Jobs bonanza

The Citizen, 19 May 2000

Fifers are queuing up for jobs at a massive development in St Andrews, currently, the largest tourism-related investment in Scotland. At Fife Jobsfair, in Glenrothes, people from throughout the Kingdom called at the St Andrews Bay Development stand.

The company’s multi-million pound golf resort, spa and conference centre is expected to create 775 jobs and give the local economy a much-needed shot in the arm.

Operations Director, lain MacKinnon, said he had been receiving job applications from people keen to work in the new resort for the past two years.

“We have attended the St Andrews Jobsfair and the Fife Jobsfair and the response has been incredible,” he told the Citizen.

“I have a very large file of applications and I would like to say that I have nothing but the highest praise for the local employment service which has been working with me all the way and doing everything possible to ensure that people are given the opportunity to obtain employment.

“There is no doubt whatsoever that we will provide jobs in this area and Fife as a whole. There are a lot of people looking to work at St Andrews Bay.”

Construction of the buildings and golf courses at the 520-acre cliff-top site, overlooking St Andrews Bay is on target.

The first of the top-class golf courses, designed by “The Squire” Gene Sarazen and Scotland’s Sam Torrance, is fast taking shape at the site where some 300 construction staff are already employed. Local firms have been offered the chance to tender for work and Mr MacKinnon sees many more opportunities opening up for the area.

“We expect that the development will inject more than £14 million into the Fife economy, in salaries and services in the first year of operation,” he explained.

In all, 500 people will be employed during construction, with around 275 jobs created when the £50 million resort is completed.

Favourable weather conditions mean that work is well advanced. Currently bathroom ‘pods’ - units complete right down to the tiles before they leave the factory - are being slotted into the hotel. Eight of the 209 which will finally be accommodated in the building are now in place.

Patrick Laughlin, chief executive of Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board has welcomed the St Andrews Bay development.

“The creation of this new resort will add greatly to Fife’s international appeal,” he commented.

“It gives a new facet to Fife’s tourism product, particularly in the field of conferences and meetings and allows us to attract additional business to this area and to Scotland.”

The new resort joins owners, Dr Don and Nancy Panoz’s collections of hotels and resorts throughout the world. St Andrews Bay Development Ltd is a division of Fountainhead, the Panoz’s holding company.