Financial services in Glasgow

Glasgow's International Financial Services District (IFSD) was established in 2001 and has already attracted 15,000 jobs to Glasgow and almost £1bn of investment.  High profile financial institutions with international reputations have chosen Glasgow as the place to grow their businesses.  Key employers include

  • Morgan Stanley
  • Royal Bank of Scotland and Direct Line
  • JP Morgan
  • National Australia Bank
  • Esure
  • BNP Paribas
  • Barclays Wealth
  • AXA Insurance
  • Marsh
  • Lloyds TSB

The IFSD is located between the historic business centre of Glasgow and the river, adjacent to Glasgow Central Station.  The area includes many of Glasgow's largest office buildings including Aurora with 10 floors and 200,000 ft2 which was completed in 2006 and recently scooped the British Council for Offices' Award for Best Commercial Workplace in Scotland.  The growth of the district means office space is being developed at a great rate. 4 Atlantic Quay was completed in 2007, and  Cuprum and 141 Bothwell Street followed in 2009.  Other projects are following, with four further phases of Atlantic Quay, three buildings at 220 Broomielaw, One Waterloo Street and Evolution.

On the western edge of the IFSD the next phase of Central Quay will include a large speculative office building.


Awards

The success of IFSD Glasgow has already been widely recognised. The project has won

  • a Highly Commended Award in the prestigious RICS Regeneration Awards the UK's Best Commercial Led Regeneration Project
  • an award for Partnership from the Chicago based International Economic Development Council
  • the title of Best European City for IT and Telecoms from Foreign Direct Investment magazine

Beyond IFSD

There are several other locations offering space outside the city centre which may well be useful to financial services businesses considering relocation to Glasgow.

  • Pacific Quay is only a mile from the IFSD where major speculative office building is currently taking place.  They can also develop to order.
  • 133 Finnieston Street is now complete, providing suites from 5,000 ft2 near the SECC.
  • Glasgow Harbour intends to build large waterfront south-facing office buildings as part of later phases.
  • In Renfrew a business centre is being developed on the waterfront. The first phase is complete and available. Sites are available for building your own headquarters.
  • In Clydebank an enterprise centre has been developed as the first phase of the Queen's Quay business park.