A £35m Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling (CABD) at Heriot-Watt University could generate an additional £53.4m for the Scottish economy every year.
How the new centre would look
An impact assessment from BiGGAR Economics provides an analysis of the potential economic benefits of a new state-of-the-art centre at the university. This will continue Heriot-Watt’s support of world-leading academic research and innovation in brewing and distilling, which dates back to 1903.
BiGGAR estimates that, within 10 years, the CABD could be generating a total economic impact of £324.8m gross value added (GVA) per year for Scotland, as well as 1,570 jobs within 10 years.
Heriot-Watt’s acclaimed International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) has been a driving force behind the success of the brewing and distilling sector for nearly 40 years. In 2024/25 alone, it generated £240.1m GVA for the Scottish economy and supported 1,180 jobs.
In order to build the new CABD, Heriot-Watt is looking to unlock £25.3m from industry as well as £9.7m in public investment. In terms of the latter figure, BiGGAR’s assessment states the CABD could deliver £20.80 of economic benefit for every £1 of public funding invested.
Currently, the alcohol sector employs 60,000 people, representing 2.4% of all jobs in Scotland, 14,000 or 71% of the UK’s distilling jobs, and a GVA per head across the distilling of spirits and manufacturing of beer sub-sectors of £240,730.
However, the assessment states that the ICBD’s ability to sustain its current level of success is under threat. A new CABD would help to sustain and develop Scotland’s brewing and distilling sectors, as well as meet the new challenges of the 21st century.
These include meeting brewing and distilling’s commitment to reach net zero by 2040 (they account for 1.5% of the UK’s total emissions); tackling the large volumes of water used to create Scotch whisky in particular; maintaining their competitiveness by finding solutions to the current rising input costs (from 2020 to 2025 they increased by 37%); and tackling the current skills shortage across the sectors.
The assessment warns that if the money is not raised to build the CABD, it will become increasingly difficult for the ICBD to support the sector effectively as facilities become less able to meet student and industry demand.
“BiGGAR Economics’ independent assessment provides a huge vote of confidence in our vision for a new Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling,” said Prof Chris Turney, deputy principal of research and innovation at Heriot-Watt University. “To be located right next to the National Robotarium, the new centre will deliver real, tangible benefits for brewing and distilling and the wider supply chain that depends on them. This report confirms what we have long believed.”
He added: “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 of global supply chain and 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.”
