2 Economic Development - World Class Scotland
2 Economic Development - World Class Scotland
2 Economic Development - World Class Scotland
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[<br />
The Glasgow Arc<br />
A time for positive action<br />
[ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT<br />
14<br />
15<br />
[
The Scottish Parliament<br />
A time for positive action<br />
Iain McMillan CBE,<br />
Director, CBI <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
Iain McMillan<br />
The country must work to overcome constitutional<br />
uncertainty and the prospect of a difficult growth<br />
period and continue to show resilience<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> remains one of the most diverse and interesting<br />
business environments - from whisky to bio-technology<br />
and tourism to green energy. Scottish businesses are<br />
world-renowned for the excellent products and services<br />
they provide and the intellectual property developed here.<br />
But despite our past successes and future potential, times continue<br />
to be challenging for Scottish firms, as they are for those across the<br />
rest of the UK. And our growth is just as fragile. This reflects the<br />
wider conditions across the EU, the US and some developing<br />
countries. And it’s obvious that the heightened concerns surrounding<br />
the, as yet, fully unresolved euro-zone crisis have contributed to our<br />
disappointing performance.<br />
The overall impact has resulted in a becalmed business optimism,<br />
fuelled by lower expectations for export and domestic orders.<br />
However, despite these challenging economic times, the Scottish<br />
labour market is showing some resilience, with jobs being created<br />
and fewer people unemployed.<br />
It is therefore crucial, now more than ever, for our politicians to<br />
do the right things for business and to make the growth of the UK<br />
and Scottish economies their top priority. That is why the role of the<br />
CBI in championing Scottish business interests has never been more<br />
important: our voice ensures that those firms that will lead us back<br />
to economic prosperity are being heard by decision-makers both<br />
in Edinburgh and London.<br />
It is encouraging to note that some positive action is taking place<br />
in our parliaments - including at Westminster where the stated aim<br />
is decisive action on the deficit and plans for growth, although in<br />
some cases delivery has been disappointing. Business tax reform,<br />
prioritising trade and investment, and the positive approach to<br />
enterprise and industrial policy, are all important too.<br />
At a Scottish level it is heartening to note that a key focus of the<br />
government is sustainable economic growth which was backed<br />
with positive messages on planning reform, capital investment and<br />
a focus on skills including literacy and numeracy. CBI <strong>Scotland</strong> is<br />
working with the Scottish Government and indeed all MSPs to help<br />
deliver key policies which encourage economic growth, trade<br />
and investment, and which respond imaginatively to the fiscal<br />
challenges ahead. However, performance is mixed, with some<br />
unwelcome business rates increases and rail investment severely<br />
cut back.<br />
If there is one thing that will set <strong>Scotland</strong>’s recovery apart from<br />
the rest of the UK, however, it is that our return to growth is taking<br />
place against a backdrop of constitutional debate.<br />
The implementation of the <strong>Scotland</strong> Act and the looming<br />
independence referendum, will shape and affect almost every<br />
area of Scottish society in the coming years, and business is no<br />
exception. It will thus be important for the private sector to engage<br />
with these processes and CBI <strong>Scotland</strong> will continue to be at the<br />
forefront of discussions on behalf of our members and firms across<br />
the country.<br />
Undoubtedly the prospects of a difficult growth period and<br />
constitutional uncertainty will bring challenges for <strong>Scotland</strong>’s<br />
business community. There will certainly be opportunities for<br />
growth going forward. But, over the next two years, the prospect<br />
of a referendum on <strong>Scotland</strong>’s future in the United Kingdom is<br />
particularly unwelcome and unhelpful to <strong>Scotland</strong>’s immediate<br />
economic prospects.<br />
The CBI in <strong>Scotland</strong> remains – as ever - well placed to help<br />
businesses realise their potential and come out of the next few<br />
years stronger, leaner and more innovative than ever.<br />
[ It is crucial, now more than ever, for our politicians to<br />
do the right things for business and to make the growth<br />
