Nearly one in six inward investment projects in the UK last year were secured in Scotland, according to new data published by EY.
The record share of the market cements the country’s position as the UK’s top destination outside of London – for the tenth year in a row – while Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow remain among the top 10 UK cities for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects outside of London.
Although the total number of new projects in Scotland fell back slightly (4.9%) from record numbers in 2023, it compares to a drop of 13% in the UK, 14% in France and 17% in Germany.
EY’s survey of global investors found that quarter of those planning to invest in the UK are targeting Scotland, maintaining the country’s long-standing position in investors’ eyes as the UK’s preferred FDI destination outside of London.
To mark the results, deputy first minister Kate Forbes visited the Glasgow offices of Canadian IT and business consulting services firm CGI Inc. which employs around 750 employees across its Glasgow, Edinburgh, Borders and Aberdeen offices.
The deputy first minister said: “Given the geopolitical uncertainties clearly affecting investor confidence across the world, this is an incredible endorsement of Scotland’s proposition as a destination for global investment.
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“A huge amount of work, across both the private and public sectors, goes into securing these projects, which are vital for economic growth, job creation and bringing benefits across our towns and cities.
“From the likes of green aircraft engine ZeroAvia to ticketing hub Humanatix, 2025 is bringing further significant investment and exciting projects to Scotland. The Scottish Government will continue to work with businesses and our “Team Scotland” partners to continue building the country’s reputation as a world class location for foreign investment.”
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