Had-Fab, one of the UK’s leading metal structure engineering and fabrication companies, has become the first business to invest in the Forth Green Freeport. It’s expanding onto a 10 acre site at Queensferry One in Rosyth, which we own and are developing through Scarborough Muir Group, our joint venture with Muir Group. The move brings more than 50 direct jobs.
The family business, based in Macmerry in East Lothian, first took 6.1 acres at Queensferry One earlier this year as a logistics base after a run of big contract wins. More wins followed, so within months it took the four acre plot next door too.
Had-Fab designs, fabricates, installs and manages metal structures, including overhead electricity pylons for SSE and the wider UK transmission network. Demand from the power sector is what’s driving its growth.
It’s also the first business to go through the Freeport’s onboarding process for its tax sites, which means it’ll get five years of Green Freeport non domestic rates relief.
Anthony G. Jones, Chief Commercial Officer at Had-Fab, said:
“Expanding our operations at Queensferry One marks an exciting new chapter in Had-Fab’s continued growth. Our expansion has been driven by the increasing demand for our capabilities and the opportunities we are seeing across the UK’s power transmission sector.
“This investment is about more than expanding our operational capacity. It reflects our long-term commitment to investing in our facilities and our people, creating the foundations for sustainable growth as we continue to support major infrastructure projects across the UK. Establishing a presence at Queensferry One also gives us an excellent base to support our customers and our continued operation growth.
“We are proud and extremely pleased to be contributing to the local Fife economy and creating more than 50 direct jobs. We look forward to becoming part of the wider Rosyth business community and playing our part in supporting local employment, skills and economic growth.”
William McAlister, spokesperson for Scarborough Muir Group, said:
“Had-Fab is a significant addition to Queensferry One and its decision to expand again within months of arriving at Rosyth is a strong endorsement of the location and the investment that has been made here.
“Queensferry One has been prepared to accommodate businesses with substantial requirements and give them the space to grow. We have one of Scotland’s largest development-ready industrial and logistics sites, with serviced land and infrastructure already in place and the capacity to support further investment.
“Had-Fab’s investment is an important milestone for the Forth Green Freeport, but the real opportunity is what comes next. Rosyth has the land, infrastructure, skills and industrial heritage to play a much bigger role in Scotland’s manufacturing, engineering and energy economy, and we want Queensferry One to be at the heart of that growth.”
It’s a big moment for the Freeport as a whole, and the news has been welcomed by the Scottish Government, the Freeport and Fife Council.
Tom Arthur, Minister for Business and Fair Work, said:
“Welcoming the first investor in a Forth Green Freeport tax site is a significant step forward and demonstrates that the Green Freeport programme is beginning to translate ambition into tangible economic benefits.
“Had-Fab’s decision to expand at Queensferry One will support skilled job creation, strengthen Scotland’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities and help build the supply chains needed for the transition to a net zero economy. This investment shows the positive role that Green Freeports can play in attracting investment and creating high-quality jobs across Scotland.”
Dame Susan Rice DBE, Chair of the Forth Green Freeport, said:
“Had-Fab’s new facility at Queensferry One is a significant development for the Forth Green Freeport as this marks the first investor who has gone through our rigorous on-boarding process for businesses on our designated tax sites.
“Had-Fab is creating local jobs and economic growth for the area and are benefitting from accessible, ready to use land with excellent land and sea logistics, and a suite of attractive business incentives. We wish Had-Fab much success and look forward to announcing more investor news across the FGF area soon.”
Cllr Altany Craik, Fife Council’s Economy Spokesperson, said:
“Had-Fab's decision to establish a presence at Rosyth is an important milestone for both Fife and the Forth Green Freeport. As the first company to complete an end user agreement on the Rosyth tax site, it demonstrates growing confidence in the area as a strategic location for investment and business growth.
“The Rosyth site will provide valuable logistics and laydown space to support the delivery of major infrastructure projects and strengthens Fife's role in Scotland's clean energy supply chain. It is encouraging to see businesses making use of the opportunities available through the Green Freeport programme, helping to support economic activity, supply chains and future investment across the region.”
We’ve spent more than 20 years turning the former Ministry of Defence land at Rosyth into a place for business, cleaning up the ground and clearing away what was left from its naval days. Queensferry One is now a 120 acre, development ready site with an outline masterplan for more than 1.5 million sq ft of industrial and logistics space. Had-Fab joins Babcock International, the Port of Rosyth and a cluster of manufacturing, maritime, energy and logistics businesses already in the area.
Serviced plots and design and build opportunities are available now. To find out more about space at Queensferry One, contact our joint letting agents, Craig Semple at CBRE on 07795 641 892 or craig.semple@cbre.com, or Lewis Pentland at Colliers on 07748 704 734 or lewis.pentland@colliers.com.
