A new £5.6million centre is set to open at Forres Enterprise Park
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COUNCILLORS have approved the final business case for a new £5.6million manufacturing innovation centre at Forres Enterprise Park.
The project, which will be led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is part of the £100million Moray Growth Deal.
David Reid, HIE’s area manager for Moray, said: “The Manufacturing Innovation Centre for Moray (MICM) is about innovation, growth, productivity, and efficiency in Moray’s indigenous manufacturing companies and increasing the number of manufacturing start-ups in the area. It’s also about supporting more research and development and attracting manufacturing inward investment.
“This is an important step in the approval process for the final business case and we look forward to making further progress in the coming weeks.”
The centre will need final approval from the UK and Scottish governments, which is expected to come in April. Once the centre is open it will support innovation, networking and peer-to-peer learning
As well as HIE, University of Highlands and Islands, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and Business Energy Scotland are some of the organisations that will offer support.
The £5.6million in funding has mainly come from HIE and the UK Government, with just over £600,000 from Holyrood.
A further £1.5million in revenue funding from the Scottish Government will be available to cover any deficit in running costs for the first 10 years.
Moray Growth Deal aims to create 3,500 new jobs, increase visitor numbers by 50,000 and help 450 business expand.
It also includes plans to build 300 affordable houses. There are already proposals for 180 homes and student accommodation at Dallas Dhu, Forres.