of the UK and Scottish economies their top priority ]<br />
[ WORLD CLASS SCOTLAND <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Development</strong><br />
[ CBI <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
16 Robertson Street<br />
Glasgow<br />
G2 8DS<br />
Tel: 0141 222 2184<br />
Fax: 0141 222 2187<br />
www.cbi.org.uk<br />
16<br />
17<br />
[<br />
[
[<br />
Bitexco Tower, Vietnam<br />
Global ambitions<br />
Professor Lesley Sawers,<br />
Chief Executive, SCDI<br />
The SCDI has called for the ambitious<br />
target of doubling <strong>Scotland</strong>’s exports over<br />
the next decade - a target that is possible<br />
with a focused partnership approach<br />
Professor Lesley Sawers, Chief Executive, SCDI<br />
In the Scottish business community, it is<br />
recognised that financial stability and<br />
growth will be achieved, in large part,<br />
through the increased<br />
internationalisation of Scottish<br />
businesses. Selling overseas and building<br />
trade links in dynamic and vibrant markets<br />
is therefore a key focus for companies in<br />
2013.<br />
SCDI’s international credentials have<br />
been built over the last 80 years. Since<br />
1931, SCDI has been working to promote<br />
and support Scottish businesses in both<br />
domestic and international markets.<br />
In 2012 we directly supported Scottish<br />
business with visits to India, Brazil, China,<br />
the Middle East and North America. These<br />
trade visits involved 84 participants and<br />
generated £5 million worth of business.<br />
However, we need to do more to<br />
encourage small to medium-sized<br />
enterprises to develop their overseas trade.<br />
SCDI has called for the ambitious target of<br />
doubling <strong>Scotland</strong>’s exports over the next<br />
decade - a target that is possible with a<br />
focused partnership approach across the<br />
public and private sector.<br />
Scottish businesses must look to high<br />
growth markets and adopt a global mindset<br />
within the international marketplace.<br />
Emerging market economies are<br />
growing at an average rate of 8% pa and<br />
are now responsible for 50% of global<br />
growth. Despite these strong growth rates<br />
and opportunities, <strong>Scotland</strong> currently<br />
exports more to Germany than any of the<br />
four BRIC countries combined.<br />
With just 5% of UK exports destined for<br />
the BRIC economies, we need to increase<br />
our global competitiveness to take<br />
advantage of these countries’ rapid pace<br />
of development and, within that, the<br />
significant business opportunities in sectors<br />
such as construction, infrastructure,<br />
education, financial services, energy, food<br />
and drink, and tourism.<br />
The Scotch Whisky industry is a model<br />
example that is blazing a trail to take<br />
advantage of the growing consumer<br />
classes in emerging high growth markets<br />
that have a high demand for quality niche<br />
products. The industry is entering a golden<br />
age, with increased global demand and<br />
international recognition.<br />
The Scotch Whisky Association estimates<br />
that 90% of Scotch Whisky sales are<br />
generated through its 200 international<br />
export markets. The increased global<br />
presence of whisky has resulted in strong<br />
export activity from emerging markets in<br />
South America, Africa, Russia, China and<br />
India. Whisky is now <strong>Scotland</strong>’s top<br />
international export and one of our great<br />
success stories.<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> is home to a wide range of<br />
industries that are demonstrating an<br />
impact across the globe. We need to<br />
recognise and build on the international<br />
achievements of key sectors such as<br />
education and engineering. Industry<br />
leaders Weir Group, Wood Group PSN,<br />
Aggreko and the Clyde Group are<br />
internationally recognised and globally<br />
renowned for their expertise.<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> also hosts world class colleges<br />
and universities with a strong global reach<br />
attracting students to <strong>Scotland</strong> who return<br />
to their home nations as Scottish<br />
ambassadors. We must capitalise<br />
collectively on these strengths and inspire<br />
global growth within other key sectors.<br />
To achieve economic prosperity in 2013<br />
and beyond, businesses must adopt an<br />
“act local, think global” mindset. With the<br />
Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup<br />
taking place in 2014, we have a once in<br />
a generation opportunity to showcase<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> and our business expertise on the<br />
world stage.<br />
Businesses must be ready to step up to<br />
