Inverness-based Compass Building & Construction Services reached the significant milestone with the completion of the latest phase of development at Teandallon in Evanton for Highland Council.

It now aims to have 80 more affordable homes underway over the coming months in Invergordon (costing around £12.5m), Broadford (£5.5m) and Lochcarron (£5.5m).

It will mark another major contribution by Compass to the region’s housing challenge and wider socio-economic needs.

As well as helping retain local populations and attract new residents to the area, the housing supports jobs and services in Highland communities.

Compass was established in 2009 and completed its first affordable home in Stornoway in 2010/11.

Since then, it has built houses in 32 communities across the Highlands and Islands including Portree, Gairloch, Carrbridge and Dornie, providing people with housing options in the area.

It was the first builder in a generation to take private housing, of any scale, to the rural west coast with developments, supported by several social landlords and the Scottish Government, in Ullapool and Broadford.

Compass managing director Thom Macleod said reaching the 1,000 milestone was a remarkable achievement.

But he said it represents a far bigger picture than simply the bricks and mortar.

Over the same period, Compass and its sister company Orbis have delivered almost 100 apprentice placements.

Thom said: “This has been a key part of our growth strategy as it very much mirrors the route taken by many of our management team during our formative years.

“This model is in stark contrast to many of the larger visiting tier-one contractors that choose to follow a management contracting model.

“It is our preference to organically develop our own talent, in our own mould, so that we have control of this throughput for future generations rather than simply relying on the efforts of others.

“This approach has paid dividends as, not only do we have an exemplary directly employed workforce, we have also been recognised routinely for excellence in the training that we provide - even to the point that we were crowned Scotland’s SME construction apprentice employer of the year along the way.”

Thom says Compass’s work with communities has a lasting impact.

“It has enabled us to deliver various forms of legacy through employment, apprenticeships or the supporting of local initiatives which are important to the wider community.

“We particularly favour the third sector through our support for charities and levelling up initiatives.”