The new units at West Way, located in the popular Hillend and Donibristle Industrial Estate in Dalgety Bay, is already creating and sustaining jobs as well as helping to revitalize the local area. The investment has delivered eight new industrial units, with a range of businesses already taking occupancy, including innovative and growing companies across many sectors of the economy.
The development of these units is the latest of a number of regeneration projects that have taken place within Hillend and Donibristle Industrial Estate and marks a significant milestone in Fife Council's long-term commitment to the regeneration of the Estate - in addition to acting as a catalyst for future business investment and jobs growth locally.
One of the first tenants at West Way is AV Department Limited, and their new location is helping them to tap into new technologies, connect better with customers and expand their business.
AV Department Limited is an audio-visual hire company, specialising in microphone discussion systems and simultaneous interpretation support to events all over the world. Post- pandemic, the company successfully diversified into remote and online events.
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Mark Kisby, Managing Director, AV Department Limited, said: "The move to West Way for AV Department Limited marks an expansion and consolidation of the new services developed during the pandemic. Our old office and warehouse will be converted into permanent studio spaces to service our new online clients, providing remote interpretation and a green screen video studio for recording presentations, remote BSL and social media content creation. The office and warehouse at West Way will allow us to better serve our returning onsite clients with improved efficiencies in space and costs.
"The expansion offers the company the chance to progress in its zero carbon goals. The units are built to a very high standard and are very well insulated. The solar panels on the roof allow us to charge our EV / Hybrid fleet of vehicles free from the sun! The first thing you notice when you walk into the new building is how comfortable the air temperature is. This will boost productivity, as you are not struggling to keep warm as well as watching the heating bills."
Cllr Altany Craik, Cabinet Spokesperson for Finance, Economy & Strategic Planning, said: "It is great to see this project in Fife's ambitious City Region Deal programme completed. It's an exciting stage as we are starting to see businesses getting the benefit of these modern units, creating jobs and helping Fife's economy.
"Our focus in Fife is on fairer economic growth, where everyone benefits from good employment opportunities and regional investments. The new units are a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs and are set to help a range of businesses reach their aspirations and vision. They provide a superb base for new and fledgling businesses – as well as for those looking to expand into new premises."
Cllr David Barratt, Fife Council's South and West Fife area Committee Convener, said: "Fife Council's further investment through the Fife Industrial Innovation Investment Programme complements the adjacent terrace of new units that were completed with help from the Longannet Task Force. It's a highly accessible location with a with a skilled local workforce."
This latest development forms part of a programme of strategic investment across Fife through the Fife i3 Programme. Fife's ten-year £50m Industrial Innovation Investment programme (i3) is being delivered as part of the City Region Deal's innovation theme, and is providing much-needed serviced employment land and new industrial, office and business space. The programme is creating 1,000 new skilled permanent jobs and almost 600 short-term construction jobs over the 15-year lifetime of the City Region Deal. Joint working between the region's universities, Fife businesses and Fife Council means more high value, better paid, skilled jobs locally.
