Efforts to attract inward investors and new jobs to Kintyre in Argyll are being stepped up with the construction of a £1.1 million (pounds) advanced office development at Campbeltown.

Argyll and the Islands Enterprise (AIE), part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network, say the 1000 square metre facility next to the Snipefield Industrial Estate will be an ideal call centre or could be used for high technology clean industrial processes.

The advanced office development, which is expected to be completed in spring 2001, is to be designed and built by MacGregor Construction (Highlands) Limited and will help to meet the need for modern business accommodation in the Campbeltown area.

Kintyre is a priority area for AIE with unemployment in Campbeltown standing at 8 per cent, making it the highest in Argyll and the third highest in the HIE network, which has an overall unemployment rate of 5 per cent. AIE has been working hard to broaden the base of the Kintyre economy and the new building is just one of a number of important actions to address the issue.

Chief executive of AIE, Ken Abernethy said: "We seek not only to reduce unemployment but to create valuable new job opportunities for the people of Kintyre. The creation of an attractive property, offering potential investors high quality office space, which they are able to walk into is an essential component of the plan."