Claim new bridge will add to Rosyth’s appeal to major businesses

ECONOMY: Backing for Gateway initiative to highlight area’s advantages for business

The new Queensferry Crossing will help a Fife town market itself as an ideal location for some of the planet’s biggest employers, it has been claimed.

Following yesterday’s official opening of the bridge, Babcock International Group, Forth Ports and Scarborough Muir Group have all backed Fife Council’s Gateway Rosyth initiative to showcase the town as a business destination.

Fife councillor Altany Craik said yesterday’s official opening would only help to enhance the reputation of the town – with its array of road and marine links – among enterprise.

He said: “Gateway Rosyth is perfectly suited to marine, energy, logistics and engineering companies, and we want the world to know it is the ideal place for businesses to locate, invest and prosper.

“There has been significant investment in site infrastructure in recent years to allow for the construction of the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and the newly opened Queensferry Crossing.

“Babcock Rosyth now boasts the UK’s largest non-tidal deep-water basin and operates Scotland’s only direct freight ferry service to Europe.

“I firmly believe that there is no better location for UK businesses with global aspirations, or for multinational companies looking to improve their operations.”

In addition to the three landowners, multinational companies operating in the Rosyth area include Oceaneering, Parsons Peebles, QinetiQ, Marine Harvest and TechnipFMC, as well as Amazon, Sainsbury’s Bank and Sky.

With more than 6,000 people working across various businesses, the town is also home to the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier programme, with the second of two giant vessels still undergoing construction.

While a freight ferry to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge sails several times a week, local MP Douglas Chapman said last month that there would be a market for the return of a passenger service to the Continent.

Ceased in 2010 due to insufficient passenger demand, Mr Chapman added that Britain’s pending withdrawal from the European Union meant that now was an ideal time to strengthen ties with mainland Europe.

. . . there is no better location for UK businesses with global aspirations, or for multinational companies looking to improve their operations. COUNCILLOR ALTANY CRAIK

Picture: Peter Devlin. Excited by the Gateway Rosyth initiative, from left: Charles Hammond of Forth Ports, Craig Watt of Scottish Enterprise, Lindsey Methven of Fife Council, William McAlister of Scarborough Muir Group, and Ian Donnelly of Babcock International Group.