invest edinburgh (october- december 2010)

INVESTEDINBURGH

QUaRTERly INVESTmENT BUllETIN fRom ScoTlaND’S capITal ocToBER To DEcEmBER 2010

SpaNNING THE GloBETHE INTERNaTIoNalISaTIoN of

EDINBURGH’S UNIVERSITIES

voted europe’s top small city by fdi magazine

alSo INSIDE ISSUE 34 » 10 QUESTIoNS foR JoHN RENDall of HSBc » EDINBURGH aIRpoRT coNTINUES To GRow » DEVElopING wEST EDINBURGH » a GENERaTIoN y woRkplacE

IN THIS ISSUE

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2 invest edinburgH | ocToBER To DEcEmBER 2010 |

THE fIRST woRD

welcome to issue 34 of Invest Edinburgh, the quarterly investment promotion magazine for the city of Edinburgh.

with a fresh intake of students beginning their academic studies this autumn, our cover feature (pages 10-13) takes a timely look at Edinburgh’s four universities. Strong international linkages ensure that our universities have a major global presence.

another truly international institution present in Edinburgh is HSBc, the ‘world’s local bank’. In this issue’s 10 Questions feature (pages 8-9) chief Executive for Scotland John Rendall discusses his plans for the future.

This issue’s making it Happen column (page 18) focuses on west Edinburgh, the local and global gateway to Edinburgh. Home to Scotland’s largest airport, west Edinburgh is a national centre of business, retail, tourism and leisure. Edinburgh airport itself is the focus of this issue’s analysis piece (pages 14-15), which explores the future growth and development of the Uk’s best performing airport of 2009.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Invest Edinburgh. as always, the editorial team would be delighted to receive any feedback at [email protected]

Tom BUcHaNaN,convenor of the Economic Development committee and Director of DEma

SNapSHoTS

a round-up of news from across the city

10 QUESTIoNS foR...

John Rendall, HSBc’s chief Executive for Scotland relishes the prospects for growth.

(cover story)

a cUlTURE of INTERNaTIoNalISaTIoN

How Edinburgh’s universities are going global

aNalySIS

Edinburgh airport spreads its wings

THE STaTISTIcS

The latest key indicators for the Edinburgh economy

makING IT HappEN

a look at the strategy helping to unlock the potential of Edinburgh’s international gateway

aDDED ExTRaS

Great expectations: Generation y in today’s workplace.

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correction noteon page 10 of the last issue of Invest Edinburgh, an image was captioned as showing the okhta centre in St petersburg, designed by architects RmJm. The image actually depicted the city palace Tower in moscow (also designed by RmJm).

i NVEST IN EDINBURGHaRE yoU:• a retailer looking to expand into a dynamic new market?• a hotel developer or operator interested in opening a hotel in

a global tourism hotspot?• a business looking to establish an office or contact centre

in Scotland?• a property developer interested in development opportunities?

If So, THE cITy of EDINBURGH coUNcIl aND ITS paRTNERS caN pRoVIDE yoU wITH:• free, confidential, impartial advice on your commercial

property and land requirements;• Introductions to key business and civic leaders;• assistance with recruiting and training staff with the skills

you need;• advice on accessing grants and other funding;• Guidance on doing business in Scotland;• High-quality market intelligence.

To find out more about how we can help you, please contact the Investor Support team at [email protected] or on +44 (0)131 529 6600.

<capITalfocUS

www.investedinburgh.com | ocToBER To DEcEmBER 2010 | invest edinburgH 3

the project will deliver europe’s most technologically advanced meetings and events space, plus a separate building providing grade a office space on a highly prized development site adjacent to the eicc.

The city of Edinburgh council, which owns the EIcc, is collaborating with Scottish Enterprise to fund the project, which is due to be completed by December 2012. Representing one of Scotland’s largest ongoing construction projects, the work will employ up to 250 people over the next two years.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony in 29 July, councillor Jenny Dawe, leader of The council said: “The development forms the last piece in Edinburgh’s Exchange masterplan. The EIcc has been a prize asset for the people of Edinburgh and over the next 30 years the expanded business is forecast to

return £2.4 billion of economic benefit to the city.”

“once complete,” continued Sue Stuart, chief Executive of the Edinburgh

convention Bureau, “the new 21,500 ft2 (2,000 m2) multi-purpose

hall will include a bespoke moving floor system

that can be easily altered to create

a flat-floored exhibition space, tiered banqueting area, an auditorium or an arena.”

EIcc chief Executive, Hans H

Rissmann oBE added: “International

association customers around the world are

excited about bringing their delegates to an expanded EIcc that

can fully justify its offer as Europe’s most technologically advanced events space.”

capITal To cREaTE EURopE’S moST aDVaNcED EVENTS SpacEan £85 million project involving the expansion of the Edinburgh International conference

centre (EIcc) is set to cement its leading position in the global business tourism marketplace.

the eicc development comprises three principal elements.

1 an underground extension to the EIcc, housing the new flexible multi-purpose hall.

2 a new atrium building at street level (centre of main image), providing the main entry point to the new hall, with a high quality delegate café facility on its first floor and 13,000 ft2 (1,200m2) of independent lettable office space extending over the top two floors.

3 approximately 186,000 ft2 (17,300m2) of space in the adjacent grade a office building, (right of main image) with retail space at street level to provide an active frontage. This building features a dramatic seven storey high atrium.

“THE DEVElopmENT foRmS THE laST pIEcE IN EDINBURGH’S ExcHaNGE maSTERplaN.”

furtHer information

www.eicc.co.uk


Edinburgh Napier University recorded a 78% increase in student applications in 2010 – the biggest increase of any Scottish university.source: Edinburgh Napier University

fact:

DIGITal amBITIoN BEHIND EDINBURGH’S fESTIValSattendees at edinburgh’s major annual festivals are helping create new ways to distribute festival content.

festivals Edinburgh – the body which promotes twelve of Edinburgh’s major annual festivals – has already launched its first iphone application and an online TV channel, while the programme design for this year’s Edinburgh fringe used suggestions through Twitter to create designs in real time for the cover.

Now a grant of £300,000 from creative Scotland’s National lottery fund will help establish the Edinburgh festivals Innovation lab, a two-year initiative to lead the future digital development of the festivals. The lab will work with the digital

community to improve and inspire audience experience and runs alongside

amb:IT:ion Scotland, a

programme from creative Scotland that

supports Scottish arts organisations to develop their

digital capabilities.faith liddell, Director of festivals

Edinburgh said: “we are delighted that creative Scotland has chosen to invest in our ambition.

