A Highland company has acquired certain assets and occupied the premises of Dingwall information technology services firm Albanet which ceased trading last Friday after Administrators made all staff redundant.

Alchemy Plus have taken over the Albanet premises at Halliday House, Dingwall, and a number of former staff have accepted new positions with the company which is currently expanding. Staff numbers at Alchemy Plus are likely to rise to 15 by the end of the year as it significantly increases the range of services available to clients.

Alchemy Plus, established in Inverness, was set up as a business enhancement company that works with existing businesses to manage risk and improve performance.

Its’ chairman is Peter Swanson, former managing director of MacGregor Energy Services and latterly chairman of Global Highland. He is also chairman of the holding company of Ross County FC, managing director of Pipeline Trading Company and a board member of the Highland Hospice.

His business partner and chief executive in the venture is Steve Chisholm, former director with oil service firm Abbot Group plc, for whom he spent five years based in Iran, setting up from scratch a highly successful drilling business. He was previously operations director of MacGregor Energy Services. Steve has returned to his roots in the Highlands after two years working in the USA.

"We have established Alchemy as a vehicle offering tailored solutions to enhance efficiency and profitability", says Mr Swanson. "This has involved ongoing discussion with the Scottish Executive and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and we have some exciting and innovative proposals to roll out in the coming months.

"While we were researching, developing and refining this long term strategy, and receiving very encouraging responses from the business community, we identified a requirement for a full IT services capability to underpin the Alchemy business.

"Albanet going into administration created a situation where we felt we could preserve some of the company’s assets, offer alternative employment to some staff and establish a new Dingwall based IT support business. I was very determined that the growth of the Alchemy business cushioned the blow to Ross-shire. We are pleased to have acquired the Albanet assets from Kroll the administrators and reached agreement with Highlands and Islands Enterprise to take over Halliday House, the Albanet premises.

"We have also acquired the rights to Albanet's award-winning NetQuest software, so we're able to protect three years of Highland investment and research and we see additional opportunities for NetQuest further down the line.

"Alchemy intend to be significant players on the Scottish corporate scene and it is our intention to use the acquired assets to move us forward within the IT sector."

Steve Chisholm commented: "It is clear from discussions with the administrators that the collapse of Albanet was nothing to do with the quality of service it offered to its customer base and the assets provide a strong technical platform to build on for the future.

"It's a priority to reassure Albanet's existing client base from Caithness to the Central Belt that Alchemy can offer a full alternative service. As well as the ex Albanet staff we have taken on, additional consultants and project staff have joined the existing Alchemy Plus team to ensure a full capability across an enhanced range of services.

"We'd like to put on record our thanks and appreciation to HIE for the prompt and positive support we received as we worked to preserve as much local business activity as possible following Albanet’s sudden closure after 15 years of trading.

"It's very good news that we've been able to relocate Alchemy Plus and help cushion the impact of Albanet’s collapse.

Queries to:

Bill McAllister, McAllister Media

01463 236830/ 0772 077 2366

Steve Chisholm, Alchemy Plus

01349 865000