New Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling could add £53.4m a year to Scotland’s economy

A proposed £35m Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University could generate an additional £53.4m for the Scottish economy every year, according to a new independent report by BiGGAR Economics.

The Economic Impact Assessment explores the potential benefits of creating a new state-of-the-art facility at the University’s Edinburgh campus, building on Heriot-Watt’s internationally recognised expertise in brewing and distilling education, research and innovation, which dates back to 1903.

The report estimates that, within ten years, the Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling, known as CABD, could support a total annual economic impact of £324.8m Gross Value Added and 1,570 jobs across Scotland. It also finds that every £1 of public funding could generate £20.80 in economic benefit.

The proposed Centre would continue the success of Heriot-Watt’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, which has supported the brewing and distilling sector for nearly 40 years. In 2024/25 alone, BiGGAR Economics estimates that the ICBD generated £240.1m GVA for the Scottish economy and supported 1,180 jobs.

Heriot-Watt is seeking to unlock £25.3m from industry alongside £9.7m 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.

BiGGAR Economics highlights 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.

The assessment also highlights the importance of timely investment, noting that demand from students and industry is increasingly outgrowing the current facilities. The proposed Centre would protect and extend Heriot-Watt’s proven role in supporting Scotland’s brewing and distilling sector, creating the capacity needed for future skills, research and innovation.

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, said:

“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.”

The assessment comes as the brewing and distilling sector continues to respond to major long-term challenges, including the transition to net zero, water use, rising input costs and skills shortages.

Shona Glenn, Director at BiGGAR Economics, said:

“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.”

The full Economic Impact Assessment is available on Heriot-Watt’s Proofing the Future landing page.