IT services firm Atos has opened a new development and innovation centre in Moray, Scotland, which it says will create 50 "high value" jobs, with a further 200 to follow.
The 20,000 sq.ft. centre, based in the Forres Enterprise Park, is aimed at delivering secure IT development and testing services to support Atos' public and private sector clients across the UK.
Richard Lochhead, the Scottish government cabinet secretary for rural affairs who officially opened the centre, said: "Atos' new purpose-built facility, which brings with it 50 jobs and the potential for many more, is a welcome boost for Moray and testament to the skills and talent of the local workforce. It's also a clear signal of the company's long-term commitment to Moray and Scotland as a whole."
The Moray centre is the company's third delivery centre in the UK, and Gavin Thomson, Atos' senior vice president in Scotland, said that the company is looking to expand in the coming years.
"The initial commitment we made was to create 50 high value skilled jobs here in Moray. The operation has been extremely successful for us and has provided the confidence to invest further. This new facility has the capacity to house up to 250 staff and it is our ambition to grow our investment here over the next three years," he said.
Atos currently employs about 1,500 people in Scotland and its drive to recruit more staff has already started.
"We have already recruited a number of staff locally including ex-RAF personnel from the Kinloss base and attracted skilled business technologists back to the area to take up the high quality jobs we are offering here in Forres. Atos is building a strong team here and we believe there is significant value we can bring to support organisations advance their business both locally and throughout the UK," Thomson said.
