14 15 Jennifer also believes that the school of sure employers in regional areas are thought that assumes a student’s goal equipped to attract a young workforce. should be to establish themselves at the very centre of their field, both professionally “Employers are now at a point where they and physically, is implied in too many can start to turn the tide,” she says. “There’s aspects of the journey from university a real chance now to stem the brain drain applications to securing a graduate job, to major cities, and to take advantage of and that this needs to change. the shift in working habits. The benefits of taking advantage of local talent include “There’s a lot of value in people going back reduced recruitment costs, and an increase to smaller communities and using their in the skills on offer to them, as well education there,” she says. “I remember as a boost in employee retention. But another student on my law degree, and employers can’t achieve this on their own she arrived at the university knowing that – they will need policy and investment at what she wanted to do was to get qualified government level.” and get a job in the law firm on her local As well as working for the community, “The pictures show me at the partially tidal high street. But that kind of career path was Recent research from Iowa State University Jennifer is immersing herself back into Loch of Strom outside my family’s little never talked about. There is no information has also found that students often feel Shetland life, including by joining the local boathouse on the west side of Shetland. It or resources for people like her, and I really that their teachers, colleges and even badminton club. isn’t the usual picture-postcard white sandy believe there should be. Working in smaller peers reinforce the idea that they should beach or cliff-side landscape of Shetland firms, doing local work, that really is the shun smaller town life for the seemingly “I had been a member as a teenager that you might see on TV or on Instagram. backbone of the whole industry - certainly abundant career opportunities in the city. but when I re-joined the club, it was like It’s a quiet spot, off the beaten track, and in law – and we need to encourage people The study also showed that this approach I’d never left. They welcomed me back you have to walk to it. It’s home to otters who want to do that, and to show it as a ignored the students’ other motivations in and it’s great to be playing again. I also and seals and lots of birds, but on a really viable option that can be aspired to.” life, including a strong desire to contribute help organise community events and nice day there are often some kayakers or to their local community. This resonates outdoor activities, and really feel like I’m other boaters. Indeed, the constant threat of ‘brain drain’ with Jennifer: contributing to island life again.” on the UK’s regional towns and smaller I love the sense of peace and calm here. I cities isn’t about to subside, despite the “Getting involved in the work here in “Ultimately, it’s about my wellbeing and also love the feeling of community and the impact of the pandemic on people’s Shetland has been much more exciting for doing what makes me happy, and by cheerful waves between boaters or stand- mindsets and priorities. Recent reports me. It might not always be huge multi- coming back home to Shetland I think I’m up paddle boarders. You really get a sense suggest that the trend for young people million pound deals, but I know the people doing just that.” of belonging here, as across the voe* there migrating into UK cities for work is once involved and I know that my work will are lots of abandoned settlements. No one again on the incline, with a City Hall report directly impact the islands in a positive way. We asked Jennifer to tell us about her knows a great deal about these ruins, but identifying a high number of young adults There’s a recent project that I worked on favourite place in Shetland, somewhere it’s amazing to explore and wonder what returning to London, and the population and, although I can’t give away any details that she might take a visitor to the islands. life must have been like.” increasing for the first time since 2020. It’s about it, it has been so exciting to get She chose Loch of Strom on the west side an issue that Jennifer believes leads back involved in something that is going to be so of Shetland and explains why: to availability of opportunities and making beneficial to the community.” *Voe: a small bay or creek in Orkney or Shetland