Had-Fab Limited, one of the UK’s leading metal structure engineering and fabrication companies, is expanding its operations on a 10-acre site at Queensferry One in Rosyth, becoming the first business to invest within the Forth Green Freeport bringing over 50 direct jobs.
Following significant contract awards, the East Lothian-based family business initially took 6.1 acres at Queensferry One - the former vacant MoD land which has been remediated - earlier this year, establishing a key logistics facility alongside its existing base at Macmerry, East Lothian. After further contract successes, the business has also taken an adjoining four-acre plot, as it increases capacity to support growing demand from the UK power and transmission sector.
Had-Fab specialises in the design, fabrication, installation and project management of metal structures, with its work including overhead electricity pylons for SSE and the wider UK electricity transmission network.
Had-Fab’s commitment represents a significant milestone for the Forth Green Freeport and its ambitions to attract investment into key industries, strengthen Scotland’s industrial and supply chain capability and create high-quality employment across FGF area.
Minister for Business and Fair Work, Tom Arthur 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.
Commenting on the importance of the announcement, Forth Green Freeport Chair, Dame Susan Rice DBE 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.”
The Forth Green Freeport has been set up to drive sustainable economic growth by attracting investment into manufacturing, energy and other key industries, while supporting Scotland’s Fair Work and net zero priorities. Its designated tax sites at Rosyth, Grangemouth, and Mid forth (Leith and Burntisland) offer qualifying businesses enhanced tax and customs incentives to support capital investment, site development and workforce growth. UK Government seed funding investment of £25 million will be match funded by project leads bringing an initial investment in the area to more than £50million.
Queensferry One forms part of the Rosyth tax site, combining the advantages of Green Freeport status with one of Scotland’s largest development-ready industrial and logistics opportunities.
Had-Fab joins an established concentration of industrial and engineering activity at Rosyth. The area is home to Babcock International’s major defence and engineering operations; the Port of Rosyth and a wider cluster of businesses spanning manufacturing, maritime, energy and logistics. Had-Fab has successfully completed all Forth Green Freeport onboarding processes and will qualify for Green Freeport Non Domestic Rates (NDR) relief for a period of five years.
Anthony G. Jones, Chief Commercial Officer, 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, owner and developer of Queensferry One, 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.”
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."
Scarborough Muir Group has spent more than two decades transforming the former Ministry of Defence site into a major employment location, undertaking extensive remediation and removing substantial legacy infrastructure from its former naval use. The result is a 120- acre, development-ready development site with an outline masterplan for more than 1.5 million sq ft of industrial and logistics space. Serviced development plots and bespoke design-and-build opportunities provide capacity for further investment, business growth and employment as the wider masterplan is brought forward.
