Forres Enterprise Park’s Horizon building owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise no longer has a receptionist or a conference suite
A government-funded start-up space for new businesses in Moray has made its front-of-house employee redundant and closed its conference suite.
The receptionist at Horizon Scotland on Forres Enterprise Park has had to leave as part of cost cuts by Forres Enterprise Park owners, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), a Scottish Government agency focused on the economic and community development of the area.
A HIE spokesperson explained that the Horizon building at 2 Innovation Way offers workspaces for small businesses, with hot desking options and rentable office units.
He said: “Reception services at Horizon were provided as part of a fixed term contract, which ended on June 5. For cost reasons we chose not to renew the contract.
“Horizon is almost fully occupied with only three suites currently available and we expect those to be occupied soon. The building will continue to be managed under other arrangements, but these don’t include reception services.”
Forres Enterprise Park is currently home to specialist companies in fields including technology, manufacturing, engineering and the space industry. Its infrastructure allows them to network and collaborate.
The Horizon building provides quality, accessible facilities and events space, with customer care provided by the Horizon Scotland management team.
There are common communal areas and onsite facilities including a café, break-out area, kitchen facilities, toilet and shower facilities, car parking and electric vehicle charging, cycle paths and forest walks.
A conference hall AV equipment was also available with stage seating holding up to 80 delegates and a cabaret set up for up to 40 people.
However, the HIE spokesperson explained that here has been little demand for the space recently, with only 14 external bookings made in the last six months, amounting to fewer than 10 full days' use.
He said: “Rather than see the space lying empty much of the time, we are now reviewing how it could be used more productively in support of HIE’s economic development objectives. In the meantime, existing bookings will be honoured.”
The spokesperson finished: “Forres Enterprise Park is an excellent and welcoming location for businesses. There continues to be strong interest from organisations considering locating at the park and feedback we’ve had suggests those already based there are happy to remain.”
For more information visit https://www.enterpriseparkforres.co.uk/
