The owner of the world’s largest indoor ice climbing centre in Lochaber has won a contract to run a new £30million snow dome in north-east England.
And the Highland mountaineer and entrepreneur behind the Ice Factor Group said the company is looking at further opportunities in London, Europe and the United States.
The group, which also owns the Snow Factor Braehead indoor winter sports facility near Glasgow, was named as the operator of the planned development in Middlesbrough yesterday. The company said the contract had the potential to boost its annual revenues by more than £5million.
Granted planning approval by Middlesbrough Council last week, the huge facility will be developed by Teesside-based Cool Runnings (NE) Ltd on a seven acre former industrial site at Middlehaven. Part of planned £500million tourism and regeneration project, it is expected to incorporate a slope for skiers and snowboarders, ice climbing walls and an ice bar.
The brainchild of Lochcarron-born Jamie Smith, the original Ice Factor opened in a Victorian era former aluminum smelter building in Kinlochleven in 2003. The company acquired the then struggling Braehead centre in 2011 and has since transformed its fortunes.
Yesterday Mr Smith said: “Ice Factor Group is really pleased to be confirmed as the operator of the Middlehaven facility. As a near identical set-up to our Scottish operations, it’s a development that will benefit from all of the finely tuned and proven business processes that we’ve put in place over six years of trading at Snow Factor Braehead.
“I’m proud of our track record. When we acquired the Braehead site, it had accumulated several million pounds of losses. Our expertise has helped to transform the business from one of the worst performing indoor snow resorts in Europe to one of the best.”
He added: “It is also encouraging that in addition to our successful bid to operate in Middlehaven, Ice Factor Group is continuing to receive serious inquiries from developers throughout Europe and further afield, seeking to apply our expertise to maximize the footfall and operational efficiency of new build and existing snow domes.”
Mr Smith said that while the company was looking at further opportunities in London, Spain and Jersey, it has no plans for further Scottish operations at present.
