The joint venture company developing a major business park at Inverness Airport has launched a national recruitment drive to identify the right person to spearhead the project.

Inverness Airport Business Park Limited ( IABP Ltd) is looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to secure early stage development on the 250 hectare site at the hub airport for the Highlands and Islands.

The successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to play a leading role in one of the North of Scotland’s largest commercial property projects that will facilitate business expansion and inward investment on the strategically important A96 corridor between the City of Inverness and Nairn.

The joint venture company shareholders are Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise and Moray Estates Development Company. The Highland Council is party to the agreement as a loan stock provider through its funding for the airport’s new £4 million link road to the A96 which is scheduled for completion in spring 2006. The road is a key step towards unlocking the development potential of the land surrounding the airport and is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme 2000-2006, INBSE, HIAL and the council.

It is estimated that the first phase of development on Inverness Airport Business Park will include the creation of around 16,500 square metres of business accommodation, including an airport hotel. Around 260,000 square metres of business, light industrial, freight distribution, and hotel and conferencing accommodation could be developed on the site over 30 years, supporting as many as 5,000 full-time jobs.

Inglis Lyon, a director of IABP Ltd and Managing Director of HIAL, said: “The Board is looking to attract someone who has the drive and enthusiasm to lead development on the business park. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with the right skills to play a central role from the start of this very exciting project.

“Good transport links are vital for business and the synergies between the airport and the business park mean this is an ideal location both for expanding local businesses and inward investors to the region. A number of developers have already expressed interest in the park.”

Stuart Black, Chief Executive of INBSE, said: “Our area has achieved significant economic progress to date and the business park is going to support the growth of a strong diversified economy over the next 30 years. The Highlands and Islands are a great place to live and work and we are confident that this unique opportunity is going to attract strong candidates both from the local area and nationally.”

Details of the post can be found on the Inverness Airport section of the www.hial.co.uk website or by emailing the iabp@hial.co.uk address. The closing date for applications is Friday 19 August 2005.

ENDS