HIE On The Move

21st January 2002

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is moving out of its Bridge Street headquarters in Inverness, exactly 30 years after its predecessor, the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) moved in. The office will close on the 23rd of January as the agency enters the final stages of its move to new, purpose-built premises on the Inverness Retail and Business Park.

HIE chief executive Sandy Cumming said: "In its own way this is quite a historic occasion for HIE - quite apart from the business reasons for moving to a new office. It brings to mind all the achievements and challenges we, and the HIDB, had to deal with over the last three decades. There is no doubt that the Highlands and Islands have become substantially more prosperous in that time - due at least in part to our efforts.

"Having said that, Bridge House no longer meets our requirements for a modern and efficient working environment, and I'm sure the new office - with all the organisational advantages it brings, will be a stimulus for more success in the future."

The new office, which will be operational from Tuesday 29th January, has been named in honour of the late Sir Robert Cowan, chairman of the HIDB from 1982, and HIE's first chairman in 1991.

The address will be:
Cowan House
Inverness Retail and Business Park
Inverness
IV2 7GF

All telephone and email contacts will be unchanged.

Sandy Cumming continued: "As our date for moving office has come closer we've had more people ask what's to become of Bridge House. The simple answer is that it's not up to us - Bridge House is owned by a private landlord, who we understand has plans for its redevelopment. Like many others I'm sure, we are looking forward to seeing these proposals, for what is one of the most prominent sites in the Highlands."