The Government is set to build two new IT service centres in the Scottish Highlands, as part of a £225 million investment over the next five years.

The centres, run by IT consulting firm Capgemini, will create 250 local jobs and boost region’s economy according to the Gov.

The new centres will provide IT assistance to The Ministry of Defence (MoD) users and will be operational 24/7, 365 days a year.

Supporting over 200,000 users across the MoD, the Gov said it will be the largest IT centre in Europe based on the number of end-users.

“The opening of these two centres in the Highlands are further examples of how defence is boosting prosperity through the investment and skills footprint it brings,” said defence minister Jeremy Quin. “Located close to the defence sites of RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks, the skills and experience of ex-service personnel are also being utilised with 20 already recruited, and that number is expected to grow.”

“The opening of the centre’s is further boosting the Highland’s status as an IT centre of excellence.”

He added: “The area has recently seen a growth in the IT industry, with a number of other organisations, including the Metropolitan Police and DEFRA, moving their Service Centres and strategic IT infrastructure services to the region.”

Defence chief information officer Charlie Forte said: “Defence Digital is working with Capgemini to create a world class customer service centre that provides defence users with the very best service interface that is using a leading-edge approach and the best in modern technology to improve the customer experience,” “This investment in Scotland forms part of the additional £1.5 billion spending by Defence Digital over the next 10 years to underpin digital transformation and defensive cyber to modernise and secure Defence’s Digital Backbone – all of which is supported by the £24 billion increase in the defence budget over the next four years.”

He added: “A part of the UK’s Strategic Command, Defence Digital is responsible for ensuring that modern, effective digital and information technology (D&IT) is put into the hands of the military and business front line.”

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