take advantage. With the right approach,<br />
we will deliver sustainable economic<br />
prosperity and achieve our collective<br />
global ambitions for <strong>Scotland</strong>.<br />
[ In 2012 we directly supported Scottish business with visits<br />
to India, Brazil, China, the Middle East and North America ]<br />
[ WORLD CLASS SCOTLAND <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Development</strong><br />
[ SCDI<br />
1 Cadogan Square<br />
Cadogan Street<br />
Glasgow<br />
G2 7HF<br />
Tel: 0141 222 9722<br />
www.scdi.org.uk<br />
18<br />
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[<br />
North See Oil Rig<br />
The country of choice<br />
David Watt, executive director,<br />
Institute of Directors, <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
Companies looking to invest in jobs in the<br />
UK are more likely to choose <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
than any other part of the country<br />
Photo : Shell International Limited<br />
David Watt, executive director, Institute of Directors, <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
2012 has been another<br />
challenging year for Scottish<br />
businesses and, despite news<br />
that the UK enjoyed an<br />
economic boost in the third<br />
quarter, the Olympic lift which helped the<br />
UK to 1% growth in GDP in the third<br />
quarter has not trickled north of the border.<br />
Unfortunately, <strong>Scotland</strong> seems to be<br />
following a different cycle to the rest of<br />
the UK and, although we are seeing signs<br />
of improvement, there is a still a long way<br />
to go.<br />
In addition, one of the most important<br />
and concerning issues facing <strong>Scotland</strong> in<br />
2013 is the continuing rise in youth<br />
unemployment. Recent estimates have<br />
shown that more than 100,000 Scottish<br />
youngsters are out of work, and with a<br />
lack of quality training and employability<br />
skills for many leaving schools and<br />
universities, our workforce of the future<br />
faces a great challenge.<br />
On a more positive note unemployment<br />
in <strong>Scotland</strong> fell by 19,000 to 204,000 in<br />
the final quarter of the year - a reduction of<br />
8.5% - and our unemployment rate is<br />
below the 7.8% UK average.<br />
According to a survey by Ernst and<br />
Young, 5926 jobs were created through<br />
overseas investment in 2011, up by 50%<br />
on 2010 and the figures put <strong>Scotland</strong> at<br />
the top of the jobs table for the second<br />
year running. It is extremely encouraging<br />
that companies looking to invest in jobs in<br />
the UK are more likely to choose <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
than any other part of the country. In terms<br />
of inward investment in 2012, Swiss<br />
software company Avaloq showed its<br />
confidence in <strong>Scotland</strong> and in February<br />
opened the doors to its new development<br />
centre in Edinburgh, which will create 500<br />
jobs over the next four years. The number<br />
of new firms starting up in <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
continues to increase, and there are now<br />
numerous initiatives to help kick-start<br />
business growth and stimulate investment.<br />
Most recently came the news that the<br />
Entrepreneurial Spark initiative is opening<br />
in Edinburgh following its success as a<br />
stimulating start-up incubator for<br />
developing cooperation amongst<br />
entrepreneurs.<br />
Many of our business leaders have been<br />
steering through choppy waters for some<br />
time, they realise that strong leadership<br />
and direction is what is required to survive<br />
the storm. While there is still some way to<br />
go until confidence returns, it’s important<br />
we don’t lose sight of the fact there are<br />
still opportunities out there. Our traditional<br />
markets are all feeling the strain, but there<br />
are many countries across the globe that<br />
continue to prosper and represent an<br />
opportunity for Scottish companies.<br />
In a fiercely competitive global economy,<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong>’s economic prosperity depends<br />
on our success as an outward-looking and<br />
enterprising nation. We need to set<br />
ourselves ambitious targets for growth,<br />
and the onus is on us all to show the<br />
necessary leadership to help build a<br />
stronger economic future for the country.<br />
There are some areas where <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
is progressing and despite financial and<br />
global challenges the country is making<br />
significant steps forward with opportunities<br />
to grow now and in the future.<br />
Building on the enormous strength of the<br />
