Ferry company’s boost to Scotland wide economy

The report examines the operations of the award-winning ferry and port operator in detail, revealing that it supports a total turnover of nearly £270 million in Scottish companies.

It also confirms that CalMac, one of the largest companies headquartered in Scotland and the UK’s largest ferry network operator, employs 1,476 people and supports a total of 5,883 jobs in mainland and island communities across the country.

In addition, the £41 million paid in salaries to CalMac’s Scottish employees supports a total of £85 million worth of wages in Scotland.

Amongst other key findings are that the company is the main channel of support for commercial activity on the islands, carrying 92,734 commercial vehicles in 2014.

The report highlights, in particular, CalMac’s extensive support for island and remote communities, via the essential lifeline and logistical services it delivers.

In key Scottish island and rural locations CalMac employs (by local authority area):

281 people in the Argyll and Bute Council area, spending nearly £8m on wages

184 people in the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar area, spending £5m on wages

148 people in the Highland Council area, spending more than £4m on wages

The report also details CalMac’s contribution to tourism on the islands and calculates the extent to which its support for tourist activity creates economic growth.

It estimates that: CalMac enables 3,247 jobs in island tourism

CalMac enables £53.4m worth of wages in island tourism

The report also shows that:

CalMac employees have a total of more than 20,000 years of experience

Average wages at CalMac are 12% higher than the average wage in Scotland

The company carried 4.6 million passengers in 2014.