Scotland’s fast growing craft brewing industry has received a boost with the announcement of 11 new jobs in two emerging independent breweries as a result of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) funding from Scottish Enterprise.
This latest announcement coincides with a trade mission for Scotland’s craft brewing industry to Hong Kong next week which will be attended by 14 companies, led by Scottish Development International, the international arm of Scotland’s enterprise agencies.
Craft brewers 71 Brewing and Fierce Beer, have been awarded combined RSA funding of £120,000 as part of a total planned capital investment of over £600,000 which will support the creation of 11 new jobs. Both companies have been supported through Business Gateway in recent years to help them develop strategies for growth, and these RSA awards represent a major step in their development.
There are currently over 100 craft breweries operating across Scotland, with numbers increasing on a monthly basis, servicing both a growing market in the UK and oversees. The UK premium bottled ale market, for example, is worth an estimated £490 million – up 10.5% year on year, with estimates that this will grow to over £1bn by 2020.
The trade mission to Hong Kong will give Scottish craft brewers and distillers access to like-minded brewers, industry experts, buyers and importers who can offer advice on breaking into the fast growing Hong Kong and Chinese markets.
Danny Cusick, sector portfolio director of Food and Drink at Scottish Enterprise said: “Scotland has a long heritage of success in Food and Drink and it is now one of Scotland’s most important sectors generating exports of almost £5 billion annually.
“The Craft Brewing industry in Scotland has been a huge success story in recent years providing opportunities for companies to produce a wide range of distinctive and innovative products that are exported all over the world. For example, we’ve seen innovations such as using whisky casks to age beers or flavouring them with heather, giving a unique edge to Scotland’s products.
“Both this latest funding announcement and the trade mission show how the industry is being supported by Scottish Enterprise and its partners to take advantage of growing consumer demand for craft beer across the globe.”
71 Brewing Limited, based in Dundee, has been awarded RSA of £90,000, towards a total investment of £446,000 which will support the creation of eight new jobs.
Fierce Beer Limited, based in Aberdeen, has been awarded RSA of £30,000 towards a total investment of £166,500 which will support the creation of three new jobs
Companies & organisations on the trade mission include:
- Brewmeister
- Clan Brewing Company Limited
- Craft Beer Clan of Scotland
- Deeside Brewery
- The Glasgow Distillery Company Limited
- The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company/Inveralmond Brewery
- Lerwick Brewery
- Loch Lomond Brewery
- Orkney Brewery
- Spey Valley Brewery
- Strathearn Distillery Ltd
- Swannay Brewery
- Thistly Cross Cider
- VC2 Brands