Official Report 1038KB pdf
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-18527, in the name of Gordon MacDonald, on the vision for a new centre for sustainable brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament welcomes the commitment from Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, on the economic importance of brewing and distilling in Scotland by seeking to raise £35 million to build a new Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling (CSBD); understands the centre will be a new state-of-the-art version of the current International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD), which it understands is a world leading educational establishment delivering undergraduate and graduate courses; notes that the CSBD will embrace the latest green technologies and sustainable practices, ensuring that the university continues to lead the world in securing a future for both industries; recognises what it sees as the legacy and impact of Heriot-Watt University on the industries of brewing and distilling for more than 120 years, establishing both industries as key economic drivers, and commends what it considers to be the first-class teaching, innovation and sustainable methods of working at the ICBD, which has contributed to the success of brewing and distilling not only in Scotland but across the continents of Europe, the Americas and Asia.
17:34
I thank members across the chamber for supporting my motion in order that this important debate, which highlights the need for a £35 million centre for sustainable brewing and distilling to be built at Heriot-Watt University, could take place. I welcome to the public gallery senior members of the Heriot-Watt University team behind the project.
Scotland’s brewing and distilling sectors are huge economic drivers. Scotch whisky exports were worth £5.4 billion in 2024—the equivalent of 44 bottles a second, or 1.4 billion bottles a year, being exported from Scotland to more than 160 markets around the world. Our distilling sector supports about 41,000 jobs, which is 90 per cent of all distilling jobs in Britain. Beer sales in Scotland total about £428 million, which supports the brewing sector to employ 8,000 people in Scotland in more than 120 breweries, ranging from large industrial breweries to independent craft brewers.
There is a clear and well-documented need for a new centre that is dedicated to sustainable brewing and distilling in Edinburgh, driven by increasing industry demand for environmental innovation, reduced carbon emissions, a transition to clean energy and the implementation of circular economy practices, plus evolving green regulations and the legacy of Heriot-Watt University’s leadership in the sector.
Given the importance of the brewing and distilling sectors to Scotland’s economy, it is only right that we have a state-of-the-art facility that is fit for the 21st century and will support the sectors to continue to grow and expand. Since 1903, Heriot-Watt University has trained generations of brewers and distillers, which has contributed to the success of brewing and distilling not only in Scotland but across the continents of Europe, the Americas and Asia.
In 1989, the university established the world-leading international centre for brewing and distilling, which was founded by Sir Geoff Palmer, the university’s late chancellor, who sadly passed away earlier this year. The inspirational leadership continues to this day, with Professor Dawn Maskell, the director of the centre, winning the award for mentor of the year last month at the inaugural women in beer awards.
It is no great surprise, therefore, that many of today’s best-known Scotch whisky master distillers and brewers—including BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie; Kirsty Black, master distiller at Arbikie Highland estate; and David Wilkinson, head distiller at Edinburgh Gin—studied at that existing facility.
The proposed new resource is a 21st-century upgrade of the existing centre. It is a fitting legacy for Sir Geoff, as it is envisaged that it will include a living laboratory for circular low-carbon production, a pilot-scale test bed for greener processes and a sensory analytics hub with flavour mapping supported by artificial intelligence to halve concept-to-launch timelines. The new centre will embrace the latest green technologies and sustainable practices, thereby ensuring that the university continues to lead the world in securing a future for both industries.
In my time as the MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, I have seen the power of training and education in transforming lives. The centre will provide students, apprentices and professionals with the training that they need and will bridge the gap between the classroom and innovative industry. There will be new scholarships in honour of the late Sir Geoff Palmer to widen participation and diversify talent, new online master of science programmes, the growth of graduate apprenticeship partnerships and pathways, and executive education and continuing professional development, all aligned to industry demand.
It will come as no surprise to members that I support Heriot-Watt University’s proposal to establish the new centre here in Edinburgh. It is more than just bricks and mortar; it is an investment in skills, innovation and community, and in Scotland’s global reputation.
