Estate agents move into Inverness
ONE of the world’s longest-established estate agencies is beginning a new chapter in the Highlands, with the opening of its first office in Inverness.
The latest addition to the more than 600 offices operated by Savills across the world is the first the firm has opened in the Highlands.
The new office at Cradlehall Business Park brings 14 jobs to Inverness, with two more staff based at other Highland locations and replaces Savills’ office in Fochabers.
Nick Penny, head of Savills Scotland, who joined Inverness office head Faye Gonzales and Savills’ Scottish rural head Hugo Struthers for the formal opening of the office, said the move would bring the business to a more strategic and commercial area.
“It’s a logical progression ,” he said.
“Inverness has been on the radar for a long time, but we needed the right opportunity, the right people and the right time.”
Although the business sees the creation of the Inverness office as an opportunity to increase its presence in the region, Savills already has exisiting clients across the Highlands, including retail parks in Inverness and Wick.
“Highland is not a part of the world we are unfamilar with, it’s just that we haven’t had a base here,” Mr Penny said.
While the main focus of the Inverness office will be to provide a wide range of services to an increasingly diversifying local clients, it will offer an opportunity to add other specialisms to the Highland team.
“The clients have been very supportive and almost wondered why we didn’t do it sooner. It makes sense for us, it makes sense for them and it gives us a platform to build on and create a more multidisciplinary offering here,” Ms Gonzales commented.
“We work with a lot of landowners along the A9 and the positive pressure that the North Coast 500 has brought has created a real positive offering.”
