Princess opens new Standard Life Aberdeen HQ

The Princess Royal performed the official opening duties at the new headquarters of Standard Life Aberdeen, watched by staff from the balconies of the nine-storey development.

Her Royal Highness was accompanied by the Right Honourable Lord Lieutenant Frank Ross and hosted at 6 St Andrew Square by Standard Life Aberdeen CEOs Keith Skeoch and Martin Gilbert.

She met people from across the business including apprentices, graduates, and representatives from the company’s charity partners, construction associates and local suppliers, before unveiling a plaque and being presented with a gift of a scarf in Standard Life Aberdeen tartan.

The development has already attracted £90m to the capital and is expected to generate a further £200m each year to the economy.

Mr Skeoch noted in his introduction that it has created a new ‘cuisine quarter’ in the city centre, luring chefs and restaurants to the area.

It is the first completed phase in the regeneration of the east end of the city, with Registers Place and St James Centre to follow.

Standard Life Aberdeen employs 1,000 staff in the 100,000 sq ft building which was developed by the Standard Life Pooled Property Pension Fund and joint venture partner Peveril Securities.

There is 65,000 sq ft of shops, restaurants and apartments on the lower-ground, ground and first floors. All the space is fully occupied by tenants.

Mr Skeoch said: “Welcoming The Princess Royal to Standard Life Aberdeen today was a great honour for our people, 21 years after she opened Standard Life’s previous headquarters.

“With a rich and proud Scottish heritage, the business has evolved over the decades into a global organisation, whilst remaining at the heart of Scotland’s economy and business community.  

“The new headquarters is an initial £90 million investment in Edinburgh, but it’s not just about us.

“The knock-on effect is £200m each year for the local economy, seven new restaurants, plus numerous contracts and collaboration opportunities for local businesses, suppliers, charities, apprentices and graduates.”