We all know about the heritage of brewing and distilling in Scotland: the whisky, the craft beers, the centuries of craftsmanship and the export successes. We also know that, in an increasingly competitive global market, heritage alone is not enough—we must combine that heritage with high-end research, innovation in processes, sustainability and training for the next generation of experts. Heriot-Watt University’s proposed centre offers precisely that: a place where tradition meets innovation, where our distillers and brewers can pioneer new techniques, where our students are equipped with world-leading expertise and where Scotland continues to show global leadership in the sector.
The vision for a new centre comes at a time when the brewing and distilling sectors are committed to decarbonising operations by 2040; the industry is facing extended producer responsibility fees for packaging; and market access is improving, especially in India, where the lowering of tariffs has strengthened the export case for higher-value, low-carbon products. The industry recognises those challenges and opportunities, which is why Diageo and Carlsberg Britvic both back the university’s vision to deliver groundbreaking, sustainable processes and a highly skilled workforce.
The project will have huge benefits for Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland, first of all in jobs. The new centre will support roles not only in academia but in industry partnerships, supply chains and production, and young Scots will have the opportunity to build careers here, so we will keep talent local. The second benefit relates to research and innovation. By placing state-of-the-art labs, pilot plants and testing facilities in Edinburgh, we will create a hub where companies and researchers can collaborate. Through that, we can enhance productivity, reduce costs, improve sustainability and strengthen Scotland’s competitive edge. To achieve that, we need everyone, from the drinks industry to policy makers, whether at local, Scottish or United Kingdom levels, to get behind the fundraising effort by Heriot-Watt University to realise the vision.
In Scotland we have many strengths—our heritage, our craftsmanship, our natural resources and our global brand—but, if we have strength without renewal, we risk being overtaken. Heriot-Watt University proposes renewal rooted in tradition, reaching for innovation and opening doors for our young people, for industry and for our communities. Let us seize the opportunity and build a centre of excellence in brewing and distilling in Edinburgh that is fit for the 21st century—one that honours our past, equips our present and secures our future.
17:42
I acknowledge Gordon MacDonald for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I very much agree with everything that he said.
The subject is very close to my heart. As many members will know, two of the things that I like most in life are beer and pubs, normally taken together. In order to have those things, we need good home-grown brewing capabilities in Scotland that are also recognised internationally.
As a newly elected MSP, I was delighted to be asked to convene the cross-party group on beer and pubs in the Scottish Parliament. Since becoming convener of the group, I have worked with colleagues on the CPG to raise awareness of the importance of beer and pubs to brand Scotland and to highlight some of the opportunities and threats that the industry faces. It is therefore good, on this occasion, to be discussing what is a good-news story for the Scottish brewing industry.
Only last night, the CPG on beer and pubs met for our annual quiz night. It was a lively event at the Bellfield Brewery taproom, just a stone’s throw from the Parliament. Close to 100 people—MSPs, staffers and industry figures, including brewers—gathered for some friendly competition, while those who wanted to could enjoy a pint or two of Bellfield Brewery’s delicious IPAs, hoppy ales and crisp lagers.
The team at Bellfield, like many brewers in Scotland, are dedicated to brewing great-tasting beers. They are independent, passionate, committed and proud of the beers that they brew, and they are fostering entrepreneurship from the grain to the glass.
There are some significant issues on the horizon, but what we are talking about today could be yet another game changer in the Scottish industry. The characteristics that Bellfield shows are, I think, those that are embodied by the world-renowned international centre for brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University. The centre has nurtured undergraduate and graduate courses that have breathed new life into brewing and distilling, which is hugely important not just to the Scottish and UK economies but for our global reputation and trading relationships. At the last count, in the South Scotland region, which I represent, there were 16 breweries and 703 pubs, which have created 7,530 jobs and contributed £117 million in gross value added to the economy.
However, these are difficult times for the industry. I am hopeful that a new state-of-the-art centre for sustainable brewing and distilling will ensure a resilient and profitable future for both industries that will feed into breweries, distilleries and pubs here and elsewhere.
I am afraid to say that the brewing industry faces a significant skills gap, and I am pleased that the centre, if it secures the funding, will play a vital role in training the next generation of industry professionals, who will be recognised, as Mr MacDonald said, not just here in Scotland but around the world.
