Scotland’s history of proud nationalism goes hand in hand with a canny record of global trade and internationalism: Scots were a leading force in the British Empire, and there’ll be plenty of thistle-bearing support Down Under for the team at Rugby World Cup 2003.

Now with its own devolved Executive and regional tax-raising powers, Scotland is a modern, advanced country with world-leading IT, research and educational systems. Leading companies from around the world have learned to appreciate its high-quality workforce, advantages, and exceptional quality of life.

More than 900 foreign-owned companies serve their European and global customers from bases in Scotland, including Motorola, Compaq, NEC, IBM and Sun Microsystems.

Financial centre. With traditional strengths in insurance, banking and finance, Scotland is the second financial centre of the UK and one of Europe’s top 10. The industry employs 5% of the Scottish workforce and controls more than £338bn in institutional equities. Further consolidating this position, more than £200m is being invested to create a financial district in Glasgow – the city rated ‘Best City in Europe’ for cost of staff and office space.

Biotechnology. Growing at 30% a year, Scotland’s biotechnology industry is one of the most vibrant in Europe with more than 400 organisations and 20,000 people involved in the industry.

Electronics. The major growth area in Scottish manufacturing during the last decade, Scotland hosts some of the world’s leading electronic companies, including IBM and Sun Microsystems. Scotland produces 30% of Europe’s branded PCs, nearly 80% of its workstations, 65% of its ATMs and more than half of its notebook computers. The central lowlands between Glasgow in the west and Edinburgh in the east have become known as ‘Silicon Glen’, home to a thriving IT and communications cluster, as well as 80% of the country’s population.

Manufacturing. Manufacturing accounts for almost 20% of Scottish employment and nearly 70% of Scottish exports. The Scottish aerospace industry continues to draw investment – home to four major airports, Scotland also houses key facilities for Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Thales, Raytheon, GE and US aerospace giant Goodrich Corporation, which recently announced it would build a £9m repair and overhaul facility in Ayrshire Aerospace Park, complementing its facility near Glasgow Prestwick International Airport.

Oil and gas. Oil and gas has played a major part in Scotland’s economy since the mid-1960s. The industry employs 6% of the Scottish workforce in some 2000 companies. Of these 116,000 jobs, about 75,000 are in the Grampian region, making the north-east of Scotland the most prosperous UK region outside England’s South East.

Austrade London
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