Award prompts new investment proposal
Following its landmark achievement in scooping the Aquaculture Supplier of the Year award at the recent Aquaculture UK exhibition, Mull-based Inverlussa Marine Services (IMS) is now looking to build upon this success by further investing in the business.
IMS – one of Scotland’s leading workboat operators – won the award at the Aviemore expo in recognition of the quality of service it provides to customers.
Employing 70 people, predominantly from the Highlands and Islands, the company has seen significant growth in recent years.
Its vessels are built to meet the specific requirements of the aquaculture sector and in the past three years alone the number of craft in its fleet has doubled. This included taking delivery of two specially designed 25.5m work vessels in 2017, which went straight into service for fish farm customers.
Ben Wilson, IMS managing director, said the award was testimony to the hard work and dedication of its workforce in providing the best quality service to Scotland’s growing and economically important aquaculture sector.
He added: ‘This award recognises the hard work all our crew and shore staff do on a daily basis. The service we provide to our customers is our key focus, which is delivered by a talented workforce.
‘For the future, we intend to continue with our investment programme – including the acquisition of new vessels and providing staff with the highest-level training – so that we can deliver innovative solutions to the market and meet the ever-changing requirements of our customers.’
IMS is also committed to supporting the local Mull community and earlier this year the company launched an innovative new youth training programme for school leavers, encouraging them to build a career with an island company.
Mr Wilson said: ‘We are determined to encourage local employment, training and support here in Mull. Aquaculture is a vital industry to Scotland’s fragile west coast communities. It is sustainable and provides a high quality product in global demand, which means the sector offers great career prospects, as well as opportunities for local economic growth.’