First Minister opens Leiths’ new headquarters

FIRST Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, officially opened Leiths (Scotland) Ltd’s new £2.5 million headquarters in Cove, near Aberdeen, last Friday (21 August), demonstrating his support for the quarrying industry in difficult economic times.

Having grown rapidly in recent years, the construction materials firm which now employs more than 500 staff and has a turnover in excess of £500 million per annum, had outgrown its existing office facilities in Cove.

The First Minister, who was warmly welcomed at the new premises by chairman Ian Leith, said the construction of Leiths’ new £2.5 million facility demonstrated the company’s great sense of confidence in its future and the sustainable economic growth of Aberdeen and Scotland.

‘Leiths have established firm foundations in the economy of the north east, contributing to their successful growth to 23 bases throughout the country, and I’m delighted to celebrate the opening of their custom-built headquarters,’ he commented.

‘This headquarters in Cove highlights Leiths’ ambition to build on their success and I have confidence the company will rise to that challenge and go from strength to strength throughout Scotland in the coming years.’

John Sheridan, QPA director for Scotland, added: ‘Earlier this year the Scottish Government appointed, for the first time, a quarry industry ‘champion’, underlining its increasing recognition of the strategic importance of the aggregates sector in building and maintaining Scotland’s infrastructure. Today’s event helps remind us of the significant role a successful company like Leiths plays in delivering this.’