Talking-up Scotland

By David Roberts

These examples of Scotland being an internationally and nationally competitive place for investment across a range of sectors are drawn from the Scottish media. Some may note a bias away from the Central Belt and urban Scotland, well that’s where a lot of action takes place, and where I live.

Trespass – Glasgow based outdoor wear company employing 1700 people hit £100 m in turnover as sales grew sales up 15% due to Britain’s changing weather. Its re-tax profits doubled.

Tulloch Homes builds profits to £12 million, growth of 60% in profits based on turnover up 15 % from £49.9 m from  £ 43.4 m “helped by a focus on Inverness.”

Aberdeen headquartered Well-Safe bought first rig for de-commissioning. Will spend more than £75 m on modifying the vessel for well plugging and abandonment.

Scotland’s  largest offshore wind farm expected to create up to 90 workers in the 84 turbine Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm with the majority based in Wick

Islay’s first new distillery for nearly 15 years is officially opening its doors. Ardnahoe Distillery was built with a £12m investment from Scottish family-owned Hunter Laing & Company. It includes a visitor centre with retail facilities, a whisky bar and a restaurant.  Up to 30 people will be employed across retail, dining, tours and functions throughout the year.

Farmers co-op ANM group announce work on £20 m abattoir and meat processing plant in Inverurie to begin in early June 2019

Edinburgh tidal energy firm wins £3.5 m  backing from a German energy company, equity investment secured from the Scottish Investment Bank and marine propulsion and renewable energy company Schottel Hydr that has put up £2.5 m of the total.

Digital youth tourism campaign reaches 5 m across the globe. #UncoverEdinburgh encouraged  visitors aged 18-26, from key European markets to come to Edinburgh on a year round basis.

Scotland’s international centre of manufacturing expertise is a step closer to being realised following the appointment of the design team.  Glasgow based HLM will lead the team delivering The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), hosted by the University of Strathclyde, aiming to make Scotland a global leader in advanced manufacturing.

As an industry-led international centre for manufacturers, NMIS, adjacent to Glasgow International Airport, will include a Digital Factory 2050, Manufacturing Skills Academy and collaborative working spaces; complementing the existing University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC).

Plans for a new £30m tourist development at Loch Lomond have been unveiled. The proposals include a 60-bedroom apart-hotel, 32-bedroom budget accommodation, a craft brewery, boat house, leisure centre and restaurants. It is estimated the Lomond Banks development at Balloch would create 80 full-time jobs, 50 part-time jobs and 70 seasonal roles in the area.

Developer to build 200 industrial units.  Saltire Business Parks has acquired 3 development sites and plans to invest £10 m to address a shortage of industrial space for businesses between 1000-5000 square feet.

Johnnie Walker distillery begins major upgrade.  Caol Ila distillery on Islay has been given approval to invest in improving the visitor experience. This forms part of the £150 m investment in whisky tourism by the world’s largest drinks company, Diageo.

A Scottish chocolate fountain machine maker is to expand after securing a £500,000 loan. Kirkcaldybased Sephra will use the cash to buy the intellectual property (IP) rights to its branded products, previously held by a US company, and expand into new markets.  It now expects to hire a further 10 people and more than double turnover to £10m over the next few years

Previous report from David:

A Voice from Deepest Argyll: How Scotland Punches above its Weight