Hitachi Energy is bringing its new UK Engineering Centre of Excellence to Glasgow, with the Japanese tech giant looking to modernise the UK’s electrical grid and accelerate the shift to net zero.

Set to open in the heart of the city centre early next year, the centre will be the base for eighty-eight engineers and project managers and will be part of Hitachi’s global network servicing projects worldwide.

The high-level engineering skill set available in Scotland is expected to be shared throughout the firm’s global network of engineers, with Hitachi planning to expand to over 1,000 employees across the UK by 2027.

Backed by more than £3 million in funding, including a £1.7 million grant from Scottish Enterprise, the centre strengthens the Scottish Government’s push to deepen ties with Japan. 

It follows the appointment of Scotland’s first Japanese trade envoy last year, and energy secretary Gillian Martin’s recent delegation to World Expo Osaka to explore new opportunities for Scottish businesses.

Ahead of the announcement, the Scottish Government had said it was keen for Martin’s delegation to build on the opportunities that the transition to net zero will provide, particularly in the offshore wind sector, a key priority of the Government’s Green Industrial Strategy.

According to official figures, Scotland has a potential pipeline of over 40 GW of offshore wind – enough to power the equivalent of around 45 million homes a year. Over half of this is floating wind, making it one of the largest markets in the world.

“I am delighted that Hitachi has chosen Glasgow as the city to base its new UK Centre of Excellence, helping to highlight Scotland’s leading role in developing renewable energy across the globe,” said Martin.

“An investment of this nature sends a clear signal to investors that Scotland is open for business, and this announcement is a prime example of how our focus on stimulating investment and targeting projects will, in turn, act as a catalyst to further investment, jobs and opportunities across Scotland.”

Recommended reading

• Scottish Health-Tech Trade Mission Heads to Japan
• UK and Japan Sign Renewal of Tech and Science Deal
• Scottish Games Startups Eye Investment in Japan

Hitachi Energy is the latest Japanese company to move into Scotland, and follows news that Mitsui has completed the takeover of the Port of Nigg, Sumitomo are creating a subsea cable facility at the same location, and Marubeni Corporation now have a base in Glasgow.

“I am very proud of the role Hitachi Energy is playing in the vital task of developing the electricity grid for Scotland’s electrified future,” said Hirohide Hirai, VP and executive officer at Hitachi.

“The UK is a very important country for the whole of the Hitachi Group. People are our most important asset, and establishing our new Glasgow Centre is a key step in welcoming more local talent to support our growth.”