GRANT SCHEME £19 MILLION JOBS BOOST

18th October 2009

2,500 jobs aided by Scottish Government grant scheme.

Hundreds of jobs will be created or safeguarded across Scotland through the award of more than £19 million Scottish Government grants which will stimulate investment in the Scottish economy, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today.

In the last quarter (July to September), Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) funding offers have been accepted by 32 businesses, linked with overall planned capital expenditure of more than £70 million and the planned creation and safeguarding almost 2,500 jobs in Scotland.

The last quarter's RSA grants have been accepted by companies in various key industries including financial services, food and drink, aerospace and IT .

RSA is the main national scheme of financial assistance to industry, providing grants to investment projects that will create and safeguard employment.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The Scottish Government is working hard to strengthen the economy and with the support of our RSA grant scheme almost 2,500 jobs can be safeguarded or created across the country.

"It is particularly important in the current economic climate that we use all of the tools available to boost and stimulate Scotland's economy.

"RSA helps to attract investment into our communities, creating opportunities for employment and supporting much needed jobs, which will increase growth and ensure a strong economic recovery.

"The Scottish Government are aware that businesses, families and individuals across Scotland face real challenges and this is why we have put in place a comprehensive economic recovery plan, which is supporting some 15,000 jobs and supporting the creation of a smarter, wealthier Scotland."

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is the main national scheme of financial assistance to industry. It provides discretionary grants to investment projects that will create and safeguard employment in areas designated for regional aid under European Community law.

Payment of RSA is made in instalments, typically over several years as job and capital expenditure targets are met.

For more information on RSA go to www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk,

The projects to benefit are as follows.
International Digital Solutions Limited - Paisley - 45,000 pounds - 6 new jobs Land Energy Limited - Girvan - 300,000 pounds - 21 new jobs LifeScan Scotland Limited - Inverness - 2,000,000 pounds - 9 new jobs and 223 safeguarded jobs LL Online Limited - Glasgow - £1,700,000 - 101 new jobs Matchlight Limited - Glasgow - 250,000 pounds - 17 new jobs Neogen Europe Limited - Auchincruive - 165,000 pounds - 16 new jobs and 45 safeguarded jobs Onyx Group Limited - Edinburgh - 100,000 pounds - 10 new jobs Phoneix Chemicals Limited - Annan - 400,000 pounds - 58 new jobs PowerPhotonic Limited - Dalgety Bay - £80,000 - 8 new jobs PPT (Scotland) Limited - Glasgow - 200,000 pounds - 20 new jobs Premium Mobile Distribution Limited - East Kilbride - 75,000 pounds - 5 new jobs Procenseo Limited - Tayside - 220,000 pounds - 25 new jobs SmithKline Beecham PLC - Irvine - 4,600,000 pounds - 331 safeguarded jobs Stevenson Grantech Limited - Glenrothes - 110,000 pounds - 4 new jobs and 6 safeguarded jobs Sykes Global Services Limited - Glasgow - 230,000 pounds - 60 new jobs Tesco Personal Finance - Glasgow - 5,000,000 pounds - 880 new jobs Velos-IT Limited - Glasgow - 180,000 pounds - 16 new jobs Woollard &Henry Limited - Aberdeen - 240,000 pounds - 9 new jobs and 15 safeguarded jobs Aerospace Tooling Limited - Dundee - 250,000 pounds - 22 new jobs Atos Origin IT Services UK Limited - Paisley - 230,000 pounds - 26 new jobs Baptie & Company Limited - Fife - 250,000 pounds - 25 new jobs Bcerta Limited - Glasgow - 150,000 pounds - 15 new jobs Brewdog Limited - Fraserburgh - 21,400 pounds - 3 new jobs Caboodl Limited - Glasgow - 100,000 pounds - 8 new jobs Cascade Technologies Limited - Stirling - 175,000 pounds - 11 new jobs City Park Technology Centre - Glasgow - 500,000 pounds - 120 new jobs Crackit Productions Limited - Glasgow - 140,000 pounds - 10 new jobs Dawn Meats (UK) Limited - Saltcoats - 75,000 pounds - 14 new jobs Edan Communication Solutions Limited - Glasgow - 50,000 pounds - 8 new jobs Esure Holdings Limited - Glasgow - 1,100,000 pounds - 250 new jobs General Healthcare Group Limited - Renfrewshire - 220,000 pounds - 52 new jobs Inter-Tec Services Limited - Prestwick - 77,000 pounds - 8 new jobs