INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS

INVESTMENT PROSPECTUS

INVEST IN STIRLING / CONNECTIVITY A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY 77% ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE RESIDENTS (2014) 87.2% OF 25-49 YEAR OLDS (2014) WORKING AGE POPULATION (2015 to 2030) 2.1% FORECAST GROWTH COMPARED TO -2.6% SCOTLAND FORCAST PEOPLE IN EMPLOYMENT (2013/14) STIRLING EDINBURGH 72.7% 72.4% GLASGOW SCOTLAND 64.5% 72.2% GVA 2015/2030 STIRLING S AVERAGE INCREASE 2.2% P.A. WORKPLACE EARNINGS: STIRLING 30,086 SCOTLAND 31,474 CONNECT WITH US Situated in the top-performing region for FDI outside London, Stirling delivers unrivalled global connectivity at a highly competitive price. Our direct access to international markets makes this the place for growth. A culture of world-class innovation in aquaculture, big data, financial technologies, digital health, dairy and construction will inspire you, as will the proximity of one of the world s top 50 universities under 50 years old, the pioneering companies already here and our talented workforce. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: THE UK S MOST AFFORDABLE CITY: Based on average house price as a multiple of average salary. Rent SQ.FT Stirling 12.46 Glasgow 15.02 Edinburgh 16.23 Sale SQ.FT Stirling 51 Glasgow 200 Edinburgh 315 THE LOWEST AVERAGE COSTS FOR COMMERCIAL LAND AND PROPERTY Measured against all cities in Scotland s central belt. A 200m investment plan by Stirling Council and its partners aims to further improve what is already an ideal environment for your corporate growth and investment. STIRLING AT A GLANCE * *Stirling local authority area GROWING AT A FASTER RATE THAN SCOTTISH AVERAGE SINCE 1981 0.4%. V 0.1% P.A. POPULATION BY 2030 101,750 2016: 91,260 MALES BY 2030 51,591 2016: 43,886 FEMALES BY 2030 54,269 2016: 47,374 16.3% PREDICTED GROWTH COMPARED TO 5.9% SCOTTISH AVERAGE 12.3% PROPORTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE COMPARED TO 6.7% SCOTTISH AVERAGE

INVEST IN STIRLING / CONNECTIVITY THE MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL CITY IN SCOTLAND STIRLING UNIVERSITY 5 STARS EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR EMPLOYABILITY (QS Stars, 2014) Stirling has one of the most talented and highly skilled workforces in Scotland and the highest percentage of employees who are managers, directors and senior officials in Scotland, at 13.4%. 1ST IN SCOTLAND FOR HEALTH SCIENCE RESEARCH 4TH IN THE UK FOR AGRICULTURE, VETERINARY AND FOOD SCIENCE RESEARCH CONNECTIVITY Stirling provides a strategic location from which to access your regional, national and international markets; enjoying excellent air, rail and road links. The city s connectivity is enhanced by our proximity to international airports in Glasgow and Edinburgh, both easily accessible. Together, they offer direct flights to more than 140 destinations worldwide, including more than 50 flights per day to and from London. Three trains per hour connect Stirling to Edinburgh and two per hour connect us with Glasgow. Virgin 45MINS DISTANCE TO EDINBURGH AIRPORT 65MINS DISTANCE TO GLASGOW AIRPORT UNDER AN HOUR FOR GLASGOW 50 NUMBER OF FLIGHTS TO LONDON S AIRPORTS, PER DAY, FROM GLASGOW + EDINBURGH East Coast also operates a direct link to London King s Cross, making the UK capital accessible in just over 5 hours. Grangemouth less than 20 minutes drive from the city centre is the UK s largest feeder port and the only one that exports more than it imports: up to 30% of Scotland s gross domestic product (GDP) passes through it annually. 4HRS M-F SERVICE FASTEST DIRECT TRAVEL TIME FROM EDINBURGH TO LONDON BY RAIL STIRLING HAS AROUND 2,000 NEW INTERNATIONAL ROUTES FROM BOTH AIRPORTS IN 2015 HOMES AND BUSINESSES ABLE TO ACCESS FIBRE SERVICES AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 80MBPS The city was named Best place in Scotland to start a business in 2015 (coming 8th in the UK overall) [Quality Formations]. This reflects: The locally available talent A huge travel to work catchment area supported by excellent travel links The city s low cost of living. With its world-class reputation for agenda-setting research, high-quality teaching and collaborative partnerships with business, industry, the voluntary sector and the wider community, Stirling University is among the top 5% of universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2014). It was also recently voted among the top 200 most international universities in the world. 96% of the University s first degree graduates are in work or further study within six months of graduating (Telegraph/HESA, 2015) and more than 10% take up employment in the area, which helps explain why, with 100 more businesses per 10,000 population than the Scottish average, Stirling is also Scotland s most entrepreneurial city. Stirling University Innovation Park fosters a close working relationship between tenants and the University s research staff and facilities and is home to 40 R&D technology businesses. The city is also home to the 29m Forth Valley College campus, which has a superb record and reputation for industry engagement and offers many joint degrees with Stirling University. Forth Valley College is a leading innovator in the Further Education sector. It offers more than 750 courses to almost 20,000 students and was awarded a prestigious Association of Colleges Beacon Award for Innovation in Further Education in 2014. 36.9% STIRLING HAS A HIGH PROPORTION OF RESIDENTS WITH HIGHER LEVEL SKILLS (NVQ4+) (NOMIS, 2013) KEY AREAS OF FE/HE FOCUS: AQUACULTURE, BIG DATA, CHILD PROTECTION, CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, DEMENTIA CARE HEALTHCARE, HOSPITALITY, SPORT, TOURISM BUSINESS IN STIRLING 1/3 WORKING AGE RESIDENTS HAVE AN HND/DEGREE-LEVEL QUALIFICATION BUSINESS STOCK RATES PER 10,000 (2013) 93 STIRLING 43.8% HOLD JOBS THAT ARE PROFESSIONAL/SENIOR EDINBURGH 80 GLASGOW 66 SCOTLAND 72 BUSINESS SURVIVAL RATE Year 1: 94% Year 3: 65% COMPARED TO THE YEAR 1: 61.2% & YEAR 3: 61.2 SCOTTISH AVERAGE

