Inverurie - Industry

Industry

Inverurie is a thriving market town, now with a monthly Farmer's Market, with many small shops, businesses and services. Its main industries other than service and commerce are agriculture, oil and, until International Paper closed the mill in March 2009, paper manufacture.

The Great North of Scotland Railway constructed its locomotive construction and repair works on a 15-acre (61,000 m2) site at Inverurie.

Agriculture continues to be a mainstay of Inverurie's economy, as it has done since the town's inception. Thainstone Mart, to the south east of the town, is the biggest livestock market in Scotland, and rents out commercial units to various agricultural support services. Lying beside Thainstone Mart, the paper mill was a big employer until the mill was closed in 2009.

Following the discovery of North Sea oil in the mid 1970s, several oil service companies appeared in Inverurie. Many residents who work in this sector do so on offshore oil installations in the North Sea on a "two week on- two week off - or four week on, or six week on" basis in addition to those who work in the town itself.

In recent years, Inverurie has also seen increasing numbers of Aberdeen commuters going to live there making it "the fastest growing town in Great Britain".

A 98,000 sq ft (9,100 m2) retail park opened in June 2009 with stores including Homebase, Argos, Lidl, Halfords, Iceland, Home Bargains and Currys all trading very successfully. The site is located near the town centre, is close to the railway station and offers 378 car parking spaces. Another notable company based in Inverurie that supports many local causes is the Ford and Subaru Dealer Lawrence of Kemnay.

The town is served by Inverurie Hospital.