RSA secures 5300 jobs for Scotland

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants helped to create or safeguard over 5300 jobs across Scotland during 2009/2010, Scottish Enterprise announced today (30 June), as it published its first annual report on RSA.

The report shows that during 2009/10, businesses across a range of sectors in Scotland accepted 107 RSA offers totalling over £53.4m.

The largest single award made during 2009/10 was to Welcon Towers Limited (now known as Skykon Towers Limited) which received £9.2m to set up a facility to design, develop and manufacture renewable wind energy products. The project is expected to create 300 new jobs in Campbeltown in Argyll.

Other large offers accepted during 2009/10 include a £7.6m award for INEOS Manufacturing Scotland Limited to safeguard 551 jobs at a manufacturing facility in Grangemouth, and £4.6m for SmithKline Beecham PLC to safeguard 331 manufacturing jobs in Ayrshire.

Although the value of RSA grants accepted during 2009/10 has risen by only 2.5% (from £52.1m in 2008/09), the number of companies benefiting from the funding has risen from 88 last year to 107 in 2009/10. Furthermore, the number of jobs secured as a result of RSA funding year on year has increased 6% from 5000 to 5300.

From a regional perspective Ayrshire was the big winner, with a combined £10.3m of RSA awards accepted, signifying the planned creation or safeguarding of 1163 jobs in the area and giving a welcome economic boost to the region.

Small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) accounted for 78 (73%) of the accepted RSA offers with total grant in excess of £13.2m. These projects involve planned investment of nearly £36m with the aim of creating or maintaining over 1500 jobs.

The number of offers accepted by non-Scottish owned companies has also risen from 30 in 2008/09 to 50 in 2009/10, showing that Scotland remains attractive to inward investors.

Commenting on the report, Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “I’m pleased to see the huge role that RSA has played in encouraging so many companies to expand their operations in Scotland, particularly during what has been a very difficult economic period.

“As a result of this funding, these companies have secured over 5300 jobs for Scotland. Thanks to this, and the additional support provided by Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International, these organisations will go on to become even more innovative, productive and globally ambitious, delivering more for Scotland’s economy as a result.”

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather added: “It is encouraging to see so many companies in Scotland expanding and creating new jobs with the support of Regional Selective Assistance throughout a challenging year for the economy.

“Many of the jobs are associated with manufacturing and the development of a low carbon economy – something our future success as a nation depends on. The support Scottish Enterprise and Scottish International Development are providing, both for ambitious home-grown Scottish companies and inward investors, is invaluable.

“The challenge now is to capitalise on our strengths, taking advantage of tools such as RSA to help maintain the fragile recovery that is underway and increase sustainable economic growth.”

Scottish Enterprise has been administering RSA funding under its own legislative powers since October 2009, when it took over responsibility for RSA and SMART:SCOTLAND funding from the Scottish Government.

The full annual RSA report can be accessed at: http://www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/1137.201.322.html