Inverness tool hire business site now on market at Zoopla after HSS Hire closes Highland capital branch
The site of a former tool hire business which closed last month with the loss of four jobs, has gone on the market.
The form HSS Hire building in Harbour Road, Inverness, is being marketed for “immediate let” on the likes of property sites like Zoopla.
It follows the closure of the HSS Hire store on October 23, amid a wider restructure of the chain in the north that also saw the company’s Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow Kingston Bridge outlets also shutter their doors.
In total, more than a dozen employees at the various sites were believed to be losing their jobs - with four of those coming in the Highland capital.
It was understood that some staff at some of the sites might be retained as home workers, although it is not sure if this included any Inverness employees.
Indeed, HSS Hire’s Inverness location page now directs customers to a “phone/email” presence only, with the following statement: “This branch is now only available for telephone calls and email. Whilst not open for walk-ins or collections, your local HSS hire consultants are still here to support you. Call or email us for expert advice on all your hire needs.”
The changes came amid a restructure at the parent company, which has seen HSS Hire Group work to split up its sales and hire sides of the business - which will be run by different management once the switch is complete.
Its chief executive, Steve Ashmore, earlier said that the decision to separate the HSS Operations and HSS Proserve sides of the business was aimed at ensuring each could “pursue complementary growth strategies under independent leadership teams”.
He added that he believed this would “fully unlock the growth potential of each business and provide greater optionality to maximise future value for shareholders”.
The now vacant 1065 sq ft Inverness HSS Hire site is listed at a "non quoting" price for potential tenants.
Zoopla describes it as a: "Rare opportunity to acquire a modern industrial / trade counter property in Longman Industrial Estate, Inverness's most prime industrial location.
"58 Harbour Road comprises a high quality stand alone building which benefits from a car park to the front elevation and secure yard to the rear.
"New solar panels and EV charging are due to be installed to significantly improve the energy performance rating of the building."
It added that the site came with an "excellent yard [and] car parking" and is in a "strategic location for servicing Inverness and the Highlands".