A proposed £35m Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University could add £53.4m a year to Scotland’s economy by its tenth year of operations, according to an assessment by BiGGAR Economics. The report projects support for 260 net additional jobs compared with continuing without the investment.
Heriot-Watt is seeking £25.3m from industry alongside £9.7m in public investment to deliver the facility at its Edinburgh campus. The proposed centre would expand capacity for research, teaching and collaboration with the brewing and distilling sector.
The assessment projects a total annual impact of £324.8m in gross value added and 1,570 jobs supported across Scotland by year ten. Those totals include activity that would continue without the investment; the £53.4m and 260-job figures represent the additional impact of the new centre.
Planned facilities include brewing and distilling equipment, advanced research laboratories, low-carbon technology development space and a sensory suite. The proposal also includes facilities to support carbon capture and renewable energy integration.
The new centre would build on Heriot-Watt’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, which has supported the sector for nearly 40 years. BiGGAR Economics estimates that the existing centre generated £240.1m in Scottish gross value added and supported 1,180 jobs in 2024/25.
Professor Chris Turney, deputy principal of research and innovation at Heriot-Watt University, said: “BiGGAR Economics’ independent assessment provides a huge vote of confidence in our vision for a new Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling.”
He added: “Our vision is firmly grounded in economic reality. Now we can build a new era for brewing and distilling, driven by sustainability and excellence, and keep Scotland where it belongs: a global leader in both.”
The report estimates £201.9m in additional economic activity over ten years, measured in discounted present value. Compared with the proposed £9.7m public contribution, that equates to £20.80 in economic benefit for each £1 of public investment.
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Ewan Andrew, Diageo’s president global supply chain and procurement and chief sustainability officer, who co-chairs the centre’s fundraising committee, said: “What this economic impact assessment demonstrates is the potential value to Scotland and the UK that Heriot-Watt University can deliver with a commitment from government to back this new world-class facility.
“Together, industry investment, philanthropy, government and academic excellence can build resilience and growth opportunities at a speed and scale none of us can achieve alone.”