“over the next two years, our world-renowned festivals will be a stage and a showcase, a playground and a platform for a number of innovative pilot projects and initiatives. and through our developer events programme, crowdsourcing initiatives and geek-in-residence programme, the way we invite, select and deliver the projects will be an innovation in itself too.”

> further information: www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk

recently published figures from the international passenger survey reveal that, in 2009, edinburgh received more visitors and visitor expenditure from overseas than any other uK city bar london.

overseas residents made 1.32 million visits to Edinburgh during the year, up from 1.19 million in 2008. The number of overseas visits to Edinburgh rose by 133,000 between 2008 and 2009 – an 11.2% rise, by far the largest recorded in any Uk city. Expenditure by overseas visitors to the capital totalled £485 million in 2009 – up 28.6% on 2008.

Edinburgh’s popularity as a tourist destination is reflected in the buoyant pace of hotel development in the capital, with 640 new bedrooms completed in 2009, including the world’s first Hotel missoni. at the end of 2009, there were approximately 10,500 hotel bedrooms in Edinburgh, with another 227 under construction. a further 2,701 bedrooms had planning consent, including a 29-bedroom easyHotel on princes Street and a 31-bedroom serviced apartment complex on young Street.

a number of proposals from a number of developers are currently under consideration, including The Joint properties, which has applied to develop an 85-bedroom hotel on Queen Street, and ocean point Developments, who are seeking to construct a 250-bedroom hotel in leith. This strong developer interest in Edinburgh is further evidence of the capital’s appeal as a leading tourist destination.

EDINBURGH’S appEal pRoVES GloBal

Hotel missoni Edinburgh (photo courtesy of allan murray architects).

<SNapSHoTS

bite size


wHaT Do THEy Do?Diet chef offers weekly deliveries of healthy, additive-free, great tasting food in calorie-counted microwave–ready portions to customers across the Uk. The chef-prepared meals cover customers’ needs for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks over seven days, making it as easy as possible for clients to stick to a balanced nutritious diet.

wHy aRE THEy woRTH waTcHING?Diet chef is now the Uk’s largest diet home delivery company with over 35,000 customers.

as well as offering clients a choice of meals and taking all the hassle out of planning and shopping for a diet, the service costs just a little over £5 a day, making for a very affordable diet plan.

customers also have the ability to join an online forum, where they can discuss dieting with other customers and access a ‘live chat’ online contact point, providing support and instant answers to any questions.

1 To waTcH

‘x’ maRkS THE SpoT To BE

virgin money has announced plans to establish its headquarters and an operations centre in edinburgh, creating 200 new jobs.

The British-Irish council – the international organisation promoting collaboration among the eight administrations of Britain and Ireland – has announced it is to base its standing secretariat in Edinburgh.

edinburgh has received its highest-ever score for cleanliness from the environmental charity Keep scotland beautiful.

livingston-based Touch Bionics, the developer of the world’s first commercially available bionic hand, has been named the ‘most Innovative company of the year in Europe’ in the 2010 International Business awards, prevailing over more than 1,700 rival entrants.

retailer primark has received planning consent for its 75,000 ft2 (6,970 m2) flagship store on princes street.

print management company the aps group has invested £500,000 in the outfitting of its new operations and document management centre in leith.

a European-wide consortium led by Edinburgh has succeeded in winning a grant of €4.2 million from the European Union’s INTERREG programme to support open innovation.

starbucks coffee has invested in a full refurbishment of its branch on the royal mile as part of a £5 million overhaul of 20 outlets across scotland, while fashion chain White stuff has invested £1 million in a renovation of its new uK flagship store on george street.

The pedestrianisation of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket has won an Urban Transport Design award at the national Transport practitioners meeting.

the university of edinburgh has announced plans to establish a multiple sclerosis research clinic in a custom-built facility within the edinburgh bioQuarter after receiving a £10 million endowment from author J.K. rowling.

in another boost to edinburgh’s booming tourism sector, the capital has been named the best holiday city in the uK in the readers’ travel awards of condé nast traveller.

The awards, voted for by readers of the magazine, are based on each city’s score in areas such as value for money and service quality. Edinburgh scored especially highly for its aesthetics and architecture and for its user friendliness.

Edinburgh has previously received the prestigious award in 2001, 2002 and 2004, ranking 2nd in 2009. The award follows

a number of other recent accolades, including being named the Uk’s favourite city break destination by readers of the Guardian and the observer for a tenth consecutive year.

In further good news for Edinburgh, the iconic Balmoral Hotel on princes Street has been voted the top business hotel in Scotland and the 13th best in the Uk, further strengthening Edinburgh’s appeal as an international conference destination.

> further information: www.cntraveller.com

DIET cHEf

wHERE HaVE THEy comE fRom?founder and Head chef kevin Dorren explains that the idea stemmed from a friend remarking that she wished she had her own ‘diet chef’ who would do all the shopping and cooking for her.

wHaT DoES IT mEaN foR THE aREa?Diet chef is headquartered in the connect Business park at Newbridge, close to Edinburgh airport, where it currently employs 35 people. National TV and press advertising has seen the company’s customer base grow rapidly since it was founded in 2008, with kevin now aiming to double sales annually. In spring of this year, Diet chef received a £3 million investment from piper private Equity to finance its continued expansion.

> further information: www.dietchef.co.uk

made in edinburgH

photographs courtesy of pufferfish.


pUffERfISH: INNoVaTIoN oN DISplay

imagine a client list including disney’s epcot centre, coldplay’s viva la vida world tour; the pga launch and the eurovision song contest. there’s an audience that runs into several hundred million.

It’s this unprecedented market potential that has attracted investors and customers alike to Edinburgh-based pufferfish and their groundbreaking 360° audiovisual display systems.

“our spherical displays offer something unique,” says ollie collier, chief Executive. “we’re confident pufferSphere® can outperform any similar display technology on the market.” This assertion

is supported by their business success, driven by word-of-mouth referrals.

“coldplay resulted from a recommendation from one of their technical crew who knew our products; Eurovision in moscow stemmed from our work with the Swedish film industry. people know we deliver.”

Together, ollie and friend will cavendish developed the original technology while studying at the University of Edinburgh. “we wanted to move digital content away from flat screens and the commercial applications became apparent very quickly,” explains ollie.

Having won a SmaRT award, an Ideasmart award and investment from the Braveheart Investment Group, the company initially focused on large-scale events. “about 12 months ago we began to develop smaller, brighter, networkable spheres,” adds ollie.

