CalMac Ferries’ contribution to the Scottish economy has been in highlighted by a study from the Fraser of Allander Institute.
The report’s conclusion will be of no surprise to islanders -
CalMac is headquartered in Inverclyde and the report shows that, as one of that region’s key businesses, it directly employs 169 people and in 2014 injected more than £9 million into the central belt economy.
Adding the money that tourists spend on the islands to the amount Cal Mac pays in wages comes to a turnover of nearly £270 million in companies across Scotland.
CalMac employs 1,476 people and supports a total of 5,883 jobs in mainland and island communities across the country, says the study.
Some 184 people work in the Western Isles work for the firm, receiving £5 million in wages.
In Argyll and Bute Council area, it employs 81 personnel while the figure is 148 people in the Highland Council area.
The report estimates that CalMac enables the tourism sector across the west coast and Clyde islands to create economic activity including 3,247 jobs and £53.4 million worth of wages.
Average wages at CalMac are 12% higher than the average wage in Scotland.
The company carried 4.6 million passengers last year.
The report’s author Stewart Dunlop, commented: “The results demonstrate that the company’s activity in transporting tourists to the islands has a very considerable effect on the local tourism industry.
“CalMac is clearly the key channel of support for commercial activity on the islands it serves.
“In terms of imports, CalMac’s activity covers the majority of items sold by local retailers, including fuel, food, mail, medical supplies, oil, gas, and utilities, without which it would be difficult to maintain an acceptable quality of life on the islands.”
New study reveals economic impact of CalMac services
3 May 2015