A Presentation by Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power INTRODUCTION Scotland is a global leader in mountain biking and cycling, recognised for both its sporting and technical excellence. We produce elite athletes including Sir Chris Hoy and Danny MacAskill and export top products across the world, while our facilities and trails are in constant demand by thousands of businesses and consumers each year. With easy access to a network of exhilarating, challenging terrains and wild, untamed landscapes, mountain bikers are drawn to explore the country’s trails, tracks and purpose built trail centres. From families who enjoy a leisurely ride to adrenaline junkies who want to perform exciting stunts, our untamed back country, hills, glens and forests offer a spectacular background to rival any country in the world. One of the country’s fastest-growing sports, investment in quality facilities, product and skills development has brought international recognition in recent years. The value of mountain biking and cycling to the Scottish tourism industry is now estimated to be worth up to £363 million per year to the economy*, making it a key part of our international appeal. *The Value of Cycle Tourism – Opportunities for the Scottish Economy Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power KEY FACTS 1.48M MOUNTAIN BIKING VISITS TO 3879JOBS SUPPORTED THROUGH TRAIL CENTRES & WILDERNESS* MOUNTAIN BIKING TOURISM* INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION Danny MacAskill’s video ‘The Ridge’ was produced by Scotland’s Cut Media and has been £363M viewed more than 40 million times. ECONOMIC VALUE OF MOUNTAIN BIKING 120SUPPORTED & LEISURE CYCLING COMBINED+ PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT BUSINESSES * 2015 estimate based on growth predictions in ‘Review of Scottish mountain biking developments and potential opportunities’ by University of Highlands & Islands Centre for Recreation and Tourism Research, 2012 + Estimate from ‘The Value of Cycle Tourism – Opportunities for the Scottish Economy’ by Transform Scotland, June 2013 Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power SECTOR OVERVIEW World class facilities International events Awe inspiring cycle routes • Purpose built mountain bike trail centres – The Hebridean Way Scotland is home to over 25 purpose built trail NC500 centres spread across Scotland including the innovative 7stanes trail centres. The 7stanes attracts over 500,000 visitors per year with Glentress, the UK’s premiere MTB destination, attracting over 300,000 visitors per year. • Nevis Range – in the heart of Lochaber, the outdoor capital of the UK, Nevis Range has hosted the UCI Downhill World Cup since 2001 and along with the DH track it boasts a vast and varying range of mountain bike trails. • Access – Scotland has some of the most progressive access legislation in the world allowing mountain bikers to create responsible adventures through our stunning hills and glens. • Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome – Built for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games the “Home of Scottish Cycling” has a full programme of training and competition events. Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power SECTOR OVERVIEW Product Testing and Athlete Development • Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland, Glentress – a location where businesses can link with academia, elite riders and specialist advice to develop bike products and services. The proximity to the UK’s busiest trail centre, which attracts over 300,000 visitors per year, enables products to gain credibility and access to an international audience. • Academia – Bike companies can utilise the expertise in Scottish esteemed Universities to access to a range of experts from sport scientists, psychologists, engineers, tourism specialists and more. Edinburgh Napier University is the academic lead for mountain biking and cycling in Scotland and has state of the art equipment, such as an environmental chamber and have worked with elite athletes in all mountain biking disciplines. This provides an ideal opportunity to test products and athletes Elite athletes Scotland punches above its weight with scores of elite athletes, including Katy Winton (Trek Racing), Ruaridh Cunningham (Unior Tools), Lewis Buchanan (BMR), Greg Williamson (Cube), Grant Ferguson (Superior Brentjens MTB Racing Team). Katy Winton Ruaridh Cunningham Lewis Buchanan Greg Williamson Grant Ferguson Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power WHY SCOTLAND? • World famous scenery with open expanses of wilderness and rugged mountains • Twice named the best place in the world to mountain bike • Host of events that attract vast crowds of approximately 20,000 and worldwide TV audiences • Knowledgeable professionals, elite athletes and world- leading businesses • A reputation for innovation, research and development • Access to world markets. With five international airports, Scotland is brilliantly connected to global markets including the UK, Europe, North America and Asia. • The Scottish Government is committed to developing Scotland as the world’s leading destination for b2b and b2c mountain biking and cycling Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power WORLD LEADING EXPORTS From high-end luxury products to functional, practical and desirable apparel developed for bike and rider, Scotland has a growing manufacturing cluster. We are exporting globally and our pioneering capabilities attract global media attention. Scottish companies are developing products and technologies for cyclists and mountain bikers around the world. Well-known names include Endura, Cut Media, Teko, Findra and Trespass. Our brands, along with representatives from Scottish Development International take a significant presence at EuroBike each year and are keen to meet with distributors and retailers. Let us introduce you to our products. Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power A DESTINATION FOR R&D AND INVESTMENT If a product can withstand Scotland, it will last across the world. Scotland is a fantastic location for researching and Domestically, MTBCoS is considered a developing new products. It has testing terrain and true Scottish success story, working changeable weather conditions which ensures that if a with industry players such as textiles product can withstand Scotland it will last across companies, bicycle manufacturers, the world. security devices and makers of specialist equipment, the centre predicts a growth Many mountain biking and cycling products are tested in in turnover of collaborating businesses temperate climates which do not give a true reflection of £13.5 million over the next three years on how they will perform in countries with wet, cold and the creation of 69 new jobs. and more challenging terrain – many products are not performing to their highest level for lucrative markets including UK, Northern Europe, Northern America and Asia. Scotland has a long history of pioneering research, development and manufacturing and the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland (MTBCoS), a national centre for innovation and excellence, is applying this history to support the development of innovative bike products. MTBCoS could provide or facilitate the following for international bike brands: • Access to Scotland’s academic base to develop prototypes, test and research new products or services • Market research and focus groups • Access to community of mountain bikers • Specific expertise in textiles, engineering, sport science and technology Let us help you to locate in Scotland. Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power LEARN FROM SCOTLAND Scotland leads the way in mountain biking destination development. As innovators, we have learnt many lessons and would like to work internationally to share our experience in: • Creating a national strategy integrating participation, • Building sustainable trails for all weathers sport development and tourism & economic • Providing pathways for athletes to achieve success on development the world stage • Creating trail centres with purpose built trails • Promoting trails using innovative mapping techniques for all abilities including disabilities and processes • Creating mountain bike destinations built on • Organising international mountain biking conferences partnerships between businesses, land managers/owners and local communities • Organising events, from world class to grass routes • Access rights & promoting responsible mountain biking Let us share our expertise with you. Scottish Development International Scotland’s Pedal Power SCOTLAND THE BIKE TOURISM DESTINATION In Scotland you are never far from world-famous purpose-built trails, or some great wilderness riding, unmarked trails or drove roads to explore. As a four season destination, providing year-round Scotland welcomes tour operators and tourism opportunities, visitors come for more than the mountain organisations and annually hosts an international travel biking and leisure cycling. The experience is interwoven trade exhibition – VisitScotland Expo. Mountain biking and with the Scots’ warm welcome, a rich culture and cycling are frequently part of the Scotland experience which heritage to explore and a developing food scene to surrounds the exhibition. complement our national drink, whisky. Scotland also boasts some of the best qualified and Biking in Scotland is year round. Our mountain bike experienced tour operators, guides, skills instructors centres are not exclusively at our ski centres giving and coaches. Our tour