The latest pufferSphere® – at 60cm or 90cm diameter – is now commercially available. These 360° displays expand people’s ability to watch the screen from any viewing angle, offering a unique

social experience. “people really respond to the product: everyone is drawn to the display, and once up close it seems to exhibit a kind of hypnotic effect. people usually circulate around the display and touch the display too, but we’ve also seen many people hug them. It’s great to see that immersion into the experience.”

with the displays able to project live video, prepared content or a combination of both, the applications seem endless – and their market is global.

pufferfish may be swimming in a big ocean, but the current of commercial demand is driving them forward. “we’ve always looked to actual market demand to prioritise what innovations to tackle first,” adds ollie. “we project that revenue from the new pufferSphere® will exceed that from our existing market within 12 months.”

a new screen star in the making, it would seem… soon to be at a cinema, shopping mall, airport or event near you.

> further information: www.pufferfishdisplays.co.uk

The University of Edinburgh received £600 million in research income in 2009/10 – its highest figure to date. source: The University of Edinburgh

fact:

edinburgh’s retail sector has received a number of major boosts over the past year, among them the confirmation that primark is to develop a flagship 75,000 ft2 (6,970 m2) superstore on princes street. representatives of the city are to capitalise on this momentum by engaging with leading retailers at this year’s mapic event.

The world’s foremost retail property event, mapIc 2010 will take place from 17 to 19 November in cannes, france. as many as 7,000 property professionals are expected to attend, including

over 1,500 representatives of global retail brands. Edinburgh will be represented at mapIc 2010 by a small

delegation attending as part of the Uk club, a consortium of Uk developers, property professionals and local authorities. The Edinburgh delegation will promote the capital as a leading retail destination, highlighting the major investment opportunities within Edinburgh city centre.

> further information: www.mapic.com

mapIc SEllS THE RETaIl mESSaGE

NEw arrivals

<SNapSHoTS


wHo’S oN THE moVE?Headquarted in cambridge, massachusetts in the United States, the InterSystems corporation is the global market leader for the supply of software for “connected healthcare”. InterSystems opened an office in Edinburgh in July 2010, leasing 8,047 ft2 (748 m2) of space at Holyrood park House on Holyrood Road in July and recruiting upwards of 25 staff.

wHy THE moVE?following a 20-month procurement process involving 73 tenders, InterSystems was contracted by NHS National Services Scotland as the provider of a national patient management system in february 2010. NHS National Services Scotland

will use the Trakcare™ patient management system to improve the organisation of patient records held by health boards in Scotland. InterSystems has opened an office in Edinburgh to deliver the contract.

wHy EDINBURGH?InterSystems is the existing patient management system provider for NHS lothian, employing three staff at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. opening an office in Edinburgh will enable InterSystems to maintain close working relations with NHS lothian and NHS National Services Scotland, both of which have their head offices in Edinburgh.

> further information: www.intersystems.co.uk

continuing our regular feature about tHe latest companies investing in tHe capital

THE ScoTTISH fINaNcIal RISk acaDEmyin recent years, the financial world has witnessed the effects of the growing complexity of financial instruments and the challenges of managing financial risk.

The Scottish financial Risk academy (SfRa), established in april 2010, is the first academic-industry partnership in the Uk to address quantitative financial risk, an area of significant interest to the financial services sector following the global financial crisis of 2007-2008. It is vital to the future prosperity of the sector to have access to highly skilled and knowledgeable people in this field.

led by professor alexander mcNeil, the SfRa has been set up by the maxwell Institute for mathematical Sciences, a joint research institute of Heriot-watt University and the University of Edinburgh. The SfRa has received a £335,000 grant from the Scottish funding council and has the backing of the financial industry in Scotland.

The academy will become a focus for vital knowledge exchange in quantitative financial risk. Its activities include the delivery of workshops and masterclasses by worldwide experts for the benefit of professionals and students, creating opportunities for industry to engage with the most able postgraduate talent studying at Scottish universities, and initiating a series of biannual Risk colloquia – mini-conferences on risk-related themes – the first of which will take place in Edinburgh this November.

> further information: www.sfra.ac.uk

STRoNG EcoNomIc foUNDaTIoN foR GRowTHedinburgh is one of only two uK cities lying beyond a 90-minute drive of london to be viewed as a growth economy over the next decade.

The prediction comes in a report – No city left Behind? cities 2020 – published in July by think tank The work foundation.

The report’s authors base their predictions on four drivers of economic growth during the recovery: high-tech and high-value added services, the creative industries, low carbon industries and “manu-services”, where the manufacturing sector is increasingly linked into service based activities with long term revenue streams from maintenance and servicing.

The Uk cities that are likely to

experience considerable growth in the future are those with highly educated populations, high levels of employment in the potential growth sectors and relatively low levels of employment in the public sector.

However, Edinburgh’s public sector profile was cited as an asset by the authors: “public sector employment is often in high value, higher education institutions, teaching hospitals and other research-led public sector bodies. These sectors are vital to local economies for a number of reasons, not least because they attract highly skilled individuals from all over the world.”

> further information: www.theworkfoundation.com


IE> why is HSBc’s interest in Scotland currently on the rise?JR> There are three factors. first, our business here had reached a size where it justified a leadership role. we were also mindful of the evolving differences between Scotland and the rest of the Uk. Third, crucially, we had a real opportunity to move the business forward from a position of strength, and we are determined to make the most of this opportunity.

IE> To what do you attribute the growth of HSBc in Scotland over the last half-year?JR> The key contribution to our growth is quality customers of all types switching to us. we offer the full range of HSBc services here, including corporate banking, private banking and structured finance and our customers value our unique international connections. we’ve seen double-digit growth in all parts of the business and revenue is up 23% year-on-year.

IE> HSBc announced last year that it was expanding the workforce at its contact centre in Edinburgh. why did you choose to invest here at the current time? JR> we employ 2,000 people in Scotland in contact centres and our Edinburgh centre has been operating for 12 years. last year we invested £5 million in upgrading this facility, which handles complex calls for our premier banking customers across the globe. Scotland has consistently been a good place to base this

business – people here have the right skills. Edinburgh itself has a strong pool of labour with a financial services background and we can provide a competitive reward and get good value.

IE> what are your plans for further expansion in Scotland? JR> The evidence suggests that businesses which rely on a single channel don’t grow to the scale of competitors who multi-channel. customers value choice and flexibility.

we are responding to the automation of transactional tasks by organising our branches to focus on the needs of the customer. our people spend more time talking with customers.

we have been expanding our physical presence: we opened our first branch in perth in 2007, in Inverness in 2008, and invested £1.3 million last year in a new Glasgow office for our private, corporate and commercial operations. we have been

hugely encouraged by progress and I’m excited by the step forward represented by our new branch in Glasgow, which opens on 13 December.

we also operate business centres in Edinburgh, Inverness and aberdeen – as well as the one in Glasgow – and each branch has a local business banking manager working full-time.

