Shetland Islands Council
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersLerwick, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Shetland Islands Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shetland Islands Council
- Legal name
- Shetland Islands Council
- Website
- https://shetland.gov.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shetland Islands Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Government Services
- NAICS
- Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400), Services-Social Services (8300), Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF), Publicly Operated Ferry Authorities (Municipal/Regional) (TLAFALAK), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Public Works Departments (Streets, Bridges, Stormwater, Fleet, Maintenance) (BPAIALAD)
Keywords
Where Shetland Islands Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lerwick
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Shetland Islands Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Council Tax: Local taxation collected from residents and property owners within Shetland Islands Council boundaries to fund public services.
- Government Funding: Central government funding from Scottish and UK governments for local service delivery and infrastructure projects.
- Service Fees: Various fees for services including ferry fares, planning application fees, housing services, and social care charges.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Council Tax bands |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Shetland Islands Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shetland Islands Council is the statutory local authority delivering comprehensive public services across the Shetland archipelago. Core offerings include inter-island ferry transportation, public housing, schools and education, social care and health, planning and building standards, waste management and recycling, roads and transport, ports and harbours, sports and leisure facilities, library services, council tax administration, and environmental health. Services are funded through Council Tax, central government grants, and service fees.
Product overview
Shetland Islands Council operates a digital services portal offering residents and visitors access to various local government services. The primary technology-enabled service is the Inter-Island Ferry Booking System, a comprehensive platform for managing ferry reservations across the archipelago's 12-vessel fleet that makes approximately 70,000 annual sailings. The council website also provides access to other services including housing applications, planning permissions, library services, council tax, and various online payment facilities through its main portal at shetland.gov.uk.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Inter-Island Ferry Service Essential passenger ferry transportation service connecting nine islands across the Shetland archipelago, currently making approximately 70,000 sailings annually carrying 750,000 passengers. The service includes a new comprehensive booking system with ticket machines, online booking capabilities, card and cash payment options, customer portals, and travel card support, replacing an obsolete system that was unable to meet current demands.
- Housing Services Public housing services for Shetland residents including housing applications, housing report cards, and housing repairs and maintenance. Targeted at residents requiring affordable or social housing across the Shetland Islands.
- Schools and Learning Primary and secondary education services across Shetland including school admissions, schools directory, clothing grants, and free school meals. As of the latest results day, 599 secondary pupils received exam results from Qualifications Scotland. Targeted at school-age children and families in the Shetland Islands.
- Social Care and Health Services Integrated adult and child social care services including adult and child protection, independent living centre, and paying for care. Delivered jointly with NHS Shetland through the Shetland Integration Joint Board. Targeted at vulnerable adults, children, and families in the Shetland Islands.
- Planning and Building Services Planning permission services, building standards, and coastal and marine planning including application processing and public consultation. Used by residents, businesses, and developers seeking building or development approvals in Shetland.
- Recycling and Waste Management Kerbside recycling and rubbish collection, bin collection calendar service, and Gremista waste management facility operations. Targeted at all households across the Shetland Islands for waste disposal and recycling.
- Roads, Transport and Parking
Quantifiable outcome
- Inter-island ferry service operates 70,000 sailings annually carrying 750,000 passengers across 12 vessels
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Shetland Islands Council
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shetland Islands Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Shetland Islands Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Scottish Sea FarmsminorScottish Sea Farms received council approval for £8m plans to redevelop and consolidate existing salmon farm sites in Yell Sound into Scotland's largest salmon farm, with maximum biomass capacity increasing from about 2,000 tonnes to 6,000 tonnes.
- COWIminorCOWI conducted a feasibility study for a district heating scheme in Brae, Shetland as part of a UK Government funded Rural Energy Hub project. The study ruled out grid connection due to prohibitive costs and identified an off-grid wind turbine as the only economically viable option.
