Budding north-east entrepreneurs have been handed a boost after a new support centre was handed £100,000 in funding.
Based in the new-look council chambers in Fraserburgh, it will host help for start-up companies such as hot desks, training facilities and coaching.
It is hoped the project will support 50 existing and 10 new firms in the town and create up to 20 new jobs.
Councillors on the Banff and Buchan area committee have approved £101,783 worth of funding to make it a reality.
Fraserburgh and District councillor Charles Buchan said it was the kind of scheme that the town needed as part of its wider revamp.
He said: “I regard this as being the tip of the iceberg for the whole Fraserburgh regeneration.
“This is an excellent facility for some start-ups and for people who are presently working out of their houses, or garages or perhaps a shed.
“I wholly support it.”
Macduff councillor Mark Findlater said: “What a fantastic Fraserburgh facility the Faithlie Centre is going to be.
“This is absolutely great for the area and I am sure it will be a boost to the community for many years to come.”
Fraserburgh and District councillor Brian Topping said: “I think is really fantastic news for the Broch and the new Faithlie Centre, as it is now known.”
Stephen Archer, Aberdeenshire Council’s director of infrastructure services, said there was a lot of potential in Fraserburgh for brand new businesses.
Mr Archer said: “Enterprise hubs are spaces where entrepreneurs and start-up or early-stage business can come together, learn and share knowledge and networks.
“Traditionally, hubs are larger spaces, so this project is somewhat experimental in terms of providing a smaller facility. However, it is believed that for a town like Fraserburgh it is of a sufficient scale to meet local demand and, if successful, could be considered as a model for other towns in Aberdeenshire.”
Construction work to combine Fraserburgh’s council chambers with the former police station is already under way.
