Islands, delivering further and higher education in Shetland with similar small-scale, blended-learning operations and shared UHI back-office infrastructure.
- UHI North, West and Hebrides: Multi-campus UHI partner formed from the merger of Lews Castle College and other Western Isles institutions; comparable in serving geographically dispersed rural communities with further and higher education through blended delivery.
- Sabhal Mòr Ostaig: UHI academic partner delivering specialist higher education (Gaelic language, culture, and media) from a remote rural campus — comparable in being a small, niche academic partner operating within the same UHI distributed university model.
- UHI Argyll: UHI partner college serving the Argyll region with further and higher education across multiple dispersed campuses; comparable rural-college profile and reliance on the same UHI partnership infrastructure as UHI Orkney.
- UHI Moray: UHI partner college serving the Moray region with further and higher education courses including vocational pathways; operates the same partnership model, shared systems, and blended learning delivery as UHI Orkney.
- UHI Perth: UHI partner college located in Perth offering further and higher education with similar subject breadth and UHI partnership governance; comparable scale and operational footprint within the same distributed university structure.
- Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS UHI): UHI academic partner specialising in marine science research and postgraduate teaching, with overlapping interests in marine renewables, seafarer training, and Orkney-adjacent energy research that closely mirror UHI Orkney's portfolio.
- UHI Inverness: The largest UHI partner college, offering a comparable further/higher education mix across vocational and academic pathways in the Scottish Highlands, and sharing curriculum, admissions, and student support systems with UHI Orkney.
- NAFC Marine Centre: UHI-affiliated maritime training and research centre in Shetland delivering fisheries, marine, and seafarer vocational courses — directly comparable to UHI Orkney's Maritime Studies specialism and hydrogen seafarer programme.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UHI Orkney social profiles
Digital presenceUHI Orkney financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UHI Orkney leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
UHI Orkney funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UHI Orkney M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UHI Orkney
What does UHI Orkney do?
UHI Orkney operates as both a college and a university, delivering further and higher education programs ranging from foundational access courses through vocational qualifications (NC, HNC, HND) to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees up to PhD level. As an academic partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands, it delivers blended learning combining video conferencing, online technologies, and face-to-face teaching, with specialist departments in maritime studies, archaeology, health and social care, art and design, agriculture, and renewable energy/hydrogen training.
Is UHI Orkney a public or private company?
UHI Orkney is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was UHI Orkney founded?
UHI Orkney was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is UHI Orkney based?
UHI Orkney is headquartered in Kirkwall, Scotland, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does UHI Orkney make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are government Funding and room Hire Services.
Who are UHI Orkney's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SRUC (Scotland's Rural College), UHI Shetland, UHI North, West and Hebrides, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, UHI Argyll, UHI Moray, UHI Perth, Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS UHI), UHI Inverness and NAFC Marine Centre.
Does UHI Orkney have an API?
No public API is recorded for UHI Orkney.
What industry is UHI Orkney in?
UHI Orkney's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHALAB, Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.