8 February, 2006

THE HEAD of the North Atlantic Fisheries College (NAFC) has called for a more predictable and planned way of funding the fisheries college, based in Scalloway.

Director Peter Dryburgh yesterday (Tuesday) gave a presentation on the college’s future plans to councillors in Shetland as it emerged that senior management had found a more tax efficient way to fund the college, which is registered as a charitable body.

From the coming financial year the NAFC will be funded from the proceeds of the Shetland Development Trust, a local investment firm that receives its capital from the port operation at Sullom Voe.

The college will receive almost £1.9 million towards its overall running costs of just under £2.7 million.

Mr Dryburgh said yesterday that the NAFC had lost a number of highly qualified staff due to the nature of project funding which did not provide any job security.

He called on the council to investigate ways to develop "multi year funding" for the college.

"We had a very high staff turnover last year, which is something that is inevitable in an institution with annual funding arrangements," he said.