INVEST IN STIRLING / FOOD & DRINK 11% CROPS 7% DAIRY 54% MIXED 28% MEAT 700,000 PINTS OF MILK PER DAY FOOD & DRINK Local businesses lie at the heart of Scotland s world-class reputation for quality produce and food and drink innovation. The area is home to several major businesses: International drinks distributor Maxxium UK Spanish food importer, Iberico Foods National meat processor, Scotbeef Scotland s leading independent milk producer, Graham s Dairies Glengoyne Distillery Black Wolf Brewery Local logistics companies (freight, haulage and warehouse operations), ensure that produce can be processed and packaged locally and shipped regionally, nationally and internationally. Growers and producers also benefit from the city s attractive tourism offering. Locally, food and beverage outlets generate a turnover of 100.6m with GVA of 66.2m. These businesses spend an estimated 10m per annum on food and drink supplies, around half of which is sourced locally. This presents a significant local market opportunity for producers in Stirling. FARMING BUSINESSES FORM THE BACKBONE OF THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN AND THERE ARE >200 IN THE AREA THE REGION IS HOME TO SEVERAL LEADERS IN FOOD AND DRINK RESEARCH, AS WELL AS STIRLING UNIVERSITY RANKED 4TH IN THE UK FOR FOOD SCIENCE RESEARCH IN 2014. OTHER WORLD-LEADING RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS WITHIN AN HOUR S DRIVE INCLUDE: Centre for Sustainable Practice and Living at Stirling University The Institute of Aquaculture at Stirling University Interface Food & Drink Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh The James Hutton Institute The Moredun Research Institute The Scottish Rural College (SRUC) 100.6M TURNOVER OF FOOD & BEVERAGE OUTLETS LOCALLY. GENERATES GVA OF 66.2 MILLION 10M PER ANNUM (ESTIMATED) IS SPENT ON FOOD AND DRINK SUPPLIES BY THOSE BUSINESSES. AROUND HALF OF WHICH IS SOURCED LOCALLY. CASE STUDY From its base in Stirling, Graham s Dairies has seen sales grow by 20% a year for the past 15 years, creating a turnover in excess of 80m in 2014.It currently produces more than 700,000 pints of milk per day. Graham s also plans to invest more than 20m to create a world-class research and development facility in Stirling. STIRLING S LOCATION, SKILLED WORKFORCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES ARE KEY ATTRIBUTES WHICH MAKE THIS A GREAT PLACE TO RUN A BUSINESS. WE NOW EMPLOY MORE THAN 600 FULL TIME STAFF AND OUR FUTURE INVESTMENT PLANS INCLUDE BUILDING SCOTLAND S LEADING DAIRY PROCESSING FACILITY HERE. THIS REFLECTS OUR BELIEF IN THE POTENTIAL THAT STIRLING OFFERS FOR RUNNING AND GROWING A BUSINESS. Robert Graham, MD, Graham s Family Dairy 68.88M THE IMPACT OF TOURISM ON STIRLING S FOOD AND DRINK INDUSTRY

