THE build of a proposed £35 million brewing and distilling innovation hub at Heriot-Watt University could generate an additional £53.4 million for the Scottish economy annually, a BiGGAR Economics report has found.
Within ten years, the report estimates that the Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling (CABD) could support a total annual economic impact of £324.8 million gross value added and 1,570 jobs across Scotland.
The facility would be built on the learning institute’s Edinburgh campus and look to build on its expertise in brewing and distilling education, research, and innovation – which dates back to 1903.
Heriot-Watt University is seeking to unlock £25.3 million from industry alongside £9.7 million in public investment to deliver the new centre. The investment would help create the additional capacity, facilities, and collaborative environment needed to support innovation, skills development and sustainable growth across brewing, distilling and key supply chains, it added.
BiGGAR Economics also highlighted that the Centre could accelerate innovation and strengthen industry competitiveness by housing new plug-and-play brewing and distilling equipment, advanced research laboratories, low-carbon technology development space, a raw materials laboratory, a product quality and innovation laboratory, a sensory suite, and facilities to support carbon capture and renewable energy integration.
Professor Chris Turney, deputy principal of research and innovation 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.
“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.
“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.”
Ewan Andrew, Diageo’s president global supply chain & procurement and chief sustainability officer and co-chair of Heriot-Watt’s CABD fundraising committee, added, “What this economic impact assessment demonstrates is the potential value to Scotland and the UK that Heriot-Watt University can deliver with a commitment from government to back this new world-class facility.
“Together, industry investment, philanthropy, government and academic excellence can build resilience and growth opportunities at a speed and scale none of us can achieve alone.”
Shona Glenn, director at BiGGAR Economics, commented, “The ICBD has played a critical role in sustaining Scotland’s brewing and distilling sector for nearly 40 years by providing a pipeline of talent and steady stream of innovative new enterprises.
“The CABD would address this by providing a bespoke new facility designed to meet the research and development needs of the sector and facilitate industry-wide collaboration. The new facility could enable a substantial uplift in research and innovation activity and ensure the talent pipeline needed to champion the future success of the industry can be maintained.”
