Careers Scotland staff in Lochaber have opened a new centre in a bid to offer a more integrated service to their clients.

The career guidance organisation took up residence at Lochaber College's Learning Centre in November last year, marking the end of their occupancy of their former office in Fort William's High Street.

Jim Hunter, chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), officially opened the new Lochaber Careers Centre today (13 January 2003) and was joined by Catriona Eagle, director of Careers Scotland in the Highlands and Islands.  Ms Eagle explained the reason behind the move:

"The Lochaber Careers Centre is the first new Careers Scotland Centre we have opened in the Highlands and Islands and it provides an excellent facility for the people of Lochaber.  For the first time, the entire Careers Scotland team are located together under one roof, allowing us to provide our clients with a true one-stop-shop service for advice and guidance about everything to do with learning, training and employment opportunities.

"The Centre has the latest IT and communication facilities which allow us to provide a full service to rural communities, especially through the college's satellite centres in Strontian, Kilchoan, Mallaig and Kinlochleven.  In addition, visitors to the Centre will have access to the national Careers Scotland website, which gives the most up-to-date advice and information from our network of offices throughout Scotland."

"Most importantly, our location within Lochaber's hub of learning allows us to have a closer working relationship with the college, and puts us in close proximity to many of our other partners - Inverness College, Community Education, Global Highland and the Lochaber Business Development Centre."

Careers Scotland was created in April last year from the merger of 80 separate bodies offering career advice and learning opportunities, and is part of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.  It aims to provide an integrated service for people of all ages wanting to access learning and employment opportunities, and works in partnership with Local Enterprise Companies to create a strong workforce.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Hunter welcomed Career Scotland's move:

"The provision of skills and lifelong learning opportunities is closely linked to the success of an area's economy, and is vital to our goals to create new businesses and strong communities.  Careers Scotland has been an important new development for the HIE Network, helping us to enable people to realise their full potential.

"The new centre offers an enhanced advice and guidance service at a time when it is essential for people to capitalise on local employment opportunities created by the buoyant Lochaber economy.  I congratulate everyone who has been involved in this move."