Center Parcs CEO says economic benefits of new holiday village 'already being felt' in Scottish Borders
Last updated 1st Oct 2026
The man overseeing recruitment for Center Parcs' new holiday village in the Scottish Borders revealed it’s already helping to bring people back to the region – as well as aiming to help get people currently out of work into employment.
The £450 million development is expected to create around 1,200 permanent jobs when it opens in summer 2029.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio after addressing local businesses at a networking event at Lilliardsedge Holiday Park near Jedburgh, Talent Director Simon Gibson said: “We've actually (recruited) two people now in that kind of forestry land space.
“And one of those is actually going to relocate back to the Borders, so that's a great story for us.
“The employability opportunities here are massive.
“So if we can bring people out of unemployment, off benefits, back into the world of work, I think we're going to create a greater ecosystem for people to find work.
“It's not just going to take them from other organisations, which some people think we might do.”
Center Parcs expects to employ people across a wide range of roles, from housekeeping and leisure to food and drink, beauty therapy, engineering and management.
It's working with local schools, Borders College and employability organisations to understand future skills requirements and ensure local people are prepared to access the opportunities being created.
Career fairs and community recruitment events will also be held as the recruitment programme accelerates.
Mr Gibson said: “Some of the jobs are going to be drip fed over the next probably 12 or 18 or so months, before we really start to ramp up and look at a bit more significant numbers of our workforce and how we'll find and bring those people in.
“What we also see, to be really candid, is turnover in the first year.
“So, we need maybe 1,200 or so people. Hundreds of those are going to say: ‘This isn't for me.’ That's great. They've got some work and experience and we'll go find some more.”
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Meanwhile, work on the 700-lodge development – just off the A7 north of Hawick – is visibly progressing.
The new junction on to the main road has been completed, while the entrance road is being surfaced, and car park works are underway.
The development is expected to contribute approximately £15 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Scottish Borders economy and £212 million to the Scottish economy during the construction phase.
Giving an update on the project in Scottish Parliament last night, Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said: “The economic benefits are already being felt across the Scottish Borders, with further major contracts to come.
“We want to maximise opportunities for local businesses, suppliers and communities, building long-term partnerships across the Borders and Scotland whilst ensuring the benefits of Center Parcs are felt as widely as possible.”
Several Scottish businesses have already secured contracts on the project including D.E. Fencing, based in St Boswells, which is installing the village perimeter fencing and working with Center Parcs to incorporate measures supporting local wildlife movement.
RJ McLeod has been delivering enabling works, including the new entrance road and key highway improvements, connecting the development safely to the surrounding road network.
Further major contracts are expected to be awarded over the coming months, including packages covering the construction of lodges and central buildings.
Center Parcs’ procurement programme will formally accelerate in 2027 with Meet the Buyer events planned in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, allowing businesses an opportunity to understand procurement requirements and prepare for future contracts.
Local MSP Rachael Hamilton, who sponsored the event in the Scottish Parliament, said: “It is fantastic to see the Center Parcs development gathering pace and already creating opportunities for people and businesses across the Scottish Borders.
"This exciting investment will bring 1,200 jobs and help local businesses to grow and expand.
"I look forward to seeing local communities and our economy continue to benefit as this project progresses."
Hundreds of thousands of trees, shrubs and bushes will be planted over the coming years to create a new forest landscape, while retaining important views across the surrounding countryside.
The development is expected to bring significant additional visitor spending to the region. Center Parcs estimates that around 356,000 people will visit the village each year, generating an estimated £2.6 million in additional annual visitor spending.
Minister for Business and Fair Work Tom Arthur MSP said: “Center Parcs Scottish Borders is a nationally significant project that is not just an investment in infrastructure but an investment in people and in the long-term economic success of the South of Scotland.
“This project is significant because of what it will mean for people and places right across the region. The development represents a major opportunity to strengthen regional supply chains, to support local businesses, and create high-quality jobs. Crucially, it will create opportunities that will allow young people to build their careers and futures locally.
“Realising the full potential of this development will require continued collaboration and the Scottish Government is committed to working alongside Centre Parcs, South of Scotland Enterprise and other key partners to ensure we maximise the benefits of this enormous opportunity for people across the region and country.”
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