Invest in Glenrothes

A thriving hub for business and innovation

Welcome to Glenrothes, Fife! Glenrothes, Leslie, and Markinch, nestled within the picturesque Kingdom of Fife, offer a compelling proposition for businesses seeking growth and innovation. With a rich industrial heritage and a vibrant, forward-thinking community, this area is primed for investment and development.

The Glenrothes area has a diverse economic base, with key sectors including:

LOGISTICS AND DISTRIBUTION

Strategic location with excellent transport links, making it an ideal hub for logistics and distribution operations.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

Glenrothes hosts a dynamic advanced manufacturing hub, including companies specialising in precision engineering, electronics, and aerospace components. Strong ties with Fife College and research institutions support workforce development and innovation.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Home to pioneering renewable energy projects, Glenrothes benefits from its role in the transition to net-zero emissions. Leslie and Markinch feature sustainable infrastructure projects and access to green energy initiatives.

FOOD AND DRINK

The area boasts a robust food and drink sector, leveraging Fife’s agricultural richness. Markinch’s proximity to local producers fosters a supply chain for artisanal and large-scale production. Notable companies include premium distilleries, bakeries, and food innovation hubs.

Connectivity to the rest of the world

The Glenrothes area is well-connected, making it an attractive location for businesses. The town is primarily accessed by the A92 trunk road, which links it to the broader motorway network, facilitating easy travel to major cities like Edinburgh and Dundee.

Investing in Fife means investing in a vibrant and growing region. Glenrothes as a maturing new town, is a focus for industry and commerce, boasting the regional centre and administrative capital of Fife. Here, you'll discover a strategic location, a skilled workforce, and a thriving, balanced and properous community.

*Fi3P - Fife Industrial Innovation Investment Programme funded by the Edinburgh & South-East Scotland City Region Deal and delivered by Fife Council. Glenrothes securing a share of this £58million funding is helping to boost the transformation of the town.

The Glenrothes area has a diverse and dynamic network of supply chain companies that support its industrial and technological sectors. These companies offer essential services and products, ranging from advanced manufacturing to precision engineering, and contribute significantly to the local economy. Outlined below are just a few of the many excellent examples.

Bosch Rexroth Ltd, a leader in hydraulics manufacturing, supports various industrial applications. Their presence in Glenrothes strengthens the local manufacturing sector.

Ductform, is Scotland’s leading HVAC Ductwork contractors, with a revolutionary patented ducting solution which is manufactured and distributed from a 40,000 sq ft production facility in Glenrothes.

Fife Fabrications, offers precision sheet metalwork, electromechanical assemblies, and precision machining. They serve a wide range of industries, including electronics, telecommunications, and medical devices.

Leviton, is known for its fibre optics manufacturing and contributes significantly to the high-tech sector in Glenrothes. They provide essential components for telecommunications and data networks.

Raytheon UK, is located in the Queensway Industrial Estate, and specialises in defence and electronics. They provide advanced manufacturing and engineering services, including avionics systems, electronic contract manufacturing, and security identification systems.

Semefab, specialising in semiconductor manufacturing, provides microelectronics solutions for various applications, including automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics.

Skilled workforce

Companies located in Glenrothes can benefit from recruitment, selection and training support through Fife Council’s Opportunities Fife and Employability Team. The region has a strong commitment to workforce training, life-long learning and skills development – creating the conditions to attract and retain talent, develop a knowledge economy and promote a culture of enterprise.

Beyond the business

Beyond its economic potential, the Glenrothes area offers a high quality of life with a range of leisure and tourism attractions. The town’s meticulously planned landscape provides residents and visitors with an abundance of open green spaces, a wealth of leisure facilities, a network of cycle paths and an amazing art trail featuring over 170 unique sculptures, murals, decorated tiles and poetic paths.

One of the best ways to get to know Glenrothes is to follow the Town Art Trail. Not only will this artistic route take you all over the town, you never know what, or who, will pop up next!

The Town Art Trail’s 172 public artworks include a family of hippos, a ring of dancing children, giant mushrooms and 13 carved concrete slabs arranged into a circle of standing stones. The Town Art Trail winds its way through several attractive parks, including Riverside Park, which has woodland walks, children’s play areas and beautiful gardens.

Glenrothes has a good choice of pubs and clubs and places to eat, as well as an independent cinema, The Kino. Rothes Halls, next to the popular Kingdom Shopping Centre, is a great venue for live music, theatre, comedy, dance and children’s shows.

The Lomond Hills Regional Park is made up of 25 square miles of moorland, lochs and farmland. It became Scotland’s first Regional Park in 1986 due to its importance for recreation and conservation. The Lomond Hills themselves are Fife’s most prominent landmarks.

Situated on Fife Pilgrim Way, Markinch’s St Drostan’s Church was once a stopping point for medieval pilgrims as they made their way to St Andrew’s Cathedral. Today, Markinch provides an equally welcome refreshment break to walkers trekking the 65-mile route of Fife Pilgrim’s Way – and is also an interesting place to explore.

Visit the Welcome to Fife website for more inspiration.

Riverside Park - a community gem

Stretching 12 km from end to end, Riverside Park connects every community in Glenrothes. With nearly £5 million in funding from the UK Government, the park has been recently revitalised, ensuring as the ‘People’s Park’ - it is accessible and enjoyable for all.

Major improvements to facilities include the development of the Savannah-themed play park, incorporating iconic town art with two enormous hippos. This inclusive play park is a delight for children and families.

The international-grade pump track, set to be the largest in Scotland, offers thrilling experiences for all from beginners to biking enthusiasts.

The outdoor gym and children’s cycle park, along with planned activities like disc golf, park runs, and orienteering, ensure the park serves the entire community.

Accessibility has also been improved, with path upgrades, using recycled materials, creating safe, circular routes for all residents and visitors to enjoy.

Flora enhancements include planting over 300,000 bulbs and more than 4,000 trees, which will enrich the park’s natural beauty.

InvestFife is a collective brand that encompasses all of Fife Council’s Economic Development services, including Business Enterprise, Land, and Property. InvestFife collaborates closely with various partner organisations, such as Business Gateway Fife, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, and the Fife Chamber of Commerce, in addition to colleagues in the Council’s planning services department. This collaboration ensures the delivery of a comprehensive 'Team Fife' investment and business support package.