Dell computer giant "extraordinarily confident" in Scotland

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Sunday, 18 March 2012 16:23

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By a Newsnet reporter

The SNP has welcomed comments from Steve Felice, the Global President of computer giant Dell, that the result of a Yes vote to independence would not change their commitment to Scotland.

Speaking to the Scotland on Sunday newspaper while on a visit to Scotland, Mr Felice was asked if the company would change its plans to invest in Scotland, depending on whether Scotland chose to become independent or to remain governed by Westminster.

Mr Felice replied:  “I cannot think of any difference. We are an organisation that deals with one customer at a time.  So the customer is the government here.”

Felice added that he wanted “to reiterate our commitment to Scotland”.  He said that Dell’s relationship with the country had worked “extraordinarily well”.

Dell already employs 800 staff at its Glasgow call centre.  Last year the company announced expansion plans which would see an increase in staff numbers to 1,000. 1,000.  Dell also owns the information security company SecureWorks, which has offices in Edinburgh.

The computing giant joins the list of major international companies which have stated that the forthcoming independence referendum makes no difference to their confidence in Scotland, despite repeated claims by anti-independence parties that the referendum was damaging to the economy.  

In November last year, Abu Dhabi oil giant Taqa announced plans to invest £630 million in the North Sea over the next three years.  Major investment plans in Scotland have also recently been announced by, among others, the electronics company Samsung, and the Swiss banking software company Avaloq which plans to create 500 jobs in Edinburgh over the next five years.    

Chic Brodie, SNP MSP for South Scotland and member of the Energy, Economy and Tourism Committee, said:

“I warmly welcome Mr Felice’s comments on Dell’s commitment to doing business here in Scotland, both before and after independence.

“Scotland is a fantastic place to do business with a skilled workforce, excellent resources and post-independence will become an even more attractive proposition for Dell, and other employers, when the country gains the economic levers of control and can lower levels of Corporation Tax.

“A number of global companies including; Taqa, Avaloq and Samsung are expressing their confidence in Scotland by investing and creating jobs here.

“Dell is the latest company to say they are not against Scotland taking full fiscal and political powers independence, and their comments – along with that the confidence placed in Scotland by Human Resource group Ceridian and representatives from BNY Mellon – will be a blow to the anti-independence parties’ scaremongering efforts.”