Glasgow-based firms Blackhall & Powis, Lightbody Ventures, and Brose Oats are experiencing rapid growth in their respective industries. Blackhall & Powis specializes in developing and assembling land rights for green energy, infrastructure, and utilities projects. With a projected turnover of £4.5 million this year, the company has secured a £200,000 funding package from UK Steel Enterprises and has provided support to approximately 150 renewable energy projects. Blackhall & Powis aims to achieve a turnover of £7 million by 2027 and offers a comprehensive range of land assembly services. Its clients include Orsted, Vattenfall, and Scottish Power. The company has recently expanded its services to include a fisheries liaison service and is also expanding internationally, with projects in America and plans to establish a presence in Australia. The company's growth has been facilitated by the robust legislative frameworks and independent governance in Scotland and the UK. The funding from UK Steel Enterprises has enabled further organic growth and expansion into international markets. Terry Quinn, regional manager at UKSE, commended Blackhall & Powis for its progress and expressed confidence in the firm's continued success. The move towards decarbonization and the increasing demand for clean energy infrastructure projects in the UK and Scotland are expected to drive long-term growth for Blackhall & Powis.
Meanwhile, Lightbody Ventures, a Glasgow-based food company, is also aiming for significant growth. The company collaborates with brands like Disney and produces innovative and tempting products, ranging from low-calorie snacks to indulgent treats. Its low-calorie snack brand, Bliss, is available in Tesco and caters to UK consumers seeking gluten-free options. Lightbody Ventures also has global licensing partnerships, allowing its products to be sold worldwide, including in the USA, Europe, and the Middle East. The company is exploring distribution in North America and has new license partnerships with Squishmallow toys and Baileys. Lightbody Ventures was founded by Neil Stewart, Martin Lightbody, and Crawford Currie after the Lightbody Group was sold to Finsbury Food in 2009. The company currently has 12 employees and a turnover of £9 million. Stewart emphasizes the importance of creativity, flavor, and continuous innovation in the company's success. He also highlights the challenges posed by factors beyond his control, such as inflation, fuel costs, the pandemic, and international conflicts. Stewart believes that embracing risk, learning from mistakes, and being adaptable are essential for business resilience and growth. He admires Sir Tom Hunter and is inspired by his quote, 'If you’re going to fail, fail fast, fail and fail cheap.' Stewart values the support of his team and aims to focus on staff development and recruitment to fortify the company's competitive edge and future growth.
In addition to Blackhall & Powis and Lightbody Ventures, Brose Oats, a Scottish oat milk firm, has also experienced significant growth. The company recently secured UK-wide distribution after winning the Scottish EDGE funding competition. Brose Oats has started a contract with The Cress Company, which will make its products available in specialist retailers throughout the UK. The company also received a package of advisory services from competition sponsor Johnston Carmichael. Brose Oats is building its foodservice network and has secured listings with several universities and Scottish Government sites. CEO Josh Barton said winning the top prize allowed them to access asset finance and opportunities they wouldn't have had otherwise. The Scottish EDGE programme, funded by the Hunter Foundation, Royal Bank of Scotland, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and private donors, has played a crucial role in Brose Oats' growth and success.
The expansion of Blackhall & Powis, Lightbody Ventures, and Brose Oats reflects the growing demand for clean energy infrastructure, innovative food products, and sustainable alternatives like oat milk. These Glasgow-based firms are capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the energy transition, changing consumer preferences, and the support of funding programs and partnerships. As they continue to expand their operations and reach, they contribute to the economic growth and development of the energy and food sectors in Scotland and beyond.