IE> what does HSBc offer its business customers that is different?JR> all business customers like our financial strength and strategic stability. we’ve come through a period of extreme turmoil relatively unaffected. There’s the quality of our service – we’re responsive and we’re investing ahead of our growth to remain so. and then there is our international offering: with growing exports and the knowledge skills economy we are in a good place to provide support.

IE> The world’s local bank’ – how does HSBc bring this to life for your Scottish customers and how do you relate Scotland to your international customers?JR> Growth is being driven now by ‘emerging markets’ and that growth is set to continue. we’re on the ground in those markets and our customers enjoy the benefits of this international network. our local commercial teams all work with Scottish businesses seeking to expand in those markets and advise customers there on doing business in Scotland. It shows exactly how our global market adds value.

John Rendall

‘The world’s local bank’ – HSBc – has recently turnedits focus to the local opportunities in Scotland. Nativeborn Scot John Rendall was appointed the bank’s firstchief Executive for Scotland in 2009 and, 15 monthsinto the role, he is relishing the prospects here.

<10QUESTIoNS


IE> HSBc is one of the world’s largest and most profitable banks. Is it a case of “big is beautiful” where banks are concerned? JR> Being a global bank provides a number of valuable assets. If one market or territory is depressed, another is expanding and there is a value in diversification.

our strong views on capitalisation, capital strength and liquidity have also been important. In 2009, every £80 we loaned was covered by £100 taken in as deposits. we’ve proven that we’re robust.

But customers here care about the quality of service here, today. It’s that global strength married to the local service appeal that lies at the heart of our brand.

IE> HSBc is working to enhance its brand visibility across Scotland. Is it difficult to penetrate the Scottish retail banking market?

JR> Brand is a critical part of building awareness. But the majority of customers who come to us do so because of someone’s recommendation. The challenge we have is to promote the range of our activities in Scotland and the scale and scope of our commitment here. we’re highly committed and determined to grow, so those who are unsure that their needs are currently being met need to have us on their radar.

IE> HSBc private Bank has its sole Scottish branch in Edinburgh. How do you see the market for private banking services in the Uk evolving? JR> private banking is important to us and it’s an area we’re highly committed to. our new Glasgow branch will also support private banking and we plan to grow in this area.

IE> Do you see a cautious optimism building for the future when you meet business leaders here?JR> I believe that financial services specifically will be resilient as an employer in the region, but challenges remain. Edinburgh has expertise and activity, so it remains a good place to be.

I’ve seen a change this year in general – there’s a sense of realism. It will be a long haul towards high rates of growth, but everything gained will be more sustainable. Those businesses with a clear objective and a business model that fits the climate are optimistic.

cv

furtHer information

www.hsbc.co.uk

John Rendall

Born in kirkwall, orkney in 1964, John studied Economics at the University of St. andrews.

Graduating in 1986, he completed an mSc at the University of london before joining midland Bank. HSBc bought midland Bank in 1992 and John’s subsequent career has seen him responsible for Northern central and Eastern Europe, heading up first business banking and then commercial banking

in the Uk and, most recently, become chief operating officer in mexico.

Having learned Spanish for his role in mexico, he is using his return to Scotland as the impetus to learn golf: “I’m making progress, but I’m not sure it’s as quick as when I learnt Spanish!”

However, he is enjoying both living and working in Edinburgh enormously: “It’s fantastic to be right here, right now and doing this job.”


a cUlTURE of INTERNaTIoNalISaTIoN Edinburgh’s four universities have been inundated with record levels of undergraduate and

postgraduate applications in 2010, reflecting their continued popularity among prospective

students. However, now more than ever, the long-term growth and success of the city’s

universities will be determined by the strength of their international brands.

EDINBURGH’S UNIVERSITIES SpaN THE GloBE


a cUlTURE of INTERNaTIoNalISaTIoN

<fEaTURE

The importance of a strong international brand should

never be underestimated. It continues to be a key driver of business success in any sector, and in today’s higher education environment, it is imperative that universities operate as innovative, ambitious and well-run businesses.

The issue of globalisation is nothing new for most universities. all four of Edinburgh’s renowned institutions have a strong international record in terms of research partnerships, student make-up and staff. The University of Edinburgh was the first university in Europe to admit a chinese student, Huang kuan, who graduated in medicine in 1855.

with a third of students attending The University of Edinburgh, Heriot-watt University, Edinburgh Napier University or Queen margaret University hailing from outside the Uk, the importance of international students has never been greater. a 2009 report by the University of Strathclyde found that international students studying in Edinburgh contributed over £64 million to the Scottish economy each year, supporting more than a thousand full-time jobs. In terms of revenue generation, a robust international student intake is vital, but the benefits run far deeper.

“we’re in the business of education, in an increasingly internationalised world,”

explains professor Jack worden, Dean of Edinburgh Napier University’s International college. “International students generate significant revenue for the Edinburgh economy, but more importantly they bring cultural diversity and fresh perspectives to university life; intangible benefits for all our students.”

when it comes to attracting students from overseas, all four of Edinburgh’s universities benefit from the city’s reputation as a vibrant European capital offering an exceptional quality of living. “In many areas of the world, especially Europe and North america, Edinburgh is viewed as a quality brand when it comes to academic excellence,” adds professor worden. “Respect for Scottish education remains a very marketable asset.”

with its rich history, culture of innovation and its position as a modern business centre, Edinburgh maintains a strong allure for many overseas students. In fact, Queen margaret University was recently ranked top in the Uk for ‘overall living experience’ and for international student support in the sector-wide Student Barometer survey. The survey, which sampled views from students drawn from more than 120 universities in 13 countries, saw QmU score strongly in areas such as accommodation, host culture and social opportunities.

It’s a symbiotic arrangement acknowledged by the city of Edinburgh council and its partners in the promotion of Edinburgh as a great place in which to study and a world influencer in education.

kNowlEDGE poRTalSThe strategies adopted by the city’s universities to develop those academic strengths vary, but each is ultimately focused on one goal – the highest levels of academic attainment.

Excellence in learning and research is today, more than ever, predicated on an ability to transcend international and cultural boundaries. The University of Edinburgh’s consistent global ranking as one of the world’s top 20 universities is based on a combination of factors, including its extensive network of international research partnerships, its international faculty staff and the fact that more than 135 nationalities are represented in its student body.

“as with any elite university, we understand we have responsibilities to both local and global communities that participate in, and benefit from, our activities,” explains professor Stephen Hillier, Vice principal International, University of Edinburgh.


