A new £35m Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling (CABD) at Heriot-Watt University could generate an additional £53.4m for the Scottish economy every year, according to new findings.
According to an economic impact assessment from Biggar, the CABD could be generating a total economic impact of £324.8m Gross Value Added (GVA) per year for Scotland as well as 1,570 jobs within 10 years.
It would also continue the success of Heriot-Watt’s acclaimed International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD), which has been a driving force behind the success of the brewing and distilling sector for nearly 40 years. In 2024/25 alone, the ICBD generated £240.1m GVA for the Scottish economy and supported 1,180 jobs.
In order to build the new CABD, Heriot-Watt is looking to unlock £25.3m from industry as well as £9.7m in public investment. In terms of the latter figure, Biggar’s assessment states the CABD could deliver £20.80 of economic benefit for every £1 of public funding invested.
Currently the alcohol sector employs 60,000 people, representing 2.4% of all jobs in Scotland, 14,000 or 71% of the UK’s distilling jobs, and a GVA per head across the distilling of spirits and manufacturing of beer sub-sectors of £240,730.
However, the assessment states that the ICBD’s ability to sustain its current level of success is under threat and a new CABD would help sustain and develop Scotland’s brewing and distilling sectors as well as meet the new challenges of the 21st century.
These include meeting brewing and distilling’s commitment to reach net zero by 2040 (they account for 1.5% of the UK’s total emissions); tackling the large volumes of water used to create Scotch whisky in particular; maintaining their competitiveness by finding solutions to the current rising input costs – from 2020 to 2025 they increased by 37%; and tackling the current skills shortage across the sectors.
Professor Chris Turney, deputy principal of research and snnovation 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.
“To be located right next to the National Robotarium, the new centre will deliver real, tangible benefits for brewing and distilling and the wider supply chain that depends on them. This report confirms what we have long believed.
 “This assessment shows what our people already achieve. Graduates of our International Centre for Brewing and Distilling have founded nearly 30 of Scotland’s active brewing and distilling businesses.
“In 2024 to 2025 alone, those businesses added an estimated £79.4 million to the Scottish economy and supported the creation of 520 jobs. That is an outstanding track record that exemplifies what universities can deliver through research and innovation for economic growth and employment.
“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.”Â