North Sea and the reputation that<br />
Aberdeen has developed as a world<br />
centre for energy, <strong>Scotland</strong> is a genuine<br />
world leader in many aspects of this<br />
industry. Even the latest gas production<br />
techniques in fracking have sizeable<br />
expertise based in this country.<br />
There is of course a link with this to the<br />
ever-expanding renewable energy industry<br />
and <strong>Scotland</strong> has been recognised by<br />
many inward investors as a world player<br />
in this aspect of energy production.<br />
We have witnessed fantastic<br />
developments this year, like the Waldorf<br />
brand coming to Edinburgh, as well as<br />
Glasgow quickly becoming one of the<br />
UK’s leading event centres. And as<br />
Glasgow 2014 fast approaches,<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong>’s reputation for international<br />
events can only grow further.<br />
Specialist engineering, while facing<br />
real difficulties such as the rate of Euro<br />
exchange, is another area where <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
has long had some very special people<br />
and companies, and this continues into<br />
the 21st Century.<br />
Add to this the reputation of our fantastic<br />
universities and there is genuine<br />
justification for a belief that <strong>Scotland</strong> can<br />
survive and thrive. It is clearly not all doom<br />
and gloom, as despite the problems for<br />
the nation’s economy we have great<br />
people who will ensure we will prosper<br />
despite the challenging world in which<br />
we operate.<br />
[ While there is still some way to go until confidence returns, it’s important<br />
we don’t lose sight of the fact there are still opportunities out there ]<br />
[ WORLD CLASS SCOTLAND <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Development</strong><br />
[ IOD <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
29 Abercromby Place<br />
Edinburgh EH3 6QE<br />
Tel: 0131 557 5488<br />
Fax: 0131 557 5818<br />
Email: iod.scotland@iod.com<br />
www.iodscotland.com<br />
20<br />
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[<br />
V & A Building, Dundee<br />
<strong>World</strong> class cities look<br />
forward to success<br />
Donald Anderson, Director of PPS <strong>Scotland</strong>,<br />
and former Council Leader of Edinburgh<br />
How <strong>Scotland</strong>’s increasingly successful<br />
and sustainable cities are welcoming<br />
and nurturing investment<br />
Donald Anderson, Director of PPS <strong>Scotland</strong>, and<br />
former Council Leader of Edinburgh<br />
Despite the economic woes that<br />
have affected <strong>Scotland</strong> every<br />
bit as much as elsewhere in<br />
the world, <strong>Scotland</strong>’s cities are<br />
looking forward with optimism<br />
to 2013. Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh<br />
and Glasgow all have exciting<br />
developments and opportunities coming<br />
forward that will help drive growth and<br />
wealth creation.<br />
In Aberdeen, <strong>Scotland</strong>’s Energy Capital,<br />
the economy has barely slowed<br />
in the downturn. Unemployment is<br />
extraordinarily low at little more than<br />
2%, and the city was recently judged<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong>’s strongest performing city by<br />
PriceWaterhouseCoopers.<br />
Aberdeen’s success is driven by energy,<br />
and it has been developing new strengths<br />
in low carbon, hydrogen and renewable<br />
sectors. Business parks in the city are so<br />
busy responding to enquiries that it is hard<br />
to believe that we are in the midst of<br />
economic stagnation, and the city’s tourism<br />
industry is growing fast on the back of<br />
substantial numbers of business travellers.<br />
A £50 million fund will transform<br />
Aberdeen, developing a superfast<br />
broadband hub.<br />
Dundee already boasts one of Europe’s<br />
key hubs for the development of life<br />
sciences, and Dundee University has<br />
developed high profile collaborations<br />
with Oxford and Stockholm to advance<br />
knowledge the function of body proteins.<br />
The city is also reinventing its waterfront<br />
with a new flagship V&A Museum with<br />
£1 billion of investment in more than 240<br />
acres of land targeted for regeneration.<br />
Dundee looks destined for bigger and<br />
better things in 2013.<br />
In Edinburgh, the nation’s capital, the<br />
mood is optimistic as well. Tourism<br />
continues to go from strength to strength,<br />
boasting world beating occupancy levels<br />
that will encourage more investment in<br />
hotels and restaurants. Key sites are being<br />
developed, with major new hotels being<br />
built in the heart of the city in Princes Street<br />