INVEST IN STIRLING / FINANCIAL SERVICES FINANCIAL SERVICES There are currently 335 businesses that account for 8% of the total employment in the area the second highest concentration of financial service businesses in Scotland. These include The Prudential, which has a large and well established base in Stirling covering retail life, pensions and shared services; US-based International Financial Data Services (IFDS), which recently announced a 20% increase in its 500-strong workforce here, and Capita, which has an award-winning contact centre in the city. This is the largest of its kind in the UK, handling over 1 million inbound calls and more than 2 million customer transactions every year. The banking sector and a variety of business support services are also significant local employers, including Handelsbanken. THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN STIRLING, TOGETHER WITH ITS CENTRAL LOCATION, MEANS WE ARE ABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN A HIGHLY-SKILLED WORKFORCE. JOHN WARBURTON, DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR AT PRUDENTIAL PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATION 25% IN STIRLING 20% SCOTTISH AVERAGE (NOMIS 2013) PRUDENTIAL SERVES AROUND 25 MILLION INSURANCE CUSTOMERS. IN 2014, IT WON THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR CONTINUOUS CUSTOMER-SERVICE EXCELLENCE. EMPLOYEES WITH HIGHER LEVEL SKILLS (NVQ4+) STIRLING 2013 = 21.6% 36.9% EMPLOYEES IN SECTOR. SCOTTISH AVERAGE 19.6% (NOMIS) RESIDENT EARNINGS 2014 40,471 31,426 FOR SCOTLAND WORKPLACE EARNINGS 2014 30,056 31,474 FOR SCOTLAND

INVEST IN STIRLING / DIGITAL STIRLING IS ONE OF ONLY FOUR LOCATIONS IN THE UK WHERE THE MSC IN BIG DATA IS TAUGHT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DATA LAB. DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY More than 70 local businesses enjoy access to an enviable local talent pool, attracted by the excellent quality of life and low cost of living. Tailored business accommodation, readily available support from academia and a strong local business support partnership combine to ensure Stirling offers one of the best locations in Scotland for digital technology businesses, including a cluster of 40 research and development firms at the Stirling University Innovation Park. Stirling University produces a steady flow of graduates to service the sector, with courses at either degree or Masters level in Business Computing, Computing Science, Software Engineering, Big Data, Information Technology and Software Engineering. Forth Valley College also provides a range of qualifications, up to degree level, in Computing, Software Development and Applied Computing. What s more, Stirling s unrivalled location places a vast potential workforce within easy commuting distance including a huge pool of graduates in digital technology related disciplines. CASE STUDY DOGFI.SH Mobile operates globally, in a sector that is expanding rapidly. We needed a location that met some important criteria, including: Easy access to a supply of great business and technical talent (both experienced and graduate/post-graduate); Access to research in the sectors that we operate in; A progressive and energetic attitude to collaboration between the business community and the university; Easy access to both Edinburgh and Glasgow, for staff and transportation links. WE HAVE CUSTOMERS LOCATED ALL ROUND THE WORLD AND STIRLING IS ONLY 30 MINS FROM EDINBURGH AIRPORT, AND EDINBURGH AIRPORT IS ONLY 6 HOURS FROM NEW YORK! ROSS TUFFEE, DOGFI.SH MOBILE ACADEMICS FROM STIRLING UNIVERSITY S ACCLAIMED FACE RESEARCH LAB ARE PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN A 6 MILLION STUDY, LAUNCHED IN 2015, TO DEVELOP NEXT GENERATION FACE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY. COURSES AT EITHER DEGREE OR MASTERS LEVEL TAUGHT WITHIN A -MINUTE DRIVE 45 OF THE CITY: INFORMATICS SOFTWARE ENGINEERING COMPUTER SCIENCE COMPUTING AND ELECTRONICS INFORMATION SYSTEMS COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DIGITAL DESIGN DIGITAL SECURITY FORENSICS AND ETHICAL HACKING