With the support of brewing giants such as Carlsberg and Diageo, I hope that Heriot-Watt University’s aim to raise the necessary £35 million will be successful and that the new centre will be able to tackle the fresh set of challenges that the industry faces. That will also assist it in playing its part in tackling the climate crisis while remaining a driver of employment and growth.
Brewers and pubs are key strategic assets for the Scottish economy and society, but the sectors face mounting pressures from rising costs to increased regulation and the tax burden, which could get worse at the next budget. Therefore, we need to provide targeted support.
The proposed centre would be transformational for the brewing industry, but it alone will not be enough to turn around the fortunes of the brewing and pub sectors. Therefore, I ask the minister to consider the requests of the industry and stakeholders, including the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, which, in its manifesto, asked the Government to adopt several recommendations, including a request for it to recognise and act on the findings of the “What does ‘Brand Scotland’ mean for the Scottish Beer and Pub sector?” report, which was published last year by the cross-party group on beer and pubs.
Evidence-based interventions that are aligned with Government priorities will be a game changer and could help to save jobs in an industry that still faces headwinds. I very much welcome the work that the centre can do in ensuring that beer and pubs remain an important part of our economy and a much-loved part of Scotland’s reputation, not just here but abroad.
I close by thanking Mr MacDonald for securing the debate and by lending my voice in support of the centre.
17:47
I am delighted to contribute to this member’s business debate, which was secured by my colleague and best bud Gordon MacDonald, on the vision for a new centre for sustainable brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University. Mr MacDonald has been well known for supporting the industry quite vigorously himself over the years and in the time that I have known him.
Scotland’s brewing and distilling heritage is internationally renowned, from the whisky distilleries of Speyside to the craft breweries that are emerging across our nation. Those industries are not just part of our cultural identity; they are vital contributors to our economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating billions in export revenue.
The establishment of a dedicated centre for sustainable brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University represents an exciting opportunity to cement Scotland’s position as a world leader in the sector. The centre will combine academic excellence with practical industry application, ensuring that our brewing and distilling sectors remain at the cutting edge of innovation and sustainability.
Sustainability is no longer optional—it is essential. The brewing and distilling industries face significant challenges to reduce their environmental impact, from water usage and energy consumption to waste management and carbon emissions. The new centre will provide the research, innovation and training that are needed to address those challenges head on.
What makes the initiative particularly exciting is its potential to support businesses of all sizes, from multinational corporations to small craft producers.
As you know, Presiding Officer, all roads lead to Paisley. In my constituency, we are incredibly proud of the Two Towns Down brewery, which is the first brewery in the town of Paisley for 125 years and was founded in 2019 by Heriot-Watt graduate Sandy McKelvie. Two Towns Down is a perfect example of how a world-class education in brewing and distilling can translate into a thriving local business. Sandy honed his skills at the university before launching his brewery, which now operates a successful taproom and hosts community events, including brewery tours, beer festivals and popular monthly quiz nights.
The new centre for sustainable brewing and distilling will also play a crucial role in skills development. Scotland needs a highly skilled workforce to maintain our competitive advantage in those sectors. By providing world-class education and training in sustainable brewing and distilling practice, the university will help to ensure that we have the talent pipeline that is necessary to drive innovation and growth for decades to come, producing more success stories such as Sandy McKelvie and Two Towns Down in Paisley.
This initiative is about more than just environmental responsibility, although that alone would be reason enough to support it. It is about securing Scotland’s economic future in sectors where we already excel. It is about creating high-quality jobs and supporting our communities, where many distilleries and breweries are located. It is, of course, about Paisley and the fact that we have our first brewery in 125 years—a family business that works in our community and is an important part of the community. It is about ensuring that Scottish products remain the benchmark for quality and sustainability in global markets.
I commend Gordon MacDonald for bringing this important matter to the Parliament’s attention, and I look forward to seeing the centre for sustainable brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University flourish and continue to make a lasting contribution to Scotland’s economic and environmental future.
17:50
I, too, congratulate Gordon MacDonald for securing the debate, because it is a great opportunity to talk about the fantastic work that is being done at Heriot-Watt.
Heriot-Watt University is a leading institution in our city. Its work resonates around the world and, thanks to the creation of international campuses in the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, this Edinburgh institution continues to create a global impact.