“our Edinburgh Global strategy, published in June 2009, represented a step-change in the way the University broadcasts its ambitions in terms of academic excellence, research capabilities and knowledge transfer.”

Underpinning the creation of the Edinburgh Global strategy is a desire to extract maximum value from the University’s various faculties. This unified approach has resulted in the creation of a number of global academies: portals of excellence designed to tackle some of the fundamental global challenges facing the world today.

one of these new academies is the Global Health academy, which builds on the University’s international reputation for human and veterinary medicine. The academy provides a single portal to a broad portfolio of academic disciplines, such as ‘one medicine’ – which fuses clinical research in human and animal health. The result is a rich diversity of postgraduate masters degrees spanning science and social science, policy and practice and encompassing every facet of global public health.

“our academies represent a shop window to the world through which we can highlight new study programmes, new areas of research, policy and achievements,” adds professor Hillier. “It’s a powerful way of offering up new ways of learning, reaching out to new markets in the middle East and africa.”

However, with stiff competition to attract the best talent and

international research funding, Edinburgh’s universities have,

for a number of years, also been developing an

extensive international presence of their own.

BEyoND EDINBURGHStudents no longer have to come to Scotland to gain a respected degree

qualification from one of the capital’s

universities.more than 2,700

Edinburgh Napier University students are

currently studying towards degrees in Hong kong, across

a wide variety of undergraduate courses such as Hospitality

management, communications, Business management and Biological Sciences; while the number of postgraduate masters courses is increasing year on year.

“British council studies have revealed a projected rise in international student mobility up to 2022,” says professor Jack worden. “But trans-national education – an area in which both Edinburgh Napier and Heriot-watt are particularly strong – is predicted to rise even faster.”

Heriot-watt University offers students overseas a variety of engineering courses approved by the Institute of civil

Engineering and Institute of mechanical Engineering. “By offering trans-national content to international students through our partnerships with colleges in countries such as South africa, Singapore and Russia, we add further value to their academic studies,” explains Ruth moir, Director of International Development. “Students benefit from Heriot-watt’s track record for quality and our strong links with industry.”

These acknowledged strong links have enabled the University to take an even more ambitious approach to its internationalisation strategy.

BRaNcHING oUT These are exciting times for Heriot-watt University as its Dubai branch campus, established in 2005, is set to move into a new state-of-the-art eco-friendly site to cope with expanding demand.

one of three branch campuses operated by Heriot-watt – the others being in orkney and in the Scottish Borders – Dubai represents the pinnacle of the University’s approach to promoting the Heriot-watt brand overseas. It’s an ambitious investment programme, which has certainly paid dividends.

“with a substantial expat community and desire to attract prestigious universities with an established reputation for engineering, Dubai was the ideal location for our first international campus,” says professor amar kaka, Heriot-watt University’s Vice principal Dubai. “Despite an actual fall in Dubai’s expat population over the past 18 months, we’ve seen a 30% increase in applications for our campus.”

and it is to potential students in major nearby markets such as china and India that Heriot-watt is able to appeal.

In a market driven economy, universities are understandably drawn to key growth markets, but not just in terms of recruiting students. The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University and Heriot-watt all have an established presence in china and regional offices in India.

It’s just another string to an increasingly international bow as they strive to develop and enhance existing worldwide partnership networks.

RESEaRcH BENEfITSThe University of Edinburgh has an established track record of developing a range of strategic partnerships at senior levels with overseas governments, institutions and organisations. In addition to its extensive collaborative research network, which spans the globe, University faculty members have the opportunity to share knowledge and ideas with close to 40 European institutions, while students also benefit from overseas collaborative study programmes.

“partnerships, particularly international

“wE aRE a DISTINcTly ScoTTISH UNIVERSITy BaSED IN ScoTlaND’S capITal, BUT oUR REacH aND aSpIRaTIoNS aRE INTERNaTIoNal aND IT IS IN THaT coNTExT wE mUST BE mEaSURED.”professor sir timotHy o’sHea, principal, university of edinburgH

artist’s impression of the new campus.


collaborative research projects, play a significant role in the advancement of academic knowledge and the transfer of that knowledge,” adds professor worden. “Edinburgh Napier is an active partner in the EU/china Development Research centre, we work closely with a number of academic partners in china, delivering joint research papers and providing exchange opportunities for academic staff. But it’s also about sharing ideas on how we run our universities and how we engage with industry.

“In fact, engaging with industry was one of the many reasons we established the Edinburgh Institute in Hong kong; to work with our international partners to provide management development services to organisations in the far East.”

mUTUal BENEfITSThose efforts to further develop international partnership networks are boosted by widespread goodwill towards the city of Edinburgh and the quality of its academic institutions.

as a recognised leader in the fields of science, technology, medicine and literature, coupled with the capital’s reputation for hospitality and events management, it’s not

only students, but also industry, academic and research partners that continue to be drawn to Scotland’s capital.

working alongside the British council, Scottish Development International, Scottish Enterprise and Destination Edinburgh marketing alliance, Edinburgh’s universities market themselves on a global stage and, in doing so, extend the city’s influence around the world.

“in 2011, all of Heriot-Watt’s faculties will be represented at our dubai campus,” says professor amar Kaka, Heriot-Watt university’s vice principal dubai.

Unlike the University’s established network of 50 accredited learning partners, which spans more than 30 countries around the world, the Dubai campus is wholly-owned and operated by Heriot-watt University. “we see it as a unique way in which we can enhance our brand around the world,” adds professor kaka.

“I think it’s also a significant model for growth, building on the recognised and distinctive strengths of our Edinburgh base,” adds Ruth moir, Director of International Development. “In many ways, the Dubai campus represents the flagship of our international activity. our strength in delivering trans-national education placed us in a strong position to open a branch campus overseas, and in fact we were invited to do so by the Dubai government.”

The ultimate litmus test of any academic undertaking is the

employability of the graduates it produces – a fact particularly pertinent to potential Dubai students.

“Heriot-watt has very strong industrial links wherever we operate, but especially so in Dubai where we have signed various memoranda of Understanding with big businesses in the region,” says professor kaka. “Through the provision of internships and relevant guest speakers on our courses that network is proving invaluable in a place like Dubai, where word-of-mouth recommendations are hugely important.”

The appeal of the Dubai campus extends beyond the Emirate. large numbers of students are part-time and already hold successful positions within industry. “many commute from abu Dhabi, after a day’s work, to study in Dubai,” adds professor kaka.

“Ultimately, the success of our Dubai campus will fundamentally influence our future internationalisation strategy,” explains Ruth moir.

