Scottish entrepreneurs boosting British business

According to GS1 UK, there has been a 61% increase in the number of Scottish businesses joining the barcode organisation. Across the United Kingdom, the number of businesses joining the platform rose by 46 percent over the last 12 months. Scotland saw the fastest growth, followed by England and Wales. Among businesses in Northern Ireland, there was no growth, as the same businesses joining the barcode platform in 2017 as in 2016.

Gary Lynch, chief executive of GS1 UK, says “a surge in demand for our services, across the country but with some notable hotspots, can tell us a great deal about  differences in the economy across the United Kingdom and growth in domestic and international trade.”

Four industries stood out, with 51 percent of the new joiners in Scotland coming from drinks & beverages, apparel, food & grocery and health and beauty. The last industry made up 8 percent of the Scottish new joiners. Marketplaces dominated the business models for members in the Apparel sector with 71% selling via Google, eBay, and Amazon. Turnover among joiners from the Food & Grocery industry averaged at £8,592,000. While turnover among joiners in Drinks & Beverages averaged just £403,000, new members ranged from a small business at its launch stage producing soft drinks – to a privately-owned distillery established in 1967.