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Kickstarting the South of Scotland economy - but who gets the money?

Pete Robinson Participants at the Stranraer Oyster Festival showing off their shellfishPete Robinson
The Stranraer Oyster Festival was among the recipients of support last year

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) was officially launched in 2020 - just days after the Covid pandemic reached the UK.

It came into being after years of pressure to create the organisation to help the economy in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

It has just published its annual accounts which show that it distributed more than 150 grants totalling more than £9m in 2023/24.

They ranged from just a few hundred pounds up to millions of pounds to organisations right across the region.

The biggest single grant - by some distance - went to Scottish Borders Council which was awarded £3m towards an innovation park near the terminus of the Borders Railway at Tweedbank.

It is hoped it can ultimately generate £200m for the local community and create about 350 jobs.

The investment - over a three-year period - will provide a new access road through the Lowood Estate, a road connection to the station and work units and commercial space.

Its goal is to help the Borders "become a more competitive location" and attract more investment to the area.

Getty Images A dairy cow looking straight into the cameraGetty Images
The Dairy Nexus project aims to improve productivity in the industry

In Dumfries and Galloway, the biggest grant of the past financial year went to Scotland's Rural College for its Dairy Nexus project at Parkgate.

It received just short of £740,000 towards its plans.

It has been described as a "transformational project to foster innovation in the dairy sector".

The aim is to boost productivity while at the same time working to decarbonise the sector.

SOSE A view over the countryside at NewcastletonSOSE
Newcastleton and District Community Trust also received a grant

In total, there were 23 grants of £100,000 or more made between the beginning of April 2023 and the end of March this year.

Another significant award was to the Cairndale Hotel in Dumfries.

It picked up nearly £400,000 for developing its leisure facilities into a "destination spa".

The project promised 16 new jobs and additional income in excess of £12m over 10 years.

SOSE Two men checking a fleece in SelkirkSOSE
An investment of £250,000 was made towards the new British Wool depot in Selkirk

There was also a £250,000 investment in Selkirk towards a new £2.3m British Wool depot.

It provided better access to deliver fleeces and also improve the grading and processing of wool.

It replaced their previous base in Galashiels which was split across two sites.

The investment also allowed them to host visits from farmers and develop a showroom to promote Scottish wool products to buyers.

SOSE A line-up of people at the Rowan Glen factory in Newton StewartSOSE
Yoghurt makers Rowan Glen were another grant beneficiary

The vast majority of the grants were for smaller sums, including the Stranraer Oyster Festival which picked up £35,000.

Other grants of £100,000 or more went to:

  • Martin Williams (Hull) in Dumfries - £220,000
  • Meducan in Dumfries - £140,000
  • Micrea in Hawick - £190,639
  • Milestone Garden and Leisure in Newtown St Boswells - £197,625
  • The Old School in Thornhill - £107,016
  • Plexus in Kelso - £125,000
  • William Clark and Son in Dumfries - £246,575
  • Albie Forestry in Annan - £122,017
  • Hutton Stone in Berwick - £300,000
  • Polymer Extrusion Technologies in Dumfries - £220,000
  • Rowan Glen in Newton Stewart - £142,389
  • RSD Concrete in Lockerbie - £140,000
  • South West Engineering and Fabrications in Castle Douglas - £200,000
  • The Grahamslaw Distillery in the Borders - £1,344,784
  • Tweed Forum in Melrose - £134,690
  • Energise Galashiels - £100,000
  • Newcastleton and District Community Trust - £100,000
  • The Hub in Innerleithen - £100,000
  • The Crichton Trust in Dumfries - £125,500

The full list of all grants is available on the SOSE website.