Inverness Castle’s new life as major tourist attraction a step nearer after partnership deal
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Inverness Castle’s new life as a major tourist site is a step nearer reality after a team who have worked with major UK visitor attractions like Legoland and Silverstone were signed up to help train the on-site staff.
Highland Council has announced a partnership with Spider Entertainment which will help to recruit and train the team who will greet and guide visitors around the Inverness Castle Experience when it opens next year.
Sally Reynolds, chief experience officer and Kevin Smith, operations director, have decades of experience between them, having worked with some of the biggest attractions and brands in the world. They have worked with and within organisations such as Merlin Entertainments, Continuum Attractions, Silverstone, Center Parcs and ITV and with and within well-known visitor attractions such as Sea Life Centres, Legoland, Mary King’s Close, Spinnaker Tower, Woburn Abbey, Safari Park and Golf Club and The Emirates Cable Car.
READ MORE: £30m Inverness Castle revamp passes latest small milestone after some of the scaffolding is removed
Spider Entertainment will provide support that will help set up, launch and operate the Inverness Castle Experience, as well as making sure commercial opportunities of the project are maximised.
Cllr Ken Gowans, chairman of Highland Council’s economy and infrastructure committee, said: “I am delighted that Kevin and Sally are joining the team — both have exactly the right mix of operating expertise that is needed support our team with this immensely important Highland project that is due to open in 2025.”
He added that Mr Smith and Ms Reynolds will help develop a bespoke training package for all new recruits to ensure that they are ready to welcome and host the hundreds of thousands of visitors who are expected at the castle each year.
Cllr Ian Brown, leader of Inverness City and Area and co-chair of the Inverness Castle Project Delivery Group, said: “Sally and Kevin bring a wealth of experience in high-profile project delivery, portfolio management and operations across the visitor attraction sector.“
Spider Entertainment will also work alongside the council and other agencies to encourage young people onto the team and start a career in tourism and hospitality.
It comes after Highland Council agreed to direct £100,000 from the its share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to fund the new staff training programme at the Inverness Castle Experience.
The funding is aimed at enabling the project team to provide specialist visitor attraction training to young people identified through partners at Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
Cllr Gowans, added: “It’s great to witness the Castle Project taking shape, on schedule and on budget, as we enter this important phase. A co-ordinated marketing, promotion, and recruitment campaign over the coming months will be needed to ensure a successful launch. This makes it even more real.”
The Inverness Castle project is part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and University of the Highlands and Islands.
Meanwhile, the council’s economy and infrastructure committee this week agreed to set up a new management board to look after the project when the delivery group hands over responsibility after completion.
The board’s remit will be to provide strategic direction and guidance to the senior management team of the Inverness Castle Experience, with membership of the board reflecting that of the delivery group. It will be chaired by the chair of Highland Council’s economy and infrastructure committee.