and at South Bridge on a site once<br />
devastated by a fire that attracted<br />
worldwide attention.<br />
The city’s famous conference centre,<br />
the Edinburgh International Conference<br />
Centre, is being expanded to create some<br />
of the best conference facilities in Europe.<br />
The city’s tram project is also nearing<br />
completion, and trams are expected to<br />
further boost investment.<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong>’s largest city economy is<br />
Glasgow. A traditional industrial<br />
powerhouse, Glasgow is evolving to<br />
create one of the UK’s most successful and<br />
diverse economies. 2013 is the year of<br />
delivery as Glasgow gears up to host the<br />
Commonwealth Games in 2014, and aims<br />
to repeat London’s success hosting major<br />
sporting events.<br />
But there is more going on than that,<br />
with Europe’s biggest hospital development<br />
taking place at the Southern General, and<br />
the city is leading the way in combined<br />
heat and power with two major energyfrom-waste<br />
projects in the pipeline.<br />
Glasgow is also putting the finishing<br />
touches this year to its Hydro development,<br />
which will be a world beating music<br />
venue.<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong>’s stunning scenery is well<br />
known. But <strong>Scotland</strong>’s cities are no less<br />
stunning and have successfully created<br />
strong, vibrant city economies. <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
is more, much more than its beautiful<br />
landscape - it is a modern and vibrant<br />
country with increasingly successful and<br />
sustainable cities that welcome and<br />
nurture investment.<br />
SCOTLAND<br />
• Has two of the UK’s strongest<br />
performing tourism markets in<br />
Edinburgh and Aberdeen, where<br />
occupancy levels show scope for<br />
much more investment.<br />
• Is home to the UK’s second biggest<br />
retail destination in Glasgow,<br />
another key UK tourism destination.<br />
• Has many leading higher<br />
education institutions, with leading<br />
centres in life sciences in Dundee<br />
and Edinburgh.<br />
• Has a highly qualified workforce,<br />
with cities like Edinburgh, where<br />
44% of the population is educated<br />
to degree level, compared to the<br />
UK average of 28%.<br />
• Is very competitive in terms of<br />
costs, with property costs up to<br />
one third cheaper than London<br />
and the South East of England.<br />
[ Business parks in the city are so busy responding to enquiries that<br />
it is hard to believe that we are in the midst of economic stagnation ]<br />
[ WORLD CLASS SCOTLAND <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Development</strong><br />
[ PPS Group<br />
27 George Street<br />
Edinburgh EH2 2PA<br />
Tel: 0131 226 1951<br />
www.ppsgroup.co.uk<br />
22<br />
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[<br />
Listed in good company<br />
Alasdair Northrop, Editor,<br />
Scottish Business Insider<br />
Across the sectors, the list of companies which<br />
are punching above their weight in <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
remains impressive<br />
Alasdair Northrop, Editor, Scottish Business Insider<br />
The base for <strong>Scotland</strong>’s economy<br />
has changed dramatically over<br />
the past few decades, enabling<br />
the country to punch above its<br />
weight in many ways.<br />
Undoubtedly, the biggest single boost<br />
has come from the oil and gas bonanza in<br />
the North Sea which now provides jobs for<br />
thousands of people, mostly in the north<br />
east of <strong>Scotland</strong> though other parts of the<br />
country are also benefitting.<br />
The importance of oil and gas is clearly<br />
reflected in Scottish Business Insider<br />
magazine’s listing of the Top 500<br />
companies providing 50.8% of its total<br />
profits and 13.6% of turnover.<br />
Oil and gas related companies saw an<br />
impressive 27.4% jump in profits, a 17%<br />
increase in total turnover and a 10%<br />
increase in employment numbers.<br />
Some 16 of the Top 50 companies - a<br />
list of the Top 100 is on pages 132-135 -<br />
are oil and gas related. Most of them are<br />
owned by UK or overseas companies with<br />
the highly successful John Wood Group<br />
being the biggest Scottish-owned operator<br />
in the sector.<br />
John Wood has operations throughout<br />
the globe and employs nearly 28,000<br />
people.<br />
However we cannot ignore the many<br />
other sectors in the Top 500 whose<br />
combined efforts generated total profits<br />
of £10 billion on turnover of £176.5bn.<br />
Between them, they employ some 721,795<br />
people.<br />
One of the most important sectors in<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> remains financial services,<br />