INVEST IN STIRLING / TOURISM Forth Valley College has a particularly strong tourism and hospitality offering and supports qualifications in Food and Beverage Service Supervision, Hospitality Management, Professional Cookery, Hospitality, Travel & Tourism and Events Co-ordination; while Stirling University s internationally-respected management school produces a regular supply of high-calibre graduates and post-graduates in management specialisms. The UK s largest university-based consultancy and research centre for tourism and travel market research and business development The Moffat Centre is less than 40 miles away. The Centre provides realistic, practical advice to tourism businesses. Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument face each other across the city to deliver one of Europe s most striking and dramatic landscapes. Both attractions are among Scotland s top 15 paid-for attractions and attract more than 500,000 visitors to the area between them each year. In 2011 the castle enjoyed a 12m restoration of the Royal Palace, helping to facilitate a world-class programme of living history and animation within one of Scotland s most iconic attractions. TOURISM 76% Scotland s world famous scenery, history and entertainment are all brought into focus here, for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Stirling has always been at the heart of Scottish history and bore witness to two of Scotland s most famous battles, Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn. In 2014, to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the battle, a new 9m state-of-the-art visitor centre opened at Bannockburn. OF ALL VISITORS TO STIRLING CITE OUR VISITOR ATTRACTIONS AS THE INITIAL DRIVER OF THEIR VISIT. 9,201 44% JOBS DIRECTLY SUPPORTED OVERSEAS VISITORS 76% 4M > DOUBLE THE AVERAGE DAILY EXPENDITURE 463M VISITORS SCOTTISH AVERAGE THE AVERAGE OCCUPANCY RATE OF STIRLING S HOTELS TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT 83M TOTAL VISITOR SPEND IN 2014 (5TH HIGHEST SPEND OUT OF THE 32 LOCAL AUTHORITY AREAS IN SCOTLAND) 54% THE PERCENTAGE OF VISITORS WHO STAY FOR AT LEAST ONE NIGHT 56 FOR OVERNIGHT OVERSEAS VISITORS

INVEST IN STIRLING / QUALITY OF LIFE STIRLING KEY DEVELOPMENT SITES The city provides easy access to the nearby Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and a range of activities in the surrounding countryside, including water sports, walking and cycling. Stirling offers an exceptional quality of life, strongly linked to a fantastic geographic setting, stunning scenery, as well as low crime, excellent health care, and quality schools with high levels of achievement. QUALITY OF LIFE Stirling is the UK s most affordable city in which to live, according to a report in 2016 by Lloyds Bank... The city also boasts a range of restaurants, bars, cafés, cinemas and venues such as the Macrobert Arts Centre and Tolbooth. This quality of life appeals increasingly to higher earners, who work across the central belt but choose to live in Stirling. AVERAGE COST OF A HOME UK AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE 132,734 184,215 3.3 TIMES THE AVERAGE WAGE >6 TIMES THE AVERAGE WAGE A comprehensive search to find suitable land and property. H elp identifying and accessing relevant funding. G uidance on Planning and Building Control. I ntroductions to local sector-specific contacts and business support organisations. A ccess to free advice from local professional services firms. Support in liaising with relevant regulatory agencies. Help with recruitment and accessing employability initiatives. To learn more about these specific development opportunities, or to hear how we can help you locate in the heart of Scotland, contact Stuart Oliver. t: +44 (0)1786 233158 e: olivers@stirling.gov.uk SITE NAME DESCRIPTION Forthside City centre mixed development, which includes opportunities for new build offices and hotel. Kildean Mixed development in a premium location adjacent to the M9 motorway, with high quality business space. Pirnhall Key office and leisure development opportunities at the strategic junction of the M9 and M80 motorways. Stirling University Provides research and development opportunities Innovation Park linked to Stirling University with potential for expansion. Castle Business Park Adjacent to the M9 motorway, offers high quality, modern office space set in attractive landscaped grounds, with spectacular views of Stirling Castle. Broadleys / Millhall Capacity for further business, industrial and distribution development within this key business location. Bandeath Established industrial estate near Stirling that presents opportunities for business, industry and storage. Whatever your line of business, this is the ideal environment in which to invest and grow. Our goal is to help you get established quickly and successfully. BUSINESS AND INNOVATOR SUPPORT IN 2009, STIRLING RESIDENTS HAD ANNUAL DISPOSABLE INCOME PER HEAD OF 18,910 17,039 17,559 PER HEAD SCOTLAND AVERAGE UK AVERAGE

Stirling delivers unrivalled global connectivity at a highly competitive price, in the top-performing region for FDI outside London. SOURCES: Stirling Economic Baseline Peter Brett Associates Stirling Economy Watch 2015 Business register and employment survey, ONS STEP Economy Information 2009 Biggar Economics Nomis 2004-2013 investinstirling.co.uk