Shetland Islands Council

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

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

• Local government services
• Inter-island ferry operations
• Public housing administration
• Waste management services
• Social care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lerwick

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Council Tax: Local taxation collected from residents and property owners within Shetland Islands Council boundaries to fund public services.
2. Government Funding: Central government funding from Scottish and UK governments for local service delivery and infrastructure projects.
3. Service Fees: Various fees for services including ferry fares, planning application fees, housing services, and social care charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Scottish Sea FarmsminorOthers · 12 February 2026Scottish 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.
• COWIminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 December 2025COWI 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 consultantscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 23 November 2025iitac 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 UKcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStantec 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 MacDonaldcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering 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.
• CowicoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCowi, an international engineering consultancy, collaborated with Stantec UK and Mott MacDonald to prepare the tunnel strategy business case for Shetland Islands Council.
• LNSminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEuropean tunnelling contractor appointed alongside Bemo Tunnelling and Strabag to develop project proposals for the subsea tunnel program connecting Shetland's islands.
• Bemo TunnellingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEuropean tunnelling contractor appointed alongside LNS and Strabag to develop project proposals for the subsea tunnel program connecting Shetland's islands.
• StrabagminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEuropean 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shetland-islands-council

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shetland Islands Council