Forres Enterprise Park has bright future ahead

THE future of Forres Enterprise Park looks bright as the town starts its recovery from the pandemic.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is undertaking a post-Covid review of its masterplan for the facility at the eastern edge of the town.

The review has established key strategies which HIE hopes to use to guide future development and one early outcome will significantly extend opportunity for small and start-up businesses.

In what is described as an innovative project, HIE is to build two groups of four 'pod' offices to add to the Horizon Scotland building which is at near 100 per cent capacity.

The pods will be suitable for one or two users and are designed to help small businesses to grow in a post Covid-friendly way.

Each will have toilet facilities and access to the range of amenities within Horizon Scotland. They will be offered as a low-cost option for small or start-up companies.

A HIE spokesperson said: "This project is part of our economic recovery plans and follows on from the road extension, which is nearing completion.

"The background to this project is an ongoing review of the overall masterplan for the park. These will support the continued successful growth of the park in a responsible and managed manner."

Since it was establishment in the late 1990s, the Enterprise Park has provided a high-quality environment in an accessible location. It has been successful in attracting inward investment to the area, in part because of the strong sense of place and quality landscaping which it provides.

The Park has, in part, Enterprise Area status for life sciences but is current home to a broad range of occupants.