Travel and leisure company announces plans for new Glasgow HQ
Scottish Enterprise has announced today (Thursday 10th November) that Minoan Group Plc (“Minoan”), the AIM listed travel and leisure company intends to establish a new head office in Glasgow with plans to create up to 52 full time jobs over the next three years.
The new head office will support Minoan’s strategy of becoming an industry leading travel business through the creation of clusters of regional travel businesses, the first cluster being in Scotland.
Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise are supporting the company with Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) support of up to £500,000.
Christopher Egleton Chairman of Minoan said:
“We really appreciate the support given by Scottish Enterprise with this venture. It is our intention to build a travel business of substance in addition to the creation of the Group’s major leisure resort in Crete. Whilst the majority of our customers will be from the rest of the UK, Glasgow is a first class city to host our head office function.
“There is a strong labour pool, the city infrastructure lends itself to easy access to staff and communications for our senior team are excellent for the rest of the UK and around the world.
“The costs of operation in Scotland are more competitive than in other parts of the UK and we anticipate creating a good number of job opportunities over the next three years.”
Welcoming the announcement Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said:
"This Government is working hard to increase sustainable economic growth across Scotland, and that is why I am delighted the Minoan Group has chosen to establish its headquarters in Glasgow.
“This company has ambitious plans to expand within the UK and overseas tourism sectors and it’s exciting that they are doing that from a Scottish base, showing that they have faith in the local workforce to help them achieve their aims.
"This venture will provide a boost to the local economy by creating up to 52 new jobs. It will also have a role in helping this Government meet its ambitious target to create sustainable economic growth for Scotland.”
Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise said:
"Minoan Group is a great example of a proactive, forward-thinking company which, by deciding to locate in Scotland, will create new jobs and boost the Scottish economy.
“This is an exciting time for the company and we look forward to working with the team there as they develop their ambitious growth plans for Scotland.”
Notes to editors:
The RSA is paid to Minoan dependent on criteria being met and will be used to reimburse Minoan for certain specific capital expenditures and salary costs incurred by it. The award will be payable in instalments once specific milestones are met for capital expenditure, jobs and associated salary costs.
Regional Selective Assistance
RSA (Regional Selective Assistance) is the main national scheme of financial assistance to industry and is administered by Scottish Enterprise. It provides discretionary grants to investment projects that will create and safeguard employment in areas designated for regional aid under European Community law.
Payment of RSA is made in instalments, typically over several years as job and capital expenditure targets are met.