despite the recent global turmoil and<br />
indeed the number one company in the<br />
Top 500 is Standard Life.<br />
Standard Life, which has some six<br />
million customers around the world, made<br />
a profit of £595 million in its latest full year<br />
results on turnover of £9.08 billion.<br />
Other financial service companies in the<br />
Top 50 include Scottish Widows which is<br />
a subsidiary of the Lloyds Banking Group,<br />
Tesco Bank, which has its headquarters<br />
in Edinburgh and Aberdeen Asset<br />
Management which is a hugely successful<br />
fund manager.<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> is also headquarters to two of<br />
the UK’s biggest players in public transport<br />
- Aberdeen-based FirstGroup and Perthbased<br />
Stagecoach and both of them are<br />
in the top 10 of the Top 500.<br />
You cannot talk about <strong>Scotland</strong> without<br />
mentioning whisky and the Top 50 includes<br />
Scottish family-owned William Grant &<br />
Sons, Edrington, whose brands include<br />
Famous Grouse, and Chivas Brothers,<br />
which is a subsidiary of French drinks<br />
giant Pernod Ricard.<br />
One characteristic of the owners of<br />
many Scottish family-owned companies<br />
is that they prefer to keep a low public<br />
profile and a perfect example is retail<br />
chain Farmfoods. It has enjoyed huge<br />
success across the UK, particularly as<br />
more shoppers become budget-conscious<br />
in the current economic climate.<br />
Manufacturing is also alive and well in<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> with one of the best examples<br />
being Falkirk-based Alexander Dennis<br />
which makes buses and coaches.<br />
In this article, I have really only just<br />
skimmed the surface of corporate <strong>Scotland</strong><br />
and you can find out a lot more about the<br />
Top 500 companies and many other<br />
aspects of Scottish business in my<br />
magazine, Scottish Business Insider.<br />
We have just launched a fantastic new<br />
app which enables you to receive the<br />
magazine digitally and to find out more<br />
about it simply go to<br />
http://www.business7.co.uk/insidermagazine/trialapp/<br />
[ WORLD CLASS SCOTLAND <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Development</strong><br />
[ Scottish Business Insider<br />
Scottish Business Insider Group<br />
One Central Quay<br />
Glasgow<br />
G3 8DA<br />
www.insider.co.uk<br />
24<br />
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[<br />
Perth, Invest in <strong>Scotland</strong>’s newest city<br />
Beautiful Perth is proving once again that it has great<br />
things to offer to businesses both big and small<br />
It may be renowned for its breathtaking<br />
scenery, rich history and agricultural<br />
heritage but Perthshire offers cutting<br />
edge opportunities for UK and<br />
international businesses. It’s a place<br />
where hugely successful international<br />
companies such as Scottish and Southern<br />
Energy, Stagecoach and Aviva sit side<br />
by side with dynamic small businesses,<br />
specialised rural industries and sole-trading<br />
artisan craftsmen and women.<br />
Despite the challenging economic<br />
climate, Perthshire has continued to enjoy<br />
much positive development across the<br />
county.<br />
The St John’s Shopping Centre in the<br />
heart of Perth was recently bought over by<br />
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).<br />
USS are now moving ahead with a multimillion<br />
pound refurbishment which will<br />
move the centre on to two levels and<br />
significantly increase the available retail<br />
space. With big name retailers already<br />
confirmed as new tenants post<br />
refurbishment this development is sure to<br />
attract further big names into Perth City<br />
Centre thus further underlining Perth’s<br />
credentials as a leading shopping<br />
destination.<br />
Meanwhile, just across the river,<br />
Balhousie Care Group is building a new<br />
facility on the site of the former Tayside<br />
Care Home. This will be a major<br />
development comprising two 60-bed care<br />
homes, a training and administration<br />
centre, assisted living units and several<br />
residential dwellings.<br />
This is a further development of the<br />
company’s presence in Perth. It recently<br />
established its new headquarters at Earn<br />
House, within Broxden Business Park, a<br />
seven-acre site near the M90 and the A9<br />
which is also home to Lloyds Banking<br />
Group and Scottish Government offices.<br />
At the edge of Perth, local design and<br />
build specialists Algo have recently<br />
developed Inveralmond Business Centre<br />
fuelled by demand following the high<br />
occupancy of their Algo Business Centre in<br />
