Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26: programme pipeline update - March 2023

Sector: Boosting competitiveness

Programme name: National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)

Programme description: Funding to progress the new National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) with aim to develop and enhance skills, accelerate innovation, and improve productivity. Also supports delivery of Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund to spread reach and benefits of advanced manufacturing.

Estimated total investment: £75 million.

How is programme being funded: Capital funded.

Programme delivery timetable: End of 2022-23.

Latest programme progress: The construction of the new flagship NMIS HQ has been completed on time and handover of the building from Morrison Construction to the NMIS Engineering Services team has taken place. The world class facility is now being fitted out with cutting-edge digital advanced manufacturing technology. Planning for the official opening of the facility, anticipated to be mid-June 2023, is now taking place.

NMIS is delivering for the manufacturing sector now: through the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre, Manufacturing Skills Academy and SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) engagement team - and through their partnership with Boeing's new £12 million R&D facility which was officially opened on 5 October 2021.

The NMIS Board and Executive team are now in place and are responsible for day-to-day governance.

Contribution to economic development: NMIS is the future of Scottish manufacturing and is helping to transform manufacturing skills, productivity and innovation right across Scotland. It will also help manufacturers transition to new and emerging markets.

Contact for public enquiries: email: stuart.strachan@gov.scot

Programme name: Cairngorm Mountain

Programme description: Investment in resort to support recovery of tourism sector in Scotland, stabilise operations and enhance visitor experiences. Re-instatement of funicular including strengthening the structure, building improvements, electrification of snow cannons, existing tow infrastructure, paths and car parking

Estimated total investment: £27 million.

How is programme being funded: Capital funded. £17 million provided by the Scottish Government with the remainder funded from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), including £8.5 million from the proceeds of sale of the Centre for Health Sciences.

Programme delivery timetable: 2020-21 to 2022-23.

Latest programme progress: Work to reinstate the funicular commenced in late 2020 and restarted in April 2021 following a scheduled break for the winter. Completion was initially forecast for late 2021 but due to technical challenges, COVID-19 impacts and severe weather, works on the viaduct were completed in November 2022. A new control system was also installed. Department for Transport approval was granted in January 2023 and the funicular immediately returned to operations. Some minor, pre-planned, minor works, including site reinstatement, will take place in summer 2023.

Contribution to economic development: The investment is expected to realise significant economic and wider benefits, including supporting the wider tourism sector and generating or supporting 1,000 job-years over the next 30 years (average of 33 FTE posts per year). The full rationale for investment in Cairngorm Mountain is set out in the full business case prepared by HIE and approved by the Scottish Government in October 2020. An executive summary and the business case document (with some redactions made for commercial sensitivity and the effective conduct of public affairs) are publicly available on the HIE website at Executive Summary and Business Case Document. The resort currently directly employs 69 full-time equivalent (FTEs) with a further 55 FTEs employed on a seasonal basis during the winter months.

Contact for public enquiries: email: enterprisesponsorship@gov.scot