Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney MSP, has officially opened Heineken UK’s new headquarters at 6 St Andrew Square, in Edinburgh city centre.
Heineken UK’s relocation, coming after 25 years in its former HQ in the South Gyle area of the city, was described as reaffirming the company’s commitment to Scotland and Edinburgh.
The company has invested more than £2million in the St Andrew Square building to create a “modern, flexible working environment, reflecting evolved ways of working and Heineken UK’s strong focus on sustainability”.
The new headquarters is the company’s largest office site in the UK, and will house the majority of its 500 Scotland-based colleagues, working across a range of departments including customer care, supply chain, IT, finance, HR teams and Star Pubs, the company’s pub business.
The First Minister’s visit was hosted by Heineken UK’s managing director, Boudewijn Haarsma, with Mr Swinney meeting colleagues and making time to pour the first pint of Heineken 0.0 at the new bar.
The First Minister said: “Heineken has longstanding ties with the City of Edinburgh stretching back many years, and I am pleased that this is set to continue.
“The opening of this state of the art, sustainable office space is an indication of Heineken’s belief that Scotland continues to be an excellent location for businesses.
“I know that this new location will be a success, both for Heineken, the City of Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole.”
Haarsma commented: “We are very pleased and proud to have the First Minister with us as we reassert our company’s long-standing association with Edinburgh and Scotland, through the opening of our fantastic new UK headquarters here in the capital.
“This city-centre location will help us attract and retain the talent that will enable our business to go from strength to strength. Our significant investment into the office with our long-term lease, coupled with our £4.5m investment in our Scottish pub estate announced this week, is a clear statement of our intent, reiterating the vital importance of Scotland to our business.
“Moving our Scottish base to this beautiful square at the heart of Edinburgh is especially significant as it marks a return to the square that Scottish & Newcastle also made its home,” he noted. “It’s a place to which Heineken owes much of its presence today in the UK.”
