Scotland’s history as a centre of the investment management industry dates back to the nineteenth century. Today the industry is a mix of large organisation and a growing number of smaller employee-owned businesses with corporate and personal clients.
Investment management services in Scotland include investment trusts, OEICs (Open-Ended Investment Companies), unit trusts, global equity and fixed income, money market funds, private equity, venture capital, property funds, hedge funds and specialist equity and bond funds.
Key facts
- Over 3,300 people are employed in Scotland and over 13,000 worldwide.
- Over £650 billion of funds are managed directly from Scotland, mostly by investment management.
- Scotsman Robert Fleming, grandfather of Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, pioneered investment trusts.
- Leading companies in Scotland include Aberdeen Asset Management, AEGON, Baillie Gifford, Franklin Templeton Investments, Martin Currie and Standard Life Investments.
- Many new boutique investment management firms are opening with headquarters or operations in Scotland.