- iitac consultantscoreiitac consultants have been hired to overhaul the inter-island ferry booking system, replacing an obsolete system. The same firm designed Orkney Islands Council's new system and has worked with NorthLink Ferries. Implementation timeframe is 6-12 months at a cost of £95,000.
- Stantec UKcoreStantec UK was engaged alongside Mott MacDonald and Cowi to prepare a draft outline business case for the £1.5 billion inter-island tunnel strategy, providing engineering and planning expertise for the major infrastructure project.
- Mott MacDonaldcoreEngineering consultancy Mott MacDonald worked with Stantec UK and Cowi to develop the draft outline business case for the proposed undersea tunnel network connecting Shetland's islands.
- CowicoreCowi, an international engineering consultancy, collaborated with Stantec UK and Mott MacDonald to prepare the tunnel strategy business case for Shetland Islands Council.
- LNSminorEuropean tunnelling contractor appointed alongside Bemo Tunnelling and Strabag to develop project proposals for the subsea tunnel program connecting Shetland's islands.
- Bemo TunnellingminorEuropean tunnelling contractor appointed alongside LNS and Strabag to develop project proposals for the subsea tunnel program connecting Shetland's islands.
- StrabagminorEuropean tunnelling contractor appointed alongside LNS and Bemo Tunnelling to develop project proposals for the subsea tunnel program connecting Shetland's islands.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Shetland Islands Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council): Scottish island council serving the Outer Hebrides with comparable ferry operations, remote community services, and similar statutory mandate under Scottish local government law.
- NorthLink Ferries: Operates ferry services connecting Shetland and Orkney to mainland Scotland, directly comparable inter-island ferry operation serving the same geography under Scottish government contract.
- Highland Council: Largest Scottish local authority by area, providing similar services including ferry operations, ports/harbours, and rural infrastructure across remote Highland communities.
- Argyll and Bute Council: Scottish local authority operating inter-island ferry services and providing comparable public services across island and peninsular communities on Scotland's west coast.
- Orkney Islands Council: Scottish island local authority providing comparable comprehensive public services including inter-island ferries, housing, education, and infrastructure. Most direct peer given similar statutory remit and island operating environment.
Others
- Transport Scotland: Scottish Government national transport agency that funds and oversees ferry and port infrastructure policy affecting Shetland's inter-island transport operations.
- Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL): Scottish government-owned company that owns ferries, ports, and harbours infrastructure used by Shetland's inter-island ferry services, providing related maritime asset management expertise.
Regional players
- Serco NorthLink Ferries: Private contractor operating the Northern Isles ferry contract under Scottish government concession, directly relevant comparable operator of lifeline island ferry services in the same region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shetland Islands Council social profiles
Digital presenceShetland Islands Council compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Shetland Islands Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shetland Islands Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Shetland Islands Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shetland Islands Council 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 Shetland Islands Council
What does Shetland Islands Council do?
Shetland Islands Council is the statutory local authority delivering comprehensive public services across the Shetland archipelago. Core offerings include inter-island ferry transportation, public housing, schools and education, social care and health, planning and building standards, waste management and recycling, roads and transport, ports and harbours, sports and leisure facilities, library services, council tax administration, and environmental health. Services are funded through Council Tax, central government grants, and service fees.
Is Shetland Islands Council a public or private company?
Shetland Islands Council is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Shetland Islands Council founded?
Shetland Islands Council was founded in 1994. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Shetland Islands Council based?
Shetland Islands Council is headquartered in Lerwick, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Shetland Islands Council make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Council Tax is the primary driver. The others are government Funding and service Fees.
Who are Shetland Islands Council's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council), NorthLink Ferries, Highland Council, Argyll and Bute Council and Orkney Islands Council. Others are Transport Scotland and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). Serco NorthLink Ferries is listed as a regional player.
Does Shetland Islands Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shetland Islands Council.
What industry is Shetland Islands Council in?
Shetland Islands Council's product category is Local Government Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAF, Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities), with a secondary code of BPAIALAF, Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals). Its NAICS code is 921 and its SIC code is 4400.