Delivering the best and most effective service to all the communities of Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey is the driving force behind the re-structuring of the area's Local Enterprise Company.

Since taking over as chief executive of Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE) Douglas Yule has been reviewing the agency's operation and programmes. This has now translated into a new organisational structure - which is designed to make the LEC as responsive as possible to the needs of its customers whether they are businesses, community groups or those seeking to develop their skills.

Applicants will be sought shortly for three new posts, head of growing businesses, head of skills development and head of strengthening communities. This reflects MBSE's strategic priorities and those of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network as a whole, and these new post-holders will be responsible for delivering a wide range of differing development activities from business growth to the development of in-company training, and from community planning to environmental issues.

Douglas Yule said: "MBSE has been doing a great deal of work throughout the area over the past ten years, and their achievements reflect this - but after a decade, and with the whole area now coming under the boundaries of HIE, the time is right for us to re-examine what we are doing and how we are doing it.

"We are saying farewell to MBSE's deputy chief executive, Andrew Anderson, who has chosen to join the Community Land Unit at HIE, and our head of training, Charles Fraser, plans to leave at the end of the year. Their experience will be missed, but taken together these departures mean there is space at the top of the organisation to implement some radical changes to the senior management structure with the minimum of disruption.

"Re-organising the management structure is only a means to an end - the ultimate aim is to ensure that anyone in the Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey areas who wants to access our range of business and community support services can do so in the easiest and most efficient way possible - and also in the way which best meeds their needs."

The announcement of the re-structuring also coincides with the company's move to new offices on the Forres Enterprise Park. This has been achieved as part of an innovative deal to secure further private sector property investment on the Park. MBSE will lease 5,500 sq. ft. of office space from Springfield Properties Ltd who have contracted to develop a further 29,000 sq. ft. This will become available for other companies, with a number having expressed an interest in the site.

Douglas Yule continued: "I expect the new management team to be in place by the end of December and I am confident this team, coupled with a more efficient office environment will provide a fresh impetus for MBSE allowing us to be more responsive to the needs of local people and businesses. The whole team at MBSE is committed to meeting the challenges the area and the changing economy will present in the coming years, and in delivering our services to all parts of our area from Cullen to Dalwhinnie and from Forres to Tomintoul."