TRANSPORT giant First Glasgow unveiled the site that will become home to the company's new £20million bus depot and headquarters.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon kicked off the official launch by putting the first spade in the ground at the site at Gushetfaulds in Cathcart Road, in the south side of Glasgow.

The MSP for Glasgow Southside was joined by the transport firm's managing director Fiona Kerr and three employees, Willie Walker, John McGregor and Jak Monaghan.

The new depot will be the biggest facility of its kind in the UK with space for up to 450 buses and 1200 employees.

There will also be room for an extra 150 buses in a bid to attract more passengers to First services.

The depot will bring 300 buses and 800 employees from First Glasgow's current headquarters at Larkfield into the same complex for the first time.

Construction is due to be complete in October next year, with the site fully operational in November.

First Glasgow managing director Fiona Kerr said one of the firm's main priorities was to increase the number of people using their buses.

She said: "We are working extremely hard to achieve that by making our services more attractive. Today's £20m investment in our new depot and headquarters is great news for our customers - the new facility will help us improve upon an already strong punctuality and reliability performance and we hope it will encourage people to consider bus travel more often.

"It's really exciting to think that this time next year we'll be enjoying a state of the art facility specifically designed for operating and maintaining buses."

Among the facilities at the depot will be new vehicle lifts and accommodation for drivers. The contract to build at the site was secured by Balfour Beatty.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I'm delighted that First is investing significantly in brand new bus depot and headquarters at Gushetfaulds.

"It is a real boost to the local economy and we're looking forward to welcoming First to its new home in 2014."

rachel.loxton@eveningtimes.co.uk