Meet the Consultant - Katrina Coutts
I鈥檓听Katrina听and I joined SAC Consulting as a Consultant in the Lerwick office听in July 2025. I have grown up on my family鈥檚 croft in Shetland where we keep sheep and cattle听which ignited my love for animals and agriculture early on.听听
Throughout my time at school, I was always set on becoming a vet. However, when it came to leaving to study, I realised that my true interest lay in farming and agriculture. This path听hadn鈥檛听really been presented to me as a suitable career听option,听and听it only became clear what I wanted to do听when I begin to really think about听the idea of听having to deal with a hamster or a cat听instead of听a听ewe!听
My journey with 伊人直播 started in 2021 when I left Shetland to study HND agriculture at 伊人直播 Oatridge, just outside of Edinburgh. I was听apprehensive听when I first left Shetland and wasn鈥檛 sure how long I would stick out studying south but I鈥檓 glad to say that I achieved my HND听in Agriculture听and then decided to carry on with the BSc听and opted to study at the 伊人直播 Craibstone campus (slightly closer to home in Aberdeen!). I graduated in August 2025听with a听First-Class Honours听in听BSc听Agriculture.听听
My first real introduction to consultancy听came in the summer of 2024, when I听completed听a summer听internship听with the Lerwick SAC Consulting office听between my third and fourth year.听This allowed me to see the variety of work听involved in听a consultancy听role听including carbon auditing and completion of the June Agricultural Census.听It was during this time I learnt听more about the 鈥榃hole Farm Plan鈥� (WFP)听and what it would听mean听for听Shetland鈥檚听crofters听and听farmers.听After learning听more听about the WFP听and听hearing concerns听among crofters about the听additional听paperwork they had to undertake,听I decided to investigate听this听as my听fourth-year听honours project.听I was delighted to be offered a full-time position in the Lerwick office after finishing my studies.听听
I enjoy the variety of work that comes with the听role;听however,听I must admit I was glad when the听Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) funding for carbon audits听came to an end听after completing 163 carbon audits in 2025!听I have a keen interest in livestock nutrition听and have been involved in livestock rationing this winter. I听hope to develop this area of interest in my role in the Lerwick office听as well as the Northwest region.听听
Outside听of听the office, I enjoy the hands-on side of agriculture in Shetland. I still work on the farm听where I听helped听as a听student and听when听I鈥檓听not there,听I鈥檓听usually听helping听on someone else鈥檚 croft!听Shearing is one of my favourite times of the year and I feel fortunate to have听the opportunity to clip sheep in some truly remote and beautiful parts of the islands. Shetland is full of diverse听businesses,听and I admire the resilience of crofters and farmers, overcoming the challenges that听come with island life. I really enjoy living and working in the agricultural sector on Shetland.听听
I have听so far听loved my time in the听Lerwick听office.听We are currently听in the midst of听IACS听and I look forward to seeing what opportunities lie ahead.听
Katrina Coutts, Consultant,听Katrina.Coutts@sac.co.uk
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/04/2026