<fEaTURE

Starting from just 120 students in 2005, Heriot-watt University’s Dubai campus is now host to morethan 1,800 students – a figure set to nearly double in September 2011 when the new site beginsto enrol its first intake of students. The additional space will also enable the university to expand itscourse offering.

furtHer information

www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com/studywww.ed.ac.uk/about/edinburgh-globalwww.hw.ac.uk/student-life/international-students.htmwww.napier.ac.uk/prospectivestudents/internationalwww.qmu.ac.uk/prospective_students/international/international.htm

a NEw DawN BEckoNS IN THE mIDDlE EaST

Heriot-watt University’s current Dubai campus.


edinburgh airport generates approximately £300 million for the national economy each year, supporting over 11,000 jobs across scotland. many of the world’s largest airlines now connect edinburgh to more than more than 125 destinations worldwide, including global hubs such as london Heathrow, paris-charles de gaulle and new york’s newark airport.

one of the Uk’s fastest-growing airports, passenger numbers at Edinburgh airport are projected to continue to rise by approximately eight million over the next decade. In light of the pressures this growth will place on the airport’s current infrastructure, a number of projects are underway to enhance the capacity and connectivity. The first phase of this has finished with the recent completion of the airport’s new £40 million security hall and departure lounge.

STRoNG GRowTHEdinburgh airport is the largest airport in Scotland by passenger volume. In 2009, the airport handled 106,477 flights and carried 9,043,452 passengers, up from 5.1 million in 1999.

It’s a reflection of Edinburgh’s growing popularity as a tourist destination (overseas visits to Edinburgh rose from 1.0 million in 2004 to 1.3 million in 2009) and the growing number of destinations served by the airport. New routes added in recent years included

Gothenburg, Barcelona, marrakech, Budapest and Helsinki. airlines continue to announce new routes from Edinburgh (see adjacent table for a listing of new routes launched in 2010).

Edinburgh airport is also home to the busiest cargo facility in Scotland. In 2009, 52,000 tonnes of airmail and freight moved through the airport, up from 43,300 tonnes in 1999. This is projected to rise to 86,500 tonnes by 2020 and to 106,500 tonnes by 2030, reflecting the airport’s ambition to become a global cargo hub. The airport’s growing cargo handling operations are accommodated by a 75,300 ft2 (7,000 m2) cargo village featuring warehouses, transit sheds and dedicated cargo aircraft stands.

ExpaNDING capacITyIn recognition of the pressures this strong growth will place on its existing infrastructure, Edinburgh airport has produced a master plan, following extensive public consultation, which outlines the development needs of the airport up to the year 2030.

To cope with increased passenger numbers, additional check-in facilities, baggage reclamation areas, departure lounges and boarding gates will require the expansion of the terminal building. The airport is also expected to require additional maintenance hangars, extended cargo handling facilities, multi-storey car parking and increased on-site hotel provision. land

EDINBURGH aIRpoRT

Edinburgh airport is the seventh largest airport in the Uk,

carrying more than nine million passengers and 52,000 tonnes

of cargo last year. a key driver of Edinburgh’s appeal as a

destination for business and tourism, the airport is currently

undergoing a ten year, £240 million redevelopment in order to

accommodate its future growth.

“EDINBURGH aIRpoRT IS THE laRGEST aIRpoRT IN ScoTlaND By paSSENGER VolUmE. IN 2009, THE aIRpoRT HaNDlED 106,477 flIGHTS aND caRRIED 9,043,452 paSSENGERS, Up fRom 5.1 mIllIoN IN 1999. “

<aNalySIS


has been set aside to accommodate these growth requirements.

Baa, the owner of Edinburgh airport, has committed to investing £240 million in the redevelopment of the airport over a period of 10 years, beginning with a £40 million, 53,800 ft2 (5,000 m2) expansion of the airport terminal. In November 2009, Baa unveiled a new 28,000 ft2 (2,600 m2) departure lounge with seating for 400 passengers and additional shops, restaurants and bars. a new passenger search area with 14 additional x-ray machines that will enable the airport to process up to 13 million passengers annually was completed in July 2010.

RESIlIENcEThe global economic downturn has proven challenging for the global aviation industry. figures published by the airports council International reveal that global airport passenger numbers fell from a record high of 4.9 billion in 2008 to 4.8 billion in 2009, with passenger volumes in European airports falling by 5.4%. In total, 62% of the world’s airports recorded a drop in passenger numbers, with an average year-on-year fall of 6.5%.

Edinburgh airport was one of a small number of Uk airports to convincingly buck this trend, with the transport consultancy RDc aviation naming it the best performing airport in the Uk of 2009 and one of only two of the Uk’s 25 largest airports to grow in 2009. In a year in which some airports reported a double-digit fall in passengers, Edinburgh airport recorded growth. July 2010 saw the airport have its busiest month ever with 960,000 passengers passing through its doors.

locaTIoN, locaTIoN, locaTIoNEdinburgh airport is located eight miles (12 kilometres) west of Edinburgh city centre – the business, retail and tourism heart of the capital. a tram line linking the airport with the city centre is currently being developed and is scheduled to be

operational in the near future, providing a direct route between the airport and each of Edinburgh’s two largest rail stations and fully integrating the airport into the city’s award-winning public transport network.

The airport is strategically situated in west Edinburgh, one of the capital’s four development zones and a major centre for business and retail. To the immediate south of the airport is the Royal Highland centre, an 194,000 ft2 (18,000 m2) covered exhibition space and 110 acre showground that hosts the annual Royal Highland Show, the Uk’s premiere agri-business event. East of the airport is the Gyle centre, a 600,000 ft2 (55,740 m2) shopping mall anchored by Edinburgh’s largest marks and Spencer store. To the southeast is Edinburgh park – an expanding business park with tenants including HSBc, agilent, BT, Diageo, oracle and aegon – and Gogarburn, home to the global headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland (for more information on west Edinburgh, see making it Happen on p.18).

THE fUTUREThe continued growth of Edinburgh airport throughout the economic downturn is evidence of the airport’s growing importance as an international aviation hub. with substantial investment into expansion and modernisation underway, Edinburgh airport is set to remain a key driver of Edinburgh’s competitiveness over the decades ahead.

