Significant growth in capital investment
With export growth accelerating, reflecting the increasing market demand and competitive level of sterling, many companies have been well placed to increase investment spending in the last couple of years, according to the recently published SSPO Industry Survey Report.
Two successive record years of investment have been achieved, with £44.4 million and £47.6 million invested by Scottish Salmon Producer's Organisation (SSPO) member companies in 2010 and 2011 respectively as businesses increased the capital investments in remote, rural economies.
The total investment over the last five years is £205.5 million. Almost all of the £92 million capital investments during the last two years were made in the Highlands and Islands, with 96 per cent injected into Shetland, Argyll & Bute, Highland, Western Isles and Orkney.
The vast majority of the £205.5 million capital investments between 2006 and 2011 have been made in the Highlands and Islands: Shetland (33.5 per cent),
Argyll & Bute (17 per cent), Highland (23 per cent), Western Isles (15 per cent) and Orkney (4.5 per cent).
