NEWS that Diageo is once again investing in Scotland – this time in a “technical centre of excellence” in Clackmannanshire – is to be welcomed. Not only does the announcement signal a vote of confidence in the long-term future of the Scotch whisky industry, it shows commitment to its local workforces in the “wee county”.

The global drinks giant has an extensive footprint in Clackmannanshire with its cooperage, coppersmith business and its largest warehousing site all based there. But the firm’s decision to build a new £6.4 million technical centre of excellence in Menstrie sends out another message – that businesses in Scotland have the vision to create the exactly the type of world-class facilities that will attract and retain the scientists, engineers and other specialists that companies like Diageo need.

Diageo is constantly looking at ways to be more innovative across its many operations and this new centre’s cutting-edge facilities will help it improve the environmental sustainability of its distilleries, develop renewable energy solutions and implement other efficiencies that will drive future growth of the business.

Diageo, which employs 3,500 people in Scotland, has also announced plans to restart production from the Port Ellen distillery on Islay and Brora in Sutherland. Just three months ago, the London-based company’s chief executive, Ivan Menezes, was in Scotland to unveil plans to “transform” Diageo’s Scotch whisky visitor experiences in a £150m investment over three years.

This latest investment also reflects whisky’s rise in popularity around the world. Indeed, the Scotch whisky industry posted record-breaking exports in 2017, growing in both volume and value (by 1.6% and 8.9% respectively) to a total of £4.37bn – that’s the equivalent of 1.23 billion bottles exported globally.

Diageo has made some unpopular decisions about its Scottish interests in recent years, not least the closure of the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock. This renewed focus in Scotland should be commended.