New business centre to provide jobs boost

LIBERTY Business Centres, an independent serviced office specialist, has bought a new business centre with capacity for more than 50 offices in a move that will create jobs in Scotland.

The Fife-based company's purchase of a former Workzone office block in Rosyth from interim owner Scarborough Muir, which is spearheading the major waterfront redevelopment project at the port, will complement Liberty's existing serviced business centre in Dalgety Bay that holds 34 offices.

Renamed as Rosyth Business Centre, only about a quarter of the new acquisition is currently tenanted, with Liberty now embarking on a major marketing drive to attract new businesses to the premises.

Six new tenants have already been secured. They are RMJ Developments, Online Print, Pitreavie Print, WNG Services, Maxine Dodds Consulting and Minitran.

At one stage the site was under threat of closure, but Liberty said the deal will safeguard the future of current tenants and provide a platform for attracting businesses into Rosyth.

Jerry Alexander, managing director of Liberty, said: "We are currently undertaking a significant renovation of the Rosyth Business Centre to create a wide range of cost-effective serviced office accommodation, as well as space for light industrial use and storage."

He added that Liberty offers lower rental rates than many national business accommodation providers and provides flexible terms tailored to the specific requirements of each business.

"We are confident that we will quickly be able to attract new businesses into the centre, which in turn will create new jobs for West Fife," said Alexander.

He attributes the near-full occupancy of Liberty's other business centre in Dalgety Bay to a strong marketing focus on new-start and other small businesses, typically with just two or three employees. He said these businesses frequently grow into larger enterprises.

The same strategy will apply to Rosyth, although the new business centre offers a diverse range of accommodation, including offices for much larger businesses that can comfortably hold 20 personnel or more.

Rosyth Business Centre also has a theatre-style conference room and a meeting room facility, which will be promoted to businesses and organisations for training courses, seminars, presentations and conferences.

Other services include equipment and document storage, as well as administrative support.

Alexander said: "Rather than just providing office space, we believe it is essential to 'add value' to our range of services so as to provide an environment in which businesses can thrive."