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First Minister John Swinney has hailed figures displaying Scotland’s international direct funding (FDI) “attractiveness” is at a document excessive.
EY’s UK Attractiveness Survey discovered the nation continues to be the UK’s high vacation spot for outdoor funding after London – regardless of a 20% drop in funding tasks.
Excluding the UK capital, which grew by 5%, the variety of UK tasks fell by 23%, whereas these throughout Europe fell by 7%.
Scotland had 108 inward funding tasks in 2025, amounting to 13.8% of all UK FDI tasks. The determine is down from 15.8% the earlier yr however above the 10-year common share of 11.6%.
Some 51 of the tasks in 2025 have been new, whereas 57 have been operations expansions.
During the last decade, Scotland is estimated to have secured 52,144 jobs from FDI – representing 12.2% of the UK whole and rating second within the UK over that interval for whole FDI employment, in response to EY.
The survey discovered investor sentiment in the direction of Scotland stays very constructive, with the nation being thought of probably the most engaging UK vacation spot outdoors London by traders.
One third of these planning UK funding say they’ll select Scotland, up from 27% final yr and an all-time excessive, EY mentioned.
The agency mentioned Scotland’s “large three” cities continued to play a significant position in attracting worldwide funding.
In 2025, Edinburgh was Scotland’s high metropolis for FDI with 30 tasks, a 25% enhance on 24 tasks in 2024.
The Scottish capital ranked second total outdoors London, after Manchester secured another (31) to take high spot.
Glasgow got here fourth outdoors London after securing 23 tasks, whereas Aberdeen slipped out of the UK’s high 10 cities outdoors London in eleventh place, having recorded 5 tasks – down from 12 the earlier yr.
EY mentioned this mirrored “continued challenges over the way forward for the North Sea”.
The Scottish Authorities mentioned the figures confirmed Scotland remained the UK’s high vacation spot for international direct funding outdoors London for the eleventh consecutive yr.
The First Minister welcomed the outcomes of the survey on a go to to the Gartcosh manufacturing unit of Guala Closures, which produces bottle closures.
Mr Swinney mentioned: “The outcomes which have come out from the EY International Direct Funding Index reveal one other actually sturdy efficiency for Scotland.
“For the eleventh yr in a row, Scotland is probably the most engaging and profitable vacation spot for international direct funding of any a part of the UK, aside from London and the South East, and that’s within the face of very difficult financial circumstances globally.
“It demonstrates the success of Scotland as an funding location and vacation spot, and a spot that pulls very important curiosity from the worldwide group.
“That’s right down to the talents, the skills, and the funding proposition put ahead by Scotland, the Scottish authorities, and all of our companions.”
EY Scotland managing companion Sue Dawe mentioned: “Scotland’s efficiency highlights the energy and resilience of its funding proposition. Whereas world funding circulate has slowed, Scotland stays the clear vacation spot of alternative outdoors London.
“The highly effective sentiment outcomes, significantly inside monetary providers, is a powerful endorsement of how positively traders view Scotland – and a sign for policymakers to capitalise on these enduring strengths by translating perceptions into increased funding flows.
“Whereas world macroeconomic pressures, geopolitical uncertainty and power prices proceed to weigh on funding choices, the survey decisively concludes that Scotland’s fundamentals stay sturdy: a deep expertise base, aggressive cities, internationally recognised sector strengths and a confirmed capacity to safe high-value funding.
“When traders are requested what could possibly be finished to enhance competitiveness, they level to the identical actions the Scottish enterprise group has been calling on for years. There’s a single unified voice throughout the spectrum.
“Rising to this problem will demand sustained dedication backed by motion. However with the brand new parliamentary time period starting, there’s arguably no higher time to muster the political will to bolster Scotland’s attractiveness than now.”
