Clark Contracts, who are the lead contractor, on the UK Governments’ Levelling Up Funded Bught Park improvements project, have been on site since January preparing the first construction phases, with excellent progress now beginning made on the development, which aims to be completed by March 2025.
Their decision to hire local workforce not only boosts the reputation and demand for regional skills but also instills confidence among young professionals and creates richer opportunities for careers close to home.
Clark Contracts are currently utilising a range of local subcontractors, including for demolition, groundworks, dry lining, joinery and suspended ceilings, mechanical works and for a timber defects survey, resulting in over £4m being invested back into the local economy.
Both the site manager and project manager are based locally to the project.
The Highland Council’s Inverness City and Area Leader Councillor Ian Brown, and Co-Chair of the Levelling Up Fund Programme Board, said: “By Clarks opting to employ individuals from within the community it is not just a strategic decision but shows their commitment to us in cultivating a thriving local economy. This ensures that income stays within the Highlands, showcasing a steadfast commitment to enhancing the economic well-being of our communities.”
Clark Contracts Director, Michael Scanlan, emphasised, “We are committed to supporting the local economies in which we work, and by working with the local community and giving precedence to a local workforce on the Bught Park project, we are not only building this fantastic new facility, but fostering resilient economies, reinforcing community bonds, and laying the groundwork for sustained prosperity in the region.”
All three Levelling Up Fund projects will support the UK Government Net Zero Carbon agenda by providing sustainable energy to Northern Meeting Park, sustainable energy to Bught Park and a renewable Energy Centre for Inverness Castle.
