Five historic Scotland 500 firms using innovation to drive growth

Scotland is known the world over for its heritage businesses. While the whisky distilleries take much of the limelight, there is a far wider field of expertise continuing to take generations of knowledge and build on them for the future, whether in textiles, cosmetics, brewing or manufacturing.

Nicholas Muirhead of the Scottish Leather Group | Scottish Leather Group

Many of these are iconic brands known the world over and rightly associated with Scottish excellence, while others are the quiet partners of some of the biggest commercial organisations in the world.

They rightly feature in Scotsman Insider’s Scotland 500, employing thousands of staff and recording annual turnovers in the tens of millions.

These are businesses that are also deeply embedded in their communities, with many of the staff generational in their roles.

And they encompass traditional techniques and practices that date back more than 100 years, from the expert tanning of the Scottish Leather Group and the brewing expertise employed at Heineken’s Edinburgh facility, to age-old family recipes used by Nairn’s.

They also engage with companies that are modernising ancient techniques, with Professional Beauty Systems bringing decades of experience up to date at their modern facilities to create high-quality beauty products for major global brands.

The country’s financial strength doesn’t just come from its cities and industrial heartlands – many Scotland 500 businesses are spread across often remote areas where innovators and skilled crafters continue to foster and preserve historic skills and bring old industries into the modern age.

In such far-flung areas getting access to a reliable source of fuel is essential, but many small towns, villages and crofts are off the beaten track and require a more personal solution.

Anyone who has lived in a rural cottage will know the importance of a reliable energy supply, and Johnston Fuels will be a well-known business to many. Their fleet of vehicles gets out in all weather conditions year-round to keep the burners lit at country properties around Scotland – in some cases for many decades, thanks to continued investment in modern fleets and supply services.

Spread across the country, we focus on just a few of the successful businesses ensuring that the long-established skills and traditions built up in Scotland will continue to be a platform for innovation and help us thrive in the future.

Heineken UK

Heineken UK is the United Kingdom’s leading beer, cider and pub company, encompassing various famous brands from Inch’s to Birra Moretti and many more. More than 90 per cent of its beers sold in the UK are brewed on these shores and some 30 per cent of the UK’s apples go into their ciders.

Edinburgh is home to the company’s largest operational site, employing almost 600 staff across a vibrant facility.

As well as brewing, the firm has 2,350 pubs in its portfolio, with the Star Pubs business focused on putting public houses at the centre of community life and providing training and jobs for thousands of people.

Professional Beauty Systems (PBS)

Based in Renfrew, Professional Beauty Systems (PBS) creates beauty, skincare and hair products for world-leading brands. The family-run business has grown over the past 40 years to employ more than 300 people, and sell UK manufactured products to over 75 countries worldwide.

Their in-house formulators and cosmetic scientists offer clients a complete service, from first concept through to a high-quality finished product.

A Scottish business with global reach, PBS operates from multiple sites across the UK and France, with laboratory, manufacturing and production functions all operating from the same UK site.

PBS’ manufacturing plant, production and warehousing facilities mean they can control how the product is packed and shipped to clients and ensure they keep quality high. This has seen the firm grow to a business with a turnover in excess of £50 million.

Johnston Fuels

Johnston Fuels has been on the road since 1965, distributing oil, kerosene (Johnston Oils) and LPG (J Gas) to domestic and business customers across Scotland and parts of England.

The business serves more than 18,000 homes which rely on Johnston deliveries to stay warm, and their skilled drivers take deliveries out to some of Scotland’s most rural locations in all kinds of weather to top up home fuel tanks.

The firm also run Johnston Fuelcards, which gives people an easy way to pay competitive prices for fuel at over 4000 sites across the UK.

Based in Bathgate, West Lothian, Johnston Fuels saw its turnover rise to £231.8m in 2024, registering a pre-tax profit of £8.4m

Scottish Leather Group

This family-owned group of businesses has its headquarters in Bridge of Weir and provides fine leathers to industry.

Bridge of Weir leather was founded in 1905 and develops automotive wear at one of Europe’s leading leather production facilities.

Tanning specialists Lang has more than 150 years of tanning experience producing the finest Scottish leathers and specialises in lime split and full substance bovine Wet Blue and Wet White hides.

And Muirhead was founded in 1840 and is now market leader for the global aviation industry, with their leather used by 160 airlines, on buses, coaches, and railways, as well as in the marine and furniture industries.

Scottish Leather Group’s latest results highlighted a turnover of £99.5m.

Nairns

One of Scotland’s most iconic food brands, Nairn’s has been baking oatcakes since 1896, when John and Sarah Nairn first opened their bakery in the South Lanarkshire town of Strathaven.

Today, Nairn’s is the largest producer of oatcakes in the UK, and has become one of Scotland’s leading and most trusted gluten-free brands. Their vast product range is exported to more than 30 countries.

The teams at their two Edinburgh bakeries spans generations of local families, working to the firm’s traditional and modern recipes and mixing techniques.

The Nairn’s philosophy of creating simple, natural and tasty wholesome food has helped the company grow, with their last reported turnover at more than £47m.