Scots jobs boost down to graduates

Published on 17/02/2012 00:00

A SWISS banking software firm opened its first UK development site in Edinburgh yesterday, praising Scotland’s supply of skilled graduates.

Avaloq has hired 30 engineers and analysts from Scottish universities and plans to employ 500 staff at its city centre base over four years.

Chairman Didier Sangiorgio said his firm had chosen Scotland over Brazil, the Phillipines and Singapore, adding: “The UK market is our most important. Scotland is close in size, efficiency, and quality to Switzerland, and you have these remarkable universities with a great focus on information technology. This is a truly fine place to be and I am thrilled that it has happened.”

Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise have been working with Avaloq since November 2010. The project is being assisted with a Training Plus Grant of £1.74m.

Finance secretary John Swinney, who performed the opening ceremony, said: “We welcome the company to Scotland.”