Tata Steel offshoot UKSE seals 50 years in Scotland with 18,000 jobs created and future pledge

Operating across former steel areas in the UK, including Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire, UKSE said its mission had remained consistent over half a century - backing ambitious businesses with funding, support and long-term relationships, as well as offering premises to ventures looking to expand or relocate.

It has marked 50 years of investment and impact in Scotland, having helped create 18,127 jobs and supported some 1,530 businesses through £33 million in funding since its formation.

Scott Webb, UKSE’s regional manager for Scotland, said: “UKSE’s story is a story of partnership, and of backing people and ideas, not just businesses. We’ve always believed that communities thrive when enterprise is supported over the long term.

“We’re proud of what’s been achieved, but we’re just as excited about what’s to come. We’re fuelled by the energy of the businesses we work with, and more determined than ever to help build Scotland’s future economy.”

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In addition to business funding, UKSE – formerly UK Steel Enterprise – said it had made a long-standing impact in local communities through its dedicated community grant. Over the years, it has supported charities, schools and grassroots organisations across Scotland with more than £900,000 in funding.

Among the many Scottish businesses UKSE has supported is QTV, the Glasgow-based sports broadcast and production company. In 2022, QTV received £750,000 from UKSE to build a state-of-the-art broadcast facility at Clydesdale House. A further £500,000 investment in 2023 allowed the firm to expand its production capabilities, securing a multi-year contract with Sky Sports and establishing a new base in Leeds.

Industrial strapping and load securing specialist Reid Brothers UK, also based in Glasgow, has benefited from multiple rounds of UKSE investment. The funding enabled the firm to relocate to larger premises at Ibrox Business Park, doubling its operational footprint, expanding stock capacity, and investing in specialist laser printing machinery to meet customer demand for bespoke security seals.