Crown jewel in Scotland’s sporting sector marks ten years since opening

A world-class sporting facility that has brought together elite performance, cutting-edge research and community participation is celebrating a decade at the heart of Scotland’s sporting landscape.

Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre located in the grounds of Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus, was officially opened in 2016 by then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, after years of development starting in 2013 turbocharged by a £33m investment from the Scottish Government, the City of Edinburgh Council and Heriot-Watt University.

Since opening, the world-class facility has grown to welcome more than one million visitors each year, serving as a training hub for elite sporting organisations and national teams, including the Scotland men’s and women’s rugby teams, the Scottish FA, Heart of Midlothian F.C, Scottish Squash, Scottish Handball, Tennis Scotland and sportscotland.

Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs, said: "Over the past decade, Oriam has helped shape Scotland's sporting landscape, creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to be active, develop their skills and fulfil their potential. Its influence can be seen in communities across the country, as well as in the achievements of athletes performing at the highest level.

"As we celebrate this milestone during the 10th Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, it is also an opportunity to recognise the role Oriam has played in helping more women and girls get involved in sport and physical activity.

“I congratulate everyone who has contributed to its success and look forward to seeing its positive impact continue in the years ahead.”

Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, said: "Oriam has gone from strength to strength over the past decade and has truly become a centre for all.

"From local community teams to elite international athletes, including those supported through our joint sports scholarship programmes, this is a place where people come to raise their game, connect with others and learn from the very best. It embodies what Heriot-Watt stands for, excellence with real-world impact, helping people develop the skills, confidence and ambition they need to succeed in a changing world."

"This anniversary is a moment to celebrate, but it's also a springboard. I'm hugely excited about what Oriam and its team will achieve in the next 10 years, and proud that Heriot-Watt will be at the heart of it."

Ross Campbell, Executive Director at Oriam said: “Oriam was opened with a clear goal in mind, to create world-class facilities for Scottish sport. That principle has guided everything we do ever since.

“In 10 years, we've gone from hosting our first partner training sessions to supporting qualification and performance at major tournaments, launching Europe's first handball scholarship, and watching our student athletes compete at the Commonwealth Games.

“But I'm just as proud of the 270 parkruns, the walking football club and the hundreds of people in our classes every week, whatever your age, background or level of experience, you can come to Oriam to improve your health or take your performance to the next level.

“We are now very much a critical part of Scotland's sporting infrastructure and a key differentiator for Heriot-Watt University, and this is something we are very proud of.

“As we celebrate this milestone, it is important to recognise and thank the many people who have contributed to Oriam's success over the last decade. Our staff, partners, customers, athletes, students and local community have all played a vital role in helping us become the centre we are today.

“There is a huge amount to be proud of, not just in what has been achieved on our pitches, courts and performance spaces, but in the positive difference Oriam has made to people's lives through sport, health and wellbeing.

“We've achieved a great deal over the last decade, but there is still so much more we can do. The foundations are strong, our partnerships are thriving and our ambition remains as high as ever. I genuinely believe the best years for Oriam are still ahead of us.”

Oriam grew out of the 2010 McLeish Report, which identified gaps in Scottish football provision and led the Scottish Government to open a national bidding process. After a highly competitive process, Edinburgh Council and Heriot-Watt University won the bid in 2013, construction began in 2015, and the centre opened its doors in August 2016, officially opening that November.

Beyond the headline moments, Oriam has kept growing. Its award-winning building has been joined by a physiotherapy clinic and, in 2023, a new indoor tennis centre in partnership with the LTA, sportscotland, and Tennis Scotland through the Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis (TSIT) fund.

The venue has hosted major competitions, from the revived Scottish Squash Open and UEFA Women's Qualifiers to the 2024 World Orienteering Championships, alongside disability sport events including the Lothian and Borders Boccia Championships.

Oriam has also deepened its academic ties with Heriot-Watt. The first students joined the University's Sport and Exercise Science degree in 2022, with that cohort graduating this year, alongside Master's programmes in International Sports Management and Sports Psychology launched in 2023.

The centre's support for student athletes has grown alongside this. The number of sports scholars has risen from 24 in 2016 to 89 in 2025/26, more than doubling from 44 since the sports programmes were introduced in 2022.

With targeted programmes in football, squash and handball, Oriam has worked with its partners to develop the next generation of Scottish athletes.

Its football scholarship programme delivered a standout success when scholar Barney Stewart signed a professional contract with Falkirk FC, later going on to become a player for West Bromwich Albion

Oriam was made possible by its key funding partners, the Scottish Government, the City of Edinburgh Council and Heriot-Watt University.

Over the past decade, the centre has worked closely with its key sporting partners, the Scottish FA, Scottish Rugby, sportscotland, Scottish Handball and Scottish Squash, among others.

Heart of Midlothian F.C., a partner since before the centre opened, has also grown its academy and women's teams at Oriam during that time.

Forbes Dunlop, sportscotland Chief Executive, said: “Oriam’s impact in the last 10 years has been hugely significant. A world class centre that has been pivotal in helping community and student sport to thrive, alongside some of our best athletes, is something we should be rightly proud of.”

David White, interim CEO at Scottish Rugby said: “Oriam has been Scottish Rugby’s High-Performance home for 10 years, helping our Women’s and Men’s National Teams train to compete among the world’s best. Looking ahead to the next 10 years and beyond, we're looking forward to strengthening this partnership to the benefit of Scottish sport and the wider economy”.

To learn more about Oriam, visit: https://oriamscotland.com/