Medical Cannabis Company to Create 100 Jobs in Scottish Expansion
Breathe Life Sciences, a multinational medical supply company, is set to open its first manufacturing and distribution center in Scotland, creating 36 jobs initially, with plans to increase the workforce to around 100 within three years. The company, based in Sydney, already has licensed manufacturing sites in Manchester, Prague, and Nagoya, Japan.
The decision to establish a base in Scotland was influenced by the growing demand for medicinal cannabis and the presence of two local directors, Gavin and Andrew Ogilvie from Melrose. The UK is the fastest-growing market for medicinal cannabis in Europe, with the number of active patients expected to increase from 80,000 to over 190,000 by the end of the decade.
The company plans to use its Scottish facility to manufacture and distribute patient-ready products to meet both domestic and international markets. The facility will require a license from the Home Office and will undergo rigorous scrutiny before permission is granted.
The expansion has been aided by a grant of almost £350,000 and a further loan of £500,000 from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE). Chairman Russel Griggs said, “The south of Scotland is quickly positioning itself as a hub for innovation and growth in the emerging medicinal cannabis industry, and BLS will bring further investment and skilled jobs to the region.”
Gavin Ogilvie, a director of BLS, expressed his delight at creating a base in the Borders, where he grew up. “We will offer highly skilled pharmaceutical jobs, both at entry level and for people with experience,” he said. The company plans to start production before the end of the year, with wider recruitment expected to take place after the summer.
Medicinal cannabis is now prescribed to over 80,000 people in the UK and is available through the NHS as well as privately to help relieve symptoms of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and the side effects of chemotherapy. Clinical trials are also underway to determine its effectiveness for chronic pain relief.
