The notes of the restored Burns flute cut sweetly through the atrium in the Scottish Parliament, the Jacobite song sounding particularly poignant given ‘Outlander’ Sam Heughan was in attendance.

The actor best known for his role as Jamie Fraser in Scottish historical drama was wearing a different hat, but the same smart kilt, as the co-founder of The Galloway Distillery at the event organised by South of Scotland Enterprise.

Five years since its inception, the organisation known as SOSE was celebrating several milestones, including creating or safeguarding 10,000 jobs in the area.

Dozens of local businesses and musicians had gathered to mark the occasion, along with local politicians and the deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes.

“The establishment of the South of Scotland Enterprise in 2020 was in recognition that the south of Scotland is unique and there was a unique opportunity in the south to do things differently; to tailor your economic support and your interventions to the particular advantages and opportunities that you had in the south of Scotland,” Forbes told over 170 guests.

“Since then, South of Scotland Enterprise has built a map to deliver meaningful change in the region. Direct grant funding over £50 million to over 800 businesses, organisations and community groups, a return on investment of £5 for every £1 spent, that’s just the beginning. That’s what you’ve done in five years. In ten years, 30 years, 50 years time, the foundations that you have laid in these five years will totally transform the future of the South of Scotland.”

Three months after taking over the Crafty Distillery in Newton Stewart, Heughan and his business partner Alex Norouzi attended the event to showcase the newly named Galloway Distillery which will be the home of the Sassenach brand of blended malt, as well as gin and vodka. “Galloway is my home, it’s where I was born and raised, I’m a very, very proud Scotsman,” Heughan said

Robert Burns Ellisland Museum & Farm in Dumfries was amongst the South of Scotland attractions to highlight their facilities at the event (Image: Stewart Attwood)

“Over the years, working in the industry as an actor, I was very fortunate to come back to Scotland. Working on Outlander I got to celebrate what I love about Scotland and spread that message to a bigger audience. So when I was looking for a home for the Sassenach spirits, our whisky, our gin and our vodka, Galloway was the only place I could really go to: home.

“I’m so proud to be from Galloway. There is so much to offer from amazing landscapes, incredible producers, great history and of course amazing whisky, not just ourselves but other whisky producers as well. The businesses around there have welcomed us. We really want to shine a spotlight not just on what we are doing in the south of Scotland, but also what other amazing businesses are offering as well.

“We’re open, we’re very excited to invite people to sample what we’re making and we’ve got great plans ahead and there may be a wee nod to Outlander somewhere if you look hard enough.”

While addressing the event guests he proposed a toast, delivered with an actor’s flair, “”Oh Scotia, my dear, my native soil, for whom my warmest wish to heaven is sent, long may your sons’ rustic toil be blessed with peace and health and sweet content. Slainte.”

Sharing the stage were musicians Devin Casson and Ra, who both performed original songs, while The Burns’ Trio used the Robert Burns family flute, which was restored and played for the first time in 150 years during 2025.

Businesses such as Trimontium Museum, Robert Burns Ellisland Trust, Galloway Distillery, Barrie Knitwear and Eyemouth Harbour Trust were all in attendance, in addition to The Carbon Removers, a local business with global ambitions, which announced a near £1m investment from SOSE.

Russel Griggs, chair of SOSE, said the last five years had shown the possibilities in the area.

“When we started we had four investment enquiries, we topped 80 last year and we’re still going strong. If everything that we’re doing comes to pass, we will literally bring billions of pounds worth of investment into the south of Scotland,” he said.

The organisation played a pivotal role during COVID-19, distributing over £26million to a total of 626 businesses, social enterprises and community groups. It also approved direct grant funding of over £50m to 800 businesses, organisations and community groups, as well as making significant capital investment in projects across the region.

Over the five years, 5000 economic development enquiries came from 3800 different organisations and working as a pilot for the Scottish Government’s Pathways programme, SOSE has supported over 100 new businesses over eight months. It particularly supports and highlights new sectoral opportunities like hydrogen and natural capital with focused activity and specific funds.

“The deep partnerships that we have with our local authorities, our educational partners and our industry partners are absolutely fundamental to the success,” added chief executive Jane Morrison-Ross.

“But we don’t intend to slow down now. We have bold and exciting plans to continue supporting our traditional industries from textiles to agriculture, from food and drink to manufacturing, but alongside this, we have equally ambitious plans for the growth of our emerging sectors too.” n

www.southofscotlandenterprise.com