EDINBURGH aIRpoRT

www.edinburghairport.com

furtHer information

passenger numbers at topUk airports (2009)

airport passengerschange on 2008

Heathrow 65,906,641 -1.5%

Gatwick 32,360,773 -5.3%

Stansted 19,949,689 -10.7%

manchester 18,630,394 -11.5%

luton 9,115,327 -10.4%

Birmingham 9,093,201 -5.0%

Edinburgh 9,043,452 +0.6%

Glasgow 7,213,397 -11.3%

Bristol 5,615,200 -9.8%

liverpool 4,879,468 -8.4%

new direct flights from edinburgh airport added in 2010 to date:

• Barcelona,Spain(Spanair)• Basel,Switzerland(EasyJet)• Budapest,Hungary(Jet2.com)• Cologne,Germany(EasyJet)• Dubrovnik,Croatia(Jet2.com)• Faro,Portugal(Jet2.com)• Feurtaventura,Spain(Ryanair)• Gothenburg,Sweden(Ryanair)• Hamburg,Germany(Ryanair)• Helsinki,Finland(Blue1)• Kaunas,Lithuania(Ryanair)• Kent,UnitedKingdom(Flybe)• Lisbon,Portugal(EasyJet)• Marrakech,Morocco(Ryanair)• Paphos,Cyprus(EasyJet)• Tampere,Finland(Ryanair)• Vilnius,Lithuania(Star1Airlines)


edinburgH: Key indicators

1) population & HouseHolds

2004 latest source

population 453,670 477,660 1Households 209,094 218,774 1average household size 2.12 2.18 1population density (persons /km2) 1,730 1,811 1Natural change (births less deaths) 111 1,236 1Net in-migration 5,138 5,066 1% of population aged 16 to 64 69.6% 70.6% 1

2) labour marKet

3) WealtH & productivity

median gross annual earnings (resident population) £19,075 £23,754 5Gross Value added (GVa) (million) £12,686 £15,304 3GVa per capita (resident population) £28,019 £32,697 3annual births of new enterprises 1,710 1,865 3annual gross disposable household income £6,690 £7,899 3

4) travel & tourism

annual airport passenger volume (millions) 7.99 9.04 6 annual rail station passenger volume (millions) 17.05 21.07 7 annual tourist bednights (million) 13.2 (05) 13.1 8annual tourist expenditure (million) £1,069 (05) £941 8annual hotel room occupancy (lothians) 77% 73% 8world ranking for conferences 24 36 9

5) Housing & commercial property

owner-occupation (% of households) 70% 64% 10New-build housing completions 2,668 918 11average annual house price £166,207 £203,226 12annual house sales 14,893 6,933 12prime city centre office rentals (£/sqm/year) £285 £310 13Industrial warehouse rentals (£/sqm/year) £60 £65 13Zone a retail rentals (£/sqm/year) £3,150 £1,950 13Retail potential Uk ranking 25 15 14

population aged 16+ in employment 228,800 245,200 2Economic activity rate (ages 16-64) 79.7% 77.4% 2Ilo unemployment rate (ages 16-64) 5.2% 6.6% 2 Jobseeker’s allowance claimant rate 2.4% 3.1% 3Total employee jobs 312,773 304,518 3 long-term (>1 yr) as % of all claimants 13.9% 16.2% 3

% pop. educated to NVQ4+ (ages 16-64) 45.1% 44.3% 2Students enrolled in universities 51,740 53,645 4

1 General Register office for Scotland2 annual population Survey3 office for National Statistics4 Higher Education Statistics agency5 annual Survey of Hours and Earnings6 civil aviation authority7 office of Rail Regulation

source notes

Rail station passenger volumes

population

Gross disposable household income

House sales

% pop. educated to NVQ4+ (ages 16-64)

8 VisitScotland9 International congress and convention association 10 Scottish Household Survey11 Scottish Government 12 Registers of Scotland13 Valuation office agency14 cacI Retail footprint

440,000

450,000

460,000

470,000

480,000

42.0%

43.0%

44.0%

45.0%

46.0%

17,00018,00019,00020,00021,00022,000

6,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,00018,000

£6,000£6,500£7,000£7,500£8,000

<THE STaTISTIcS

www.investedinburgh.com | ocoTBER To DEcEmEBER 2010 | invest edinburgH 17

year-on-year cHange in airport passenger numbers

% In

crea

se/d

ecre

ase

in p

asse

ng

er n

um

ber

s source: civil aviation authority. The months on the airport passenger graphs refer to the end of the three month rolling total period. The comparator cities figure is an average of year-on-year changes in passenger numbers at Birmingham, Bristol, cardiff, Gatwick, Heathrow, leeds, london city, luton, manchester, Newcastle and Stansted airports.

JobseeKer’s alloWance claimant count (%)

% w

ork

ing

ag

e p

op

ula

tio

n c

laim

ing

source: NomIS. The comparator cities figure is an average of Jobseeker’s allowance claimant counts in Birmingham, Bristol, cardiff, Glasgow, leeds, liverpool, manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham.

Edinburgh Scotland comparator cities

KnoWn large-scale foreign investments in edinburgH

Nu

mb

er o

f inv

estm

ents

Nu

mb

er o

f jo

bs

crea

ted

source: fDI markets.

Uk

Edinburgh

comparator cities

Investments

Jobs created

<makING IT HappEN 16

LR


EDINBURGH paRkEdinburgh park is one of Scotland’s largest business parks, offering high-quality office space in a unique working environment. Edinburgh park is home to over 20 leading Uk organisations, and has additional land with outline consent for 2,000,000 ft2 (185,800 m2) of new development to the southern end of the park. opportunities are available for new build development and existing space for occupiers seeking Grade a quality offices in west Edinburgh. New tenants taking space in Edinburgh park in recent months include the blue chip technology companies agilent Technologies and JDSU.

EDINBURGH NapIER UNIVERSITyThe £55 million expansion and redevelopment of Edinburgh Napier University’s Sighthill campus represents the final phase of a £100 million estate strategy. Upon opening in 2011, the campus will house approximately 5,500 students and staff (bringing additional expenditure to the area) and provide residents with access to health clinics, sport facilities and other amenities.

THE fUTUREGuided by the west Edinburgh planning framework, west Edinburgh continues to emerge as a global business hub, attracting investment from a number of quarters. This growth offers numerous opportunities for developers, occupiers and other interested parties.

wEST EDINBURGH west Edinburgh acts as a gateway to the city –both locally and globally. Edinburgh park and

the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters at Gogarburn represent the beginnings of a global

hub for business, benefiting from easy access to the international airport.

West edinburgh is an area of national importance for business. its proximity to the airport, together with land that can be made available for development, creates major opportunities. this potential is recognised in the scottish government’s West edinburgh planning framework, in which the key elements are:• Thecontinuedexpansionand

upgrading of Edinburgh airport;• Improvedtransportinfrastructure

connecting the airport;• ThedevelopmentoftheRoyal

Highland Showground;• ThecreationofanInternational

Business Gateway;• Thepotentialdevelopmentofaworld

class arena or multi-use venue.

