Hitachi Energy, a global leader in electrification technology, is set to open a UK Engineering Centre of Excellence in the heart of Glasgow, supported by a £1.7 million grant from Scottish Enterprise and part of a total investment of over £3 million.
The centre, scheduled for opening early next year, is expected to create approximately 90 specialised roles including engineers and project managers, who will focus on critical upgrades to the UK’s electrical grid in support of the country’s ambition for a net-zero future.
The new site will take up the entire 8th floor at 110 Queen Street, joining notable tenants such as Deloitte and NatWest. Hitachi Energy selected this location for its modern facilities and central access within Glasgow’s business district. The £3 million investment, bolstered by Scottish Enterprise’s backing, will establish a base for 88 engineers and project managers.
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin, celebrated the move as demonstrating Scotland’s growing status as a leader in renewable energy and grid transformation.
The Glasgow centre is not only a boost to the local clean energy supply chain, but it will also connect Scotland’s engineering capability to Hitachi’s global projects, reinforcing the nation’s strategic role in the shift to renewables.
This investment signals further confidence in Scotland as a hub for advanced engineering talent, and follows a wider trend of Japanese energy companies expanding their presence in the country.
Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland highlighted Glasgow’s skilled workforce as a key factor in attracting Hitachi, and both organisations are supporting the company’s future growth plans. Hitachi Energy expects to expand to over 1,000 UK employees by 2027, with Scotland central to its clean power ambitions for 2030.
Hitachi Energy’s UK and Ireland Country Managing Director, Laura Fleming, described the new centre as a major step both for Hitachi’s UK footprint and for Scotland as a whole, citing rising demand for grid infrastructure to support renewable energy.
The centre “will help deliver the electricity grid for Scotland’s electrified future”, according to Hitachi executive Hirohide Hirai.
The creation of Hitachi Energy’s new Glasgow engineering hub marks a significant boost for Scotland’s clean energy sector, heralding new high-value jobs, increased investment, and a strengthened position at the forefront of renewable energy and infrastructure innovation.
