Gold Standard Maintained

The Trust participates in, and initiates, many environmental initiatives, and it is due to this work that the gold level award has been retained. The Trust has held a Gold standard award for many years. Shetland Museum and Archives joined the GTBS scheme in 2008, achieving a silver grading at the first assessment and improving to Gold standard in 2012.

Carried out every two years, the grading assessments looked at nine different categories, including Management, Communication, Energy, Water, Purchasing, Nature and Culture, Waste Minimisation and Travel. To receive a gold rating the Trust and the Museum and Archives had to attain a certain number of points in each category, as well as an overall score above 80%. Achieving and maintaining this level of assessment is a notable accomplishment.

In his inspection report, the assessor Stuart Brain commented: "Shetland Museum and Archives has an award winning building located on the edge of historic Hay's Dock in Lerwick and continues with a GOLD Green Tourism award on its fourth programme visit. Paul Govier has recently taken over the green co-ordinator role for the museum and has ensured that sustainable efforts at the site are ongoing, most recently with the adoption of energy efficient LED lights. Other highlights from the visit include an energy efficient building - controlled by a Building Management System, use of local produce in the restaurant and a shop full of Shetland produced stock and locally themed books. The display area contains a significant collection of items related to the Islands that really does give visitors a complete picture of life in Shetland past and present."

For more information about the Green Tourism Business Scheme, go to www.green-tourism.com.