Mr Ewing , the local MSP for the site, spent around an hour at the Inverness Harbour development on Friday 24 July, where Alchemy Plus will build Scotland’s most advanced – and most environmentally-friendly - shared services computing centre.

 

 

 

The Inverness Harbour development represents an estimated investment of £20 million and is forecast to create employment for around 400 people. It will provide ‘utility computing’ services, allowing users to operate their IT on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis, as well as disaster-recovery options, offering companies a way of keeping their IT service and data secure should anything happen to their own premises.

 

Mr Ewing, who is also Community Safety Minister, said: “As we go through difficult economic times this kind of development is especially welcome, providing investment and employment in the region. The Highlands is ideally placed to take advantage of opportunities brought by the computing and data centre industry, attracted by the cool climate, access to renewable energy and relative security.”

 

Peter Swanson, Chairman of Alchemy Plus said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr Ewing and to share our plans for a computing centre that will play a major part in boosting the economy of the Highlands, offering employment opportunities as well as access for local companies to cheaper and more flexible IT services.”

 

Alchemy Plus is planning to offer computing services from the facility to a wide variety of clients, from very large companies to small and medium-sized firms and public sector organisations.

 

Steve Chisholm, Chief Executive Officer of Alchemy Plus said: “Although this will be a large facility aimed at supporting major enterprises, it is equally relevant for smaller firms and the public sector, who will benefit by purchasing their IT services on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis. We are expecting a high take-up once the centre is up and running.”

 

Alchemy Plus is currently working with architects, surveyors and The Highland Council to prepare plans for the computing centre at Inverness Harbour. The centre is planned to open at the end of 2010.

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