Heriot-Watt holds a special place in my heart, as it was there that I taught town planning as a lecturer and saw at first hand the amazing impact that the institution has on students and our community alike. The new centre for sustainable brewing and distilling will cement Heriot-Watt’s reputation at the forefront of one of Scotland’s most critical industries, because—as colleagues have said—brewing and distilling is one of Scotland’s iconic and oldest industries. For many abroad, Scotch defines Scotland, and we need to cherish and cultivate the industry.
Heriot-Watt has been at the forefront of training generations of brewers for decades. The master distillers at Ardbikie Highland estate and at our capital’s very own Edinburgh Gin studied their craft at Heriot-Watt. Now, once again, Heriot-Watt is defining the future of that field, taking an industry that has defined our history and equipping it with the tools for the future.
As a passionate advocate for tackling climate change, I am truly inspired to see one of our universities invest so heavily in the technology that will deliver net zero change. The centre will equip the Scotch industry with the tools that it requires to fully decarbonise its productions. In helping firms to trial low-carbon heat, CO2 capture and water saving, it will provide a valuable resource for breweries, now and in the future.
As other members have said, the proposal builds on the fantastic research that Heriot-Watt has already carried out. The unique vertical Port of Leith Distillery is testament to the research and development that has been carried out in collaboration with Heriot-Watt.
Indeed, Heriot-Watt’s international centre for brewing and distilling was established by one of its most prominent professors and former chancellors, Sir Geoff Palmer, who—as Gordon MacDonald said earlier—sadly passed away this year. I think that it is appropriate to pay tribute tonight to his fantastic contribution to the sector, because he was a man who achieved so much in his career. He was born in Jamaica and became the first black professor in Scotland.
Sir Geoff’s research in the area of barley continues to influence the industry today. I was inspired to hear about the scholarship that has been set up in his memory to support students of Jamaican descent. There are so many brewers and distillers who owe their training to the facilities that Geoff set up. By building a centre for sustainable brewing and distilling, Heriot-Watt University will unlock a whole new generation of research and ensure that one of Scotland’s biggest cultural and economic exports becomes a world leader in sustainability.
I am proud that, once again, our higher education sector is proving why it is so renowned, promoting a key Scottish industry while ensuring that we are at the forefront in the fight against the climate emergency.
I call the Minister for Higher and Further Education, Ben Macpherson, to respond to the debate.
17:54
I, too, thank Gordon MacDonald for bringing to the chamber this important debate on these significant issues and the project. I also thank members for their diverse contributions, which I will try to respond to in summing up.
In Scotland, brewing and distilling are not just industries—they are, as colleagues have emphasised, part of our national story. They are woven into our identity, our economy and our global reputation. Scotland’s higher education system is equally iconic, sharing the same spirit of excellence, innovation and drive to nurture talent that enables our nation to thrive in a competitive world.
Whisky, in particular, is hugely important to our economy, with more than £5 billion in exports to around 170 countries and territories. The industry provides £7.1 billion in gross value added to the UK economy, and in most countries around the world, you cannot go into a bar without seeing a bit of Scotland on the shelf. That is remarkable, and it is important that we continue to support and preserve it.
The sector employs more than 41,000 people in Scotland, and its reach into every corner of the country means that, in our rural and island communities, brewing and distilling often provide many of the high-skilled, well-paid and secure employment opportunities. Those jobs sustain local economies and communities, and we should all celebrate and seek to continue that.
Heriot-Watt University’s international centre for brewing and distilling represents a significant fusion of the two great Scottish strengths: industry and education. Since the centre was established in 1989, it has, as members have emphasised, connected cutting-edge innovation with industry to deliver real-world impact. Its evolution into a centre for sustainable brewing and distilling is in line with the Government’s net zero ambitions and cements Heriot Watt’s status as a pioneering powerhouse in that sphere. It also ties in with the industry's vision, as set out in the Scotch Whisky Association’s sustainability strategy, to play its part in reducing emissions. I will be pleased to engage with Heriot-Watt University on its proposals, and the need to continue to develop skills, in my dialogue with it.
