UKSE, a subsidiary of Tata Steel, is marking 50 years of investment and impact in Scotland, having helped create 18,127 jobs and supported more than 1,530 businesses through £33 million in funding since its formation.
Operating across former steel areas in the UK, including Glasgow, Lanarkshire, and Ayrshire, UKSE’s mission has remained consistent over half a century, helping to build stronger, more resilient communities by backing ambitious businesses with funding, support and long-term relationships, as well as offering premises to businesses who may be looking to expand or relocate
Among the many Scottish businesses UKSE has supported is QTV, the Glasgow-based sports broadcast and production company. In 2022, QTV received £750,000 from UKSE to build a state-of-the-art broadcast facility at Clydesdale House. A further £500,000 investment in 2023 allowed the firm to expand its production capabilities, securing a multi-year contract with Sky Sports and establishing a new base in Leeds.
Industrial strapping and load securing specialists Reid Brothers UK, also based in Glasgow, have benefited from multiple rounds of UKSE investment. The funding enabled them to relocate to larger premises at Ibrox Business Park, doubling their operational footprint, expanding stock capacity, and investing in specialist laser printing machinery to meet customer demand for bespoke security seals.
RoukenBio, formerly Antibody Analytics, is a preclinical immunology CRO based in Motherwell. The company supports the global drug development community, working with emerging biotech start-ups and established pharmaceutical organisations to advance complex therapeutic programmes from target validation through IND-enabling development. Its work is underpinned by a portfolio of advanced immunology platforms, including proprietary models such as IndEx-2, which deliver high-quality, decision-making data for discovery and development.
UKSE’s investment enabled the expansion of RoukenBio’s portfolio of advanced immunology platforms and supported the relocation to the company’s Discovery Centre, creating greater laboratory capacity and scientific capability. Beyond funding, UKSE provided perspective and steady support that strengthened RoukenBio’s operational foundations and helped accelerate its international growth.
The partnership reflected a shared commitment to sustainable growth, innovation and the long-term success of Scotland’s life-sciences sector.”
Andy Upsall, founder and CEO at Rouken Bio, said: “UKSE’s involvement came at a point where we were scaling rapidly and refining our focus. They were the kind of investor every growing company hopes for: supportive, steady, available and genuinely interested in helping us build stronger foundations. Their trust gave us the space to execute our plans with precision and pace.”
Scott Webb, UKSE’s Regional Manager for Scotland, said: “UKSE’s story is a story of partnership, and of backing people and ideas, not just businesses. We’ve always believed that communities thrive when enterprise is supported over the long term.
“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we’re proud of what’s been achieved, but we’re just as excited about what’s to come. We’re fuelled by the energy of the businesses we work with, and more determined than ever to help build Scotland’s future economy.”
In addition to business funding, UKSE has made a long-standing impact in local communities through its dedicated community grant. Over the years, UKSE has supported charities, schools and grassroots organisations across Scotland with more than £900,000 in funding to deliver meaningful initiatives and projects that benefit local people.
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UKSE offers tailored debt and equity finance of up to £1 million for growing businesses in former steel areas. With deep local knowledge and a flexible approach, the organisation prides itself on building meaningful, long-term partnerships with its clients and helping them achieve their ambitions.
For more information about UKSE in Scotland, visit: www.ukse.co.uk
