Argyll and the Islands Enterprise (AIE) is spending over £360,000 building workshop units on the Island of Gigha to encourage new enterprises.

AIE hopes the workshops will help kick-start the Island's economy following the purchase of Gigha by islanders in March last year.

Chief executive of AIE, Ken Abernethy said: "Gigha is one of our most fragile islands and therefore a priority for AIE.

"By building these advance workshops on the island we can help boost the local economy by providing modern business premises for the growth or establishment of local businesses or indeed to attract new investment to Gigha."

The new workshops are being built on land next door to the Isle of Gigha Hotel in the village of Ardminish.  AIE purchased the site from the Isle of Gigha Community Trust for £28,000, helping towards an interim payment of £150,000 by the Trust to the selling agents.

Old sheds on the chosen site are due to be taken down this week to make way for the new property, also providing a significant environmental enhancement. 

Construction of the building - a single storey "L" shaped courtyard property, subdivided into three workshops covering a total floor area of 222 sq. m. - will immediately follow the demolition works.  Lochgilphead-based contractors MacVicar and MacInnes (Argyll) were chosen to carry out the works associated with the project.