Perth. The Inveralmond Business Centre<br />
consists of 8000 square feet of office<br />
accommodation plus 18,000 square feet<br />
of warehousing and a 4500 square foot<br />
dispatch warehouse.<br />
Commercial property investment is not<br />
restricted to the city of Perth. In rural<br />
Perthshire, Sainsbury’s will shortly be<br />
opening its new supermarket in Pitlochry<br />
following the acquisition of ground on the<br />
edge of the town. The store will have an<br />
area of 2417 sq m (26,016 sq ft). Tesco<br />
will shortly begin building its new store in<br />
Crieff which will have an area of 3425 sq<br />
m (36,866 sq ft).<br />
Perthshire’s unrivalled accessibility is one<br />
of the chief reasons that businesses thrive<br />
Broxden Business Park<br />
here. Its position at the very centre of<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> is ideal, with 90% of <strong>Scotland</strong>’s<br />
population within a 90 minute drive and,<br />
with virtually all of the major road routes<br />
passing through Perth, nowhere in<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong> is better connected.<br />
Perthshire further benefits from quick and<br />
easy access to <strong>Scotland</strong>’s major airports.<br />
Edinburgh International Airport is just a 45<br />
minute drive while Glasgow International is<br />
just over an hour away. Dundee airport is<br />
only 20 minutes away by car and offers<br />
several flights to London every day.<br />
Superb rail links complete the picture<br />
with Perth occupying a key place in<br />
<strong>Scotland</strong>’s rail network as a major junction<br />
north of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Regular<br />
services are available to Glasgow,<br />
Edinburgh, London and Inverness.<br />
Costs of office accommodation,<br />
commercial space and business support<br />
charges make running a business from<br />
Perthshire very competitive. Long gone are<br />
the days when businesses needed to locate<br />
in a major city for success. Modern<br />
communications mean that businesses can<br />
now have it all - quality accommodation in<br />
a picturesque location that can offer a<br />
higher quality of life for their workforce.<br />
This rapid advance of new<br />
communications technology has opened up<br />
an abundance of new opportunities right<br />
across the Big County. Rural areas have<br />
seen significant growth as entrepreneurs<br />
take advantage of the way modern<br />
business is conducted to move to an area<br />
where they can achieve a high quality of<br />
life as well as healthy profits.<br />
In terms of digital connectivity, in late<br />
2011 BT announced major investment in<br />
the broadband infrastructure for Perth<br />
and the towns of Crieff, Kinross and<br />
Blairgowrie including the installation<br />
of fibre networks.<br />
Perth and Kinross Council and its<br />
partners work hard to ensure that the<br />
necessary infrastructure is available<br />
through the supply of serviced land and<br />
buildings and that the area has a well<br />
trained and well equipped workforce<br />
ready to meet the demands of business.<br />
A range of accommodation is available,<br />
varying from small commercial, industrial<br />
and retail units suitable for start up<br />
businesses through to larger premises for<br />
well-established companies seeking room<br />
for further growth.<br />
Perth and Kinross Council also has a<br />
dedicated business support team available<br />
to offer help and advice to businesses.<br />
With the sustainability of businesses being<br />
a key Perth & Kinross Council and national<br />
objective, the Business Growth team offers<br />
crucial on-going support to its clients. The<br />
team provides a high quality and clientfocused<br />
business support service which<br />
aims to meet the needs of businesses<br />
with growth potential in Perth & Kinross.<br />
As part of this on-going commitment<br />
to supporting local business growth and<br />
development, Perth & Kinross Council has<br />
also introduced a number of financial<br />
investment packages for businesses.<br />
Details of this support can be found at<br />
www.pkc.gov.uk or you can contact the<br />
Business Growth team 01738 475000<br />
or BusinessGrowth@pkc.gov.uk<br />
26<br />
[ Perthshire’s unrivalled<br />
accessibility is one of the chief<br />
reasons that businesses thrive ]<br />
[ Perth & Kinross Council<br />
Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth PH1 5GD<br />
Contact: Stuart Oliver<br />
Inward Investment and Marketing Officer<br />
Email: soliver@pkc.gov.uk<br />
Tel: 01738 477959<br />
www.investinperth.co.uk<br />
[ WORLD CLASS SCOTLAND <strong>Economic</strong> <strong>Development</strong><br />
27<br />
[<br />
Perth City