Heriot-Watt's new brewing centre could boost Scotland's economy and jobs
A proposed £35m Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University could generate about £53.4m a year for Scotland’s economy, BiGGAR Economics estimates. The centre would sit beside the National Robotarium and seeks £25.3m from industry and £9.7m from public funds; BiGGAR notes that for every £1 of public funding, about £20.80 of economic benefit could be unlocked. The assessment says CABD would sustain and develop Scotland’s brewing and distilling sectors and help meet 21st century challenges, including achieving net zero by 2040 and addressing rising input costs. In 2024/25, Heriot-Watt’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling generated £240.1m GVA for Scotland and supported 1,180 jobs. BiGGAR’s ten-year projection for CABD foresees £324.8m GVA per year and around 1,570 jobs. The report quotes Prof Chris Turney of Heriot-Watt and Diageo’s Ewan Andrew emphasising the need for government backing alongside industry investment to realise the centre’s potential. Source: Beer Today
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