Scottish Enterprise drives another record year of Scottish exports

The findings are one of several highlights from Scottish Enterprise’s 2025/26 annual report. Together, the results demonstrate the impact Scotland’s national economic development agency is having on Scotland’s economy. The agency’s targeted support helps businesses to innovate, secure investment, increase international exports and accelerate the transition to net zero. It remains committed to supporting those opportunities that will deliver greatest economic impact for Scotland. 

During 2025/26, Scottish Enterprise achieved or exceeded target ranges across most of its key performance measures, helping businesses access the expertise, investment and connections needed to realise their growth ambitions, while bringing together partners across Scotland’s economic development landscape to unlock opportunities for growth.  

The results were announced following a visit to Stirling-based CAVU Aerospace UK, a Scottish space engineering company developing mission-critical technologies for satellites and deep-space missions. With support from Scottish Enterprise, the company expanded its international reach and generated more than £7.5 million in export sales during 2025/26, securing contracts across Europe, Asia, America and the Middle East. 

Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “Scottish Enterprise has delivered another strong performance, meeting key targets by drawing on established strengths in internationalisation, innovation and investment and creating significant economic impact for Scotland. We’re delivering regionally, nationally and internationally for Scotland’s economy. 

“Companies across Scotland continue to show ambition, innovation and resilience, and are expanding into international markets, developing new technologies, creating high-quality jobs and securing investment that will create future growth. CAVU is a fantastic example of this, and it was great to visit them and hear about their ambitious growth plans. It’s exciting to see CAVU strengthen Scotland’s expanding space sector with its capabilities and growing international experience.” 

Other notable results from Scottish Enterprise include: 

• Over 12,450 new and safeguarded Real Living Wage jobs, including almost 5,000 higher-paid roles   

• £348 million in growth funding leveraged by Scottish businesses 

• £355 million in innovation investment, helping businesses develop and commercialise new technologies 

• More than £1 billion in business capital expenditure, supporting investment in facilities, equipment and future growth 
• 518,000 tonnes of CO2 savings through supported businesses and projects 

The challenges facing businesses globally have impacted major investment decisions. Despite this, Scottish Enterprise helped businesses create and safeguard over 12,450 jobs for Scotland. This figure is slightly below the agency’s expectations for the year and represents a strong performance in the current climate. 

Adrian added: “We’ve delivered this performance while contributing to the Scottish Government’s Public Service Reform agenda, creating savings to invest in digital and AI capability to develop new approaches to support businesses that will ultimately deliver even greater economic impact for Scotland.” 

Dr Ali Maani, Chief Engineer at CAVU Aerospace UK, said: “Scottish Enterprise has played an important role in helping us promote Made-in-Scotland at global space events, supporting our journey into international markets and contributing to our involvement in ground-breaking space missions worldwide. 

“Today, we export high-tech products like flight computers and cameras to space agencies, prime contractors, satellite companies and universities across the USA, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Europe and beyond. 

“We are ambitious to grow further and contribute more in space missions to help humanity expand our understanding of the universe and materialise multiplanetary life by delivering world-class space technology from Scotland.” 

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Stephen Flynn, said: “The ability of Scottish companies to grow both domestically and internationally is critical to Scotland’s economic growth. So I warmly welcome Scottish Enterprise’s ability to secure £2.15 billion in export sales last year. At a time of heightened challenge in global trading, this is a resounding endorsement of the resilience and ambition of our Scottish businesses, and the high quality goods and services they sell around the world.”