SDI says it helped provide 7000 jobs
Body assisted firms to access overseas markets
SCOTTISH Development International estimates its trade and investment activity created or safeguarded more than 7000 jobs over the past year as it helped companies including turbine manufacturer Gamesa and pharmaceutical company Glaxosmithkline expand in Scotland.
The organisation, a joint venture between the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said in the 2011/12 financial year it helped 1000 “high potential” companies – those operating in sectors in which Scotland is strong – gain access to overseas markets.
Its annual results, published today, also showed it assisted 190 companies on new international projects with a projected growth of £733 million in sales over the next three years, compared to the £405m achieved the previous year.
SDI chief executive Anne Maccoll said: “We know that a strong international strategy can completely transform a business by helping it to increase productivity, improve innovation performance and diversify its customer base. Equally important is building on Scotland’s success as a global location. Scotland has an outstanding international reputation and investments last year alone from global companies such as Avaloq, Samsung Heavy Industries and Gamesa are testament to this.”
SDI reported that more than 1800 of the 7000 planned jobs created or safeguarded last year were high-value jobs defined as those in research and development or paying more than £34,000 a year.
Almost £22m of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) support for projects with a planned expenditure of almost £163m was offered to more than 30 inward investors, SDI said, to locate or grow their operations in Scotland.
Among the developments was the opening by Gamesa of the £12.5m Offshore Wind Technology Centre at Strathclyde Business Park in Bellshill.
Glaxosmithkline, meanwhile, announced it will spend £100m expanding its sites in Montrose and Irvine.
Other companies, including Fraserburgh-based craft brewer Brewdog and Perthshire ice cream maker Mackies, were helped to expand.
Ms Maccoll said: “It’s in these tough times that we need businesses to dig deep and set themselves apart from competition.”