Ludo Thierry
Here’s some really good news carried in The Courier – Priti might be doing her darn’dest to make in-migration to Scotland as difficult as possible – but here are some most welcome entrepreneurial migrants arriving from Henley-on- Thames of all places – Welcome aboard folks – Scotland is delighted to have you join us: Link and snippets below:
An ambitious British watch brand has called time on its Henley-on-Thames base in England and relocated to Perth, triggering a recruitment drive.
The Marloe Watch Company — which received a £600,000 crowdfunding investment last year and saw a 488% jump in profits between 2015 and 2018 — said the move is part of a planned expansion strategy but was also strongly influenced by Scotland’s position on remaining in the EU.
The firm, which specialises in heritage, mechanical timepieces, has doubled the size of its head office as part of the move, which brought together its existing Perth-based design studio with its wider business operations.
The move marks the start of a new period of intense growth for the business, which was founded in 2015 by Oliver Goffe and Gordon Fraser.
Following the investment achieved last year, the brand is working towards achieving annual sales just shy of £1 million by the end of 2020.
Mr Goffe said: “We are focused on ambitious growth but want to avoid becoming a behemoth that loses touch with its customers and sight of our values.
Goffe added the move had a political aspect.
He said: “As a business, we are certainly pro Remain so a Scottish base sits better with our values.”
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Interesting, positive story! Coverage by the online Business Matters magazine adds some additional information from the founders that the Courier article doesn’t quite give!
Source: https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/in-business/young-british-mechanical-watch-brand-decides-to-move-to-scotland-to-take-advantage-of-eu-positioning/
The latter in reporting this move on 19 February includes this:
“Scotland’s position on independence and on returning to the EU was an important final trigger for the business’ relocation. The move had a future-proofing role for the business as it was felt that, should a second referendum happen in Scotland, it would gain independence and re-join the EU, at that point it may have been harder to move the business.“
Pity the Courier didn’t give complete information to its readership!
Scotland-based modern watch design companies seems to be a ‘thing’: for example see Paulin Watches (https://www.paulinwatches.com/pages/about-paulin-watches)
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Interesting, too, that the company founders are Scots. How does this sit with Johan Lamont’s assertion that Scots are not genetically programmed to run things for themselves?
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It would have been even more entertaining if they had relocated to Dundee – I remember the devastating impact the closing of the Timex factory had on the area. But, Henley on Thames to Perth is amusing enough – and a very outspoken declaration that Scotland is better for business! Brilliant!
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