Heriot-Watt’s impact is wide. For example, the Deputy First Minister visited Ardgowan Distillery, where joint research with the university is improving efficiency, cutting costs and reducing emissions in the distillation process. That is a win for business and for the planet. The research was supported by the Scottish food and drink net zero challenge fund as part of a £130,000 package from the Scottish Government in 2022. To maintain our position as a world leader in brewing and distilling, we must harness every opportunity that is available to us to enhance and support those industries. One of Scotland’s greatest strengths is its diversity and capacity for innovation. Those qualities are nurtured by Heriot-Watt University, and we need to build on them.
We have an incredible range of producers, from large-scale distillers—some of which have been mentioned—crafting some of the world’s finest whisky, gin, vodka and rum to a tapestry of brewers. Those producers span the length of the country and are leading the way as part of a traditional industry embracing different and sustainable practices. For example, the Black Isle Brewery is proudly certified as organic and as a B corp; it is one of the places that I really want to visit. We also have Tennent’s Wellpark brewery, which is powered entirely by renewable energy, eliminating more than 4,200 tonnes of CO2 annually from its network.
In my constituency, I know that the sector’s value is clear. The Port of Leith Distillery—which is, as was mentioned, the world’s first vertical distillery—is a remarkable success. We also have a thriving craft beer scene, with Moonwake Beer Co, Newbarns Brewery, Campervan Brewery, Pilot Beer and Cold Town Beer—along with Bellfield, just over my constituency boundary—each creating unique products that reach national and international markets.
I thank the minister for his positivity, but he will be aware that 2 per cent of Scotland’s pubs closed last year, in comparison with just 0.9 per cent in England. Will he be a voice for the industry in the Government, and will he address the industry’s concern that there is an anti-alcohol agenda creeping through the Scottish Government? We recognise that alcohol harm is real, but the industry is doing a lot to prevent it, so will he ensure that he speaks up for the industry in the Scottish Government?
My support for the industry is well documented in the Official Report of this Parliament, and I continue, in my current ministerial brief, to be that person; I have just talked about the producers in my constituency. I recognise the work that the member has done in leading the CPG on beer and pubs, and I heard the call to engage on the CPG’s recommendations. I will certainly welcome it if the member wants to engage with me on that, and I know that ministerial colleagues in other portfolios will be interested, too.
Scotland punches well above its weight in the craft beer industry, accounting for 12.1 per cent of the UK’s craft beer market, which is worth £42.5 million. We are committed to supporting growth for the sector through initiatives such as the guest beer agreement; that is a key component of the Scottish pubs code, which came into force this year and is making a positive difference.
Ensuring that brewing and distilling remain not just legacies but areas of future success will depend on knowledge, skills and innovation—areas in which our universities are uniquely placed to excel. Their capacity for adaptation and forward-thinking research will be critical to sustaining those industries in a changing world. Through the proposed CSBD project, Heriot-Watt University will have the capacity to do even more. The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting the role that universities play in Scotland’s economy and society, and I look forward to engaging further with Heriot-Watt on the proposals for the centre.
The debate has shown that there is strong cross-party support for brewing and distilling. That is important, as those are an essential part of Scotland’s national fabric. We have also underlined the role of our higher education sector in ensuring that those important industries are not just rooted in our past, but remain at the forefront of our future, and that we enable opportunities for people to enter those industries and build their skills. We will continue to support those sectors not only for their economic value, but for their leadership, and for the important role that they play in Scotland’s identity and prosperity.
I echo the points that members have made about Sir Geoff Palmer and how the development of the proposed centre will help to add to his strong legacy, which ripples through our constituencies. I had the great privilege of meeting Sir Geoff several times and hearing his enthusiasm for brewing, and I know of the impact that he has made in my constituency, through the businesses that are now developing their craft there. I had the great privilege, on behalf of the Government, of attending his memorial service. In today’s debate, and in many other ways, his legacy lives on, and we look forward to continuing to build on it.
Thank you, minister. Having also attended the memorial ceremony, I, too, send my personal thoughts to Sir Geoff’s family. He certainly had a massive impact, not just in the university but far more broadly, as we heard at the ceremony.
With that, I close the debate and this meeting of Parliament.
Meeting closed at 18:02.
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