More than 500 staff at Scottish Enterprise's Glasgow headquarters are to be relocated as part of proposals for the agency to quit its current base.

Details of the plans emerged in the wake of the Scottish Government's decision to overhaul the way the economic development agency is structured.

The reforms, announced last week by John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, will see its 21 local enterprise companies cut to six regional operations.

The agency will also lose its skills and training division under the plans, which Mr Swinney said would ensure "the process of economic growth reaches every community in Scotland".

At the moment, Scottish Enterprise has around 600 members of staff at its Atlantic Quay HQ.

Under the proposals, which are set to be finalised by the end of the month, at least 550 workers would be moved to other locations within the revamped organisation.

The agency is then expected to seek another occupier for the building in which it has been based for the past six years.

A spokesman for Scottish Enterprise said the plans would not come to fruition overnight but insisted they would deliver an improved service.

"It is our intention over time to move as many staff as possible out to local offices to ensure even more effective delivery of frontline services," he said.

"However, this will be a planned process and done in a way that offers maximum value for money."