EDINBURGH aIRpoRTEdinburgh airport has grown over recent years to become Scotland’s largest by passenger volume and revenues. Its schedule of international routes continues to expand, opening up new trade and investment opportunities in Scotland. an ongoing programme of improvements to the airport – including a recently-opened £40 million departure lounge and security hall that will support up to 150 retail jobs – will accommodate a projected rise in passenger numbers from 9.0 million in 2009 to 25.0 million by 2030.

INTERNaTIoNal BUSINESS GaTEwayThe 28 hectare (70 acre) International Business Gateway is located adjacent to Eastfield Road, in close proximity to the airport. The city of Edinburgh council, Scottish Enterprise and various major landowners are working together to facilitate a masterplan for the Gateway. phase 1 of the masterplan will take the form of a mixed-use development and will explore the potential for a multi-purpose arena, new civic square around the tram halt, two new hotels, a world trade centre and supporting infrastructure.

furtHer information

contact: Stuart Seatone: [email protected]: +44 (0) 131 529 2410www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com/invest/edinburgh_developments/west_edinburgh.aspx

Edinburgh park.

<aDDEDExTRaS

furtHer information

www.bravenewtalent.com

LR


DoES EcoNomIc GRowTH = y-x?

We’re talking, of course, about information technology, especially the impact of the internet, social networks and mobile technology.

In true Geny style we’ll keep this brief. This technology is driving a seismic shift in employees’ expectations, which is going to be important because:• Gen y – loosely, those currently aged

15-30 – want careers that provide purpose and a sense of meaning to their work.

• large numbers of Generation x workers will retire over the next decade and simple demographics underline that there won’t be the same number of Generation y candidates entering the workforce.

• capturing and keeping the top talent will therefore be vital (see page 10).

• They expect a more flexible work/life balance, more real-time feedback and career development.

So what does this mean for employers? and how well positioned are those in the Edinburgh city Region to benefit as Generation y enters the workforce?

“It’s not simply a question of generation,’ argues professor Ron mcQuaid, of Edinburgh Napier University’s Employment Research Institute. “The context is vital. Short term, it’s an employers’ market, but longer term, demographics and the economic recovery mean competition to recruit and retain the top talent will be fierce.”

Strategies for the corporate world to engage with this assertive, educated and IT-literate generation are already proliferating. according to research by Tmp worldwide, 79% of students say social networking sites are key to employers

engaging them. another 56% agree that such sites allow candidates to get a feel for a company’s culture.

Into this cauldron of cultural confusion, Generation y’er, lucian Tarnowski, an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh, has launched BraveNewTalent.com. ‘‘Gen y wants to work in responsible businesses that can use social media to communicate what they stand for,” he asserts.

The site allows Gen y jobseekers to follow employer brands of their choice using social media tools. It also enables employers to engage with a community of followers before the applications arrive; driving recruitment from the outside in.

The challenges associated with employing Gen y workers are certainly

provoking widespread debate. The financial Times

has labelled them as ‘every employer’s nightmare’; but fortune magazine claims they are destined to be ‘the most high-performing generation in history’.

That potential performance forms the backbone of work in the US by Richard florida. His ‘creative class’ – scientists, engineers and other highly-educated innovators – have driven the US economy for 40 years and now account for 25% of all US workers. His research spanning the last decade highlights that those places that attracted and retained the ‘creative class’ – such as Seattle, Silicon Valley and Boston – have all prospered. central to their success are three ‘Ts’: talent – a highly educated and skilled community to work alongside; tolerance, for cultural diversity and a cosmopolitan lifestyle, and access to new technology.

Edinburgh, with its highly-skilled workforce, four internationally renowned universities, numerous research institutes and abundance of festivals – attracting global creative talent and supporting a year-round tourism trade – ticks all the necessary boxes.

“The creative class are defined as active participants, not spectators and they seek out diverse and vibrant cities in which to live and innovative, flexible companies in which to work,” adds professor mcQuaid… “or they create them.”

and where better to do that than in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh?

Never before has a generation just entering

the workplace been the authority on the

single greatest innovation that continues

to transform the workplace.

“THE cREaTIVE claSS aRE DEfINED aS acTIVE paRTIcIpaNTS, NoT SpEcTaToRS aND THEy SEEk oUT DIVERSE aND VIBRaNT cITIES IN wHIcH To lIVE aND INNoVaTIVE, flExIBlE compaNIES IN wHIcH To woRk.”

you can get this document on tape, in Braille, large print and various computer formats if you ask us. please contact Interpretation and Translation Service (ITS) on 44 (0)131 242 8181 and quote reference number 00041/03. ITS can also give information on community language translations. you can get more copies of this document by emailing [email protected]

1 …is the capital of Scotland, home to the Scottish parliament, Scottish Government and more than 50 foreign consulates.

2 …is home to six higher education institutes, including the University of Edinburgh, ranked the 15th best university in the world by The Sunday Times in 2010.

3 …has a skilled, productive population, with more than 140,000 working age graduates – more than 44 per cent of the working age population.

4 …is regularly voted as offering the best quality of life of any city in the Uk.

5 …acts as a gateway to Scotland, receiving more than two million domestic visitors and one million overseas visitors per annum spending close to £1 billion.

6 …is home to the corporate headquarters of more fTSE 100 businesses than any other Uk city bar london.

7 …has a rich cultural history, with numerous attractions (including Edinburgh castle and the National Galleries of Scotland) and UNESco world Heritage Site and city of literature status.

8 …is the world’s pre-eminent “festival city”, hosting a year-round programme of festivals with more than four million attendees annually.

9 …has a resilient, diversified economy, with the lowest unemployment rate of any major Uk city.

10 …is well-connected, with Edinburgh airport handling over nine million passengers travelling to more than 125 destinations.

EDINBURGH...

all RIGHTS RESERVED. maTERIal coNTaINED IN THIS pUBlIcaTIoN may NoT BE REpRoDUcED, IN wHolE oR IN paRT, wITHoUT pRIoR pERmISSIoN of THE cITy of EDINBURGH coUNcIl (oR oTHER copyRIGHT owNERS). wHIlST EVERy EffoRT IS maDE To ENSURE THaT THE INfoRmaTIoN GIVEN HEREIN IS accURaTE, No lEGal RESpoNSIBIlITy IS accEpTED foR aNy ERRoRS, omISSIoNS oR mISlEaDING STaTEmENTS.

THIS maGaZINE IS pRINTED oN ENVIRoNmENTally RESpoNSIBlE papER maNUfacTURED USING 50% REcyclED waSTE aND 50% fIBRE fRom wEll maNaGED foRESTS, coNTRollED SoURcES aND REcyclED wooD.

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