Global business services
With a proven track record in servicing global markets and a world-class infrastructure, Scotland is the natural choice for global business services.
Did you know?
From digital technologies, finance, legal and accounting to human resources and customer experience, Scotland’s workforce has expertise across several industries and offers a cultural affinity with customers.
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150,000 employees
currently make up global business services in Scotland.
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Around 23,000 graduates
in business and management and computing from Scotland's 19 universities.
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Significant lower costs
Scotland offers quality talent at a lower cost compared to other major cities, including London.
Sources: HESA (2021/22), FDI Benchmark.
Services for the whole world, from Scotland
Track record of success
As one of the most important centres for global business services in the UK and with a proven track record in servicing global markets, Scotland offers stability and security for you to establish your operations here.
Scotland's world-class infrastructure, excellent connectivity and competitive costs have attracted companies such as Morgan Stanley, Sky, Capgemini and Amazon to locate here. Companies deliver a range of business functions including customer experience, finance, HR, procurement, legal services and technology development.
Why Scotland is a good fit for your global business services company
Join a community with innovation at its heart
Scotland is at the forefront of the digital revolution in global business services. We have a rich history of innovation and companies can attract world-class expertise and work in collaboration with our world-leading institutions.
Our technology sector is flourishing, with around 74,000 people working in digital technology roles. From application development, cyber security and data analytics, to robotic process automation and AI, you can be assured that Scotland has the skills and expertise to support you. Source: NOMIS 2021
11 future technologies and Scotland's expertise
Access the skills and talent you need
Scotland offers access to a high-quality, experienced and diverse workforce across a range of business functions including digital technologies, customer experience, sales, tech support, finance, HR, procurement, payroll and legal services. Your company will benefit from hard-working and dependable staff, creating stability and reassurance for your business.
With around 17,000 university graduates per year from business and management courses, and a further 6,000 in computing, you can be assured of a steady stream of talent to support your business.
More about people, skills and recruitment in Scotland
Benefit from ongoing support
Come to Scotland and you’ll become part of one of the world’s most supportive and accessible business environments for global business services. You can call on a network of specialist advisers ready to support you as you settle in Scotland. Most of the world’s large professional services firms have offices in Scotland and you can access Scottish, UK and international law firms, offering business sector expertise ‘on the ground’.
You’ll also be supported by professional and industry bodies which make valuable connections between companies and the relevant professions in Scotland.
Scotland's digital technologies expertise
Our data research strength comes from a skilled workforce, research-driven universities, advanced digital infrastructure and an established network of enabling technology companies.
This can benefit your company both in terms of the emerging cluster of associated early stage technology businesses and for collaborative research with recognised global industry leaders.
Abertay University in Dundee was the world’s first university to offer an ethical hacking degree and is leading on the creation of CyberQuarter, a research and development centre. The University of Edinburgh is also a UK Government approved Centre of Excellence for cyber security research.
An increasing number of large firms and start-ups are looking at blockchain and its applications. Our Blockchain Technology Lab in the University of Edinburgh focuses on industry inspired challenges, studying topics such as cryptography, regulation and compliance, business and law.
Read our article on 11 future technologies and Scotland's expertise
Amazon selected Edinburgh as the location of its first global development centre outside of North America. Scotland's machine learning and Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) talent is helping them to develop new and innovative products.
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VeriCall expands in Scotland
Access to talent, skills training and digital technology helped London-based global business services firm, VeriCall choose Scotland as a location to scale up its operations.
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Financial and tax incentives
Want to bring your project to life? Think Scotland. Benefit from a range of attractive incentives to help you upskill your staff, develop new products and services and access growth capital.
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Ashurst raises the bar for legal services
Learn why progressive global law firm Ashurst decided that Glasgow was the ideal place to expand its full range of business-critical functions.
Need help?
If you have a question about global business services opportunities in Scotland, our team of advisers can help.