The joint investment by Graham’s The Family Dairy and housing firm Mactaggart & Mickel Homes would create 400 new jobs and a 50-person apprenticeship scheme at the proposed site in Stirlingshire. A further 350 jobs would be created during the construction stage.
Graham’s The Family Dairy’s £20M expansion would include a new dairy processing, research and development facility.
Commenting on the expansion, Graham’s md Robert Graham (pictured) said: “It would also represent the largest single investment in the [Scottish] dairy sector in over 30 years.
‘Largest single investment in the dairy sector’
“It is a massive commitment and we are hopeful that the Scottish government recognises the part it would play in mobilising Scotland’s wider prosperity,” said Graham.
He added that the development would help drive Scotland’s commitment to delivering sustainable jobs in the food and drink sector.
“New product development and continued innovation is the lifeblood of our business and dairy is perfectly positioned to support job creation and health and wellbeing programmes at a global scale, helping to grow Scotland’s gross domestic product.”
“Increasing our domestic processing capacity will be the pipeline for developing exciting new products, delivering skills development and improving Scotland’s export – all of which are central to building a resilient post Brexit economy.
Building a resilient post Brexit economy
The partnership would also create 600 new homes in the area, including 150 affordable homes, a primary school, neighbourhood centre, improved road infrastructure and a public park.
Work on the dairy centre and housing development is ready to start, said Graham, and needed only the go-ahead from the government.
He continued: “We know the massive benefits this proposal would deliver not only to Stirling but to Scotland as a whole and are hopeful that a positive decision on the application will be made. Our project is ready to launch – and there is so much resting on it.”
Meanwhile, confectionery manufacturer Sweetdreams has invested £500,000 in a new factory, with plans to create new jobs across a variety of roles.