The £450 million development, planned for land between Selkirk and Hawick, is expected to create 1,200 permanent jobs, with around half of those roles anticipated to go to youngsters.
Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Selkirk, held an engagement event at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday (September 30), where Center Parcs CEO Colin McKinlay delivered an update on the project.
He said: “This project is moving from aspiration to reality as the project gathers pace towards opening in 2029.
“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.”
The holiday village, due to open in summer 2029, will offer permanent, year-round employment across a range of sectors, including housekeeping, leisure, food and beverage, beauty therapy, engineering, and management.
A large-scale recruitment drive is expected to begin in 2028, but work is already underway to prepare the future workforce.
Center Parcs is working with schools, Borders College, and employability organisations to identify skills needs and support training, ensuring that local people are ready to take advantage of the new opportunities.
Career fairs and community recruitment events will also be organised as the recruitment programme ramps up.
D.E. Fencing, based in St Boswells, has secured the contract to install perimeter fencing and is working with Center Parcs to include features that support wildlife movement.
RJ McLeod is delivering enabling works, including the new entrance road and associated highway improvements.
The development is expected to contribute £15 million in gross value added (GVA) to the Borders economy and £212 million to the Scottish economy during construction.
Once operational, the village is projected to generate £75 million annually for the Borders economy and £87 million across Scotland.
Ms Hamilton said: “It is fantastic to see the Center Parcs development gathering pace and already creating opportunities for people and businesses across the Scottish Borders.
“I look forward to seeing local communities and our economy continue to benefit as this project progresses.”
The broader economic impact is expected to include increased visitor spending in the region, with Center Parcs estimating 356,000 visitors per year could generate an additional £2.6 million annually.
The project will also include the planting of hundreds of thousands of trees, shrubs, and bushes to create a new forest landscape and a Heritage and Nature Centre celebrating the history and culture of the Borders.
Center Parcs’ procurement programme is set to accelerate in 2027, with Meet the Buyer events planned for the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway to help businesses prepare for upcoming contract opportunities.
Tom Arthur, Minister for Business and Fair Work, 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.”