Case Study: Scapa Flow Museum – Developing a Museum of the Year Candidate 

In October 2021, I fulfilled a long-held ambition: relocating to Orkney and taking up the role of Team Manager for Culture with Orkney Islands Council. It was a return to roots of sorts — working in a place of deep maritime heritage, where the natural harbour of Scapa Flow had once served as the Royal Navy’s main base during both World Wars. 

My appointment came at a pivotal moment. The £4.5 million redevelopment of the Scapa Flow Museum was nearing completion, and it was my task to bring the project over the finish line and ensure the museum would be ready to open to the public in time for the critical summer tourism window. 

The Challenge: Turning a Closed Site into a National Contender 

The Scapa Flow Museum began its life as a community-driven, volunteer-run project in 1990. Housed within the historic oil pumping station built in 1938, the building itself was striking but impractical: cold, unheated, and challenging for both people and collections. 

By the time I joined the team, the museum had already been closed since 2017. While the construction phase of the redevelopment had just been completed, the fitout had yet to begin, and we were up against a tight deadline. Orkney’s tourism season is highly seasonal, and missing the summer opening would have been a serious setback. 

The Strategy: Collaboration in a Challenging Environment 

Time was short, conditions were difficult, and many of the suppliers were based off-island, yet failure was not an option. 

I quickly procured and coordinated a multi-disciplinary team including: 

• Exhibition fitout specialists 
• Graphic and audiovisual designers 
• Showcase manufacturers 
• Object mount makers 

Despite working through the Orkney winter, with its unpredictable weather and remote logistics, our contractors delivered with precision, professionalism, and remarkable pace. 

The Result: On Time, On Budget...and National Recognition 

We reopened Scapa Flow Museum to the public on 2 July 2022, delivering the full project on time and on budget. 

Just one year later, we received national recognition when the museum was shortlisted for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2023 - the UK’s most prestigious museum prize. It was an extraordinary moment for the team, the community, and for me personally. 

Key Achievements 

• Delivered fitout of a major £4.5M museum project 
• Successfully managed complex logistics in an island setting 
• Procured and led a high-performing, cross-disciplinary contractor team 
• Reopened a closed museum to the public after 5+ years of closure 
• Achieved Museum of the Year shortlist recognition in 2023 

Reflections 

Delivering this project was about more than a museum fitout. It was about reviving a vital part of Orkney’s identity, ensuring its wartime history is shared with new generations. It also proved that, with the right leadership and collaboration, even the most logistically demanding heritage projects can exceed expectations.