Moray

The district of Moray is located between the council areas of Highland and Aberdeenshire on the coast of the Moray Firth. It has a population of around 90,000 with the main industries being manufacturing, retail, wholesale and agriculture. The area also relies heavily on a number of areas in particular; the food and drink industry has always been prominent. Canned food, biscuits and soup manufacturing along with the distilling of classic whisky’s provide a lot of employment. Two RAF bases in the area also have a large economic impact providing thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly.

History:
As the Roman presence in Britain began to dwindle by the 5th Century AD the Picts established themselves as the dominant force in much of Scotland including the area of Moray. By 500 AD Scotland was divided roughly into four Kingdoms, Moray was a frontier between the Picts and the Scots and hosted many battles over the years. By this time permanent settlements and been established like Forres in the West of Moray which was once the most important town in the north with a bustling trade industry. It had strong trade links with other ports on the Moray coast and even across the North Sea to Norway and the Baltic region. Systems of agriculture were on the rise during the 6th to 7th Century in Moray.

By the 8th Century the Catholic faith was making its mark in Moray. In 843 AD the Scots and the Picts merged and the Pictish name for the area ‘Fiddich’ was replaced by the Gaelic name ‘Moray’. By the time the Vikings commenced their occupation of the northern parts of Scotland Moray was a well established as a province of Scotland. But Moray found itself once again between two competing powers; the Vikings to the North and the Scottish Kingdoms to the South. During this time the area was unsettled, the Vikings however never occupied the area properly and had little influence beyond making the occasional expedition inland. There are suggestions that Moray’s largest settlement; Elgin owes its name to the Viking Earl of Orkney ‘Helgy’ who commanded one of these expeditions, originally named ‘Helgyn’.

In 1040 AD the Mormaer of Moray Macbeth killed King Duncan and was subsequently crowned King. During his reign Macbeth managed to stabilise much of the country. At this time much of Moray was still heavily wooded but was being cleared for agriculture to support the ever growing population. By the 13th Century Elgin was well established during this time of peace. It was becoming increasingly prosperous with an expansion in arts as well as industries and attracted many Barons and nobles. Elgin continued to grow over the following centuries, many people finding employment within the lands owned by the prosperous church. Education was becoming increasingly important to the residents of Moray and became more accessible to the less fortunate members of society.

In the 17th Century trade with Europe was booming. Imports of wine and other luxury good came through the ports of Findhorn and Garmouth while timber, salmon, grain and hides were exported. This lucrative trade prompted the construction of Elgin’s port of Lossiemouth in 1703.

The 18th Century however was a time of inactivity and depression in Moray. International trade almost ground to a halt because of punitive fiscal laws being implemented after the Union in 1707 with England. The population suffered greatly and declined over the years with food shortages.

With the 19th Century came the Victorian age, railways, gas street lighting, improved roads, new building methods and hotels which transformed the economy. Agriculture once again became very profitable with the ability to export via rail, allowing towns in Moray to compete with any other similar town in Scotland.

Today:
Traditional industries in Moray reflect the areas abundant natural resources, fishing, forestry and agriculture. The area is very fertile and has good natural harbours for trading with the Moray Firth and beyond. Agriculture is still very important in Moray however other industries have developed over the 20th century.

RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Kinloss make a huge economic impact on the area, providing thousands of people with jobs. In 2005, between the two bases over £150 million was contributed to the local economy. In 2010 it was announced that RAF Kinloss would be closed as part of the Government’s budget cuts. The future of RAF Lossiemouth was also questioned. Heavy resistance to the idea of Lossie being closed resulted in the announcement that it would stay open and actually increase in size by absorbing some of RAF Leuchars. This was a great relief to the people of Moray as the closure of both bases would have been hugely damaging to the local economy.

Beyond the RAF bases and the historical industries many people coming to Moray find employment in offshore industries. There is also a high concentration of public bodies including the Moray Council, Dr Gray’s Hospital, the Moray Collage and the two RAF bases meaning that public administration accounts for a significant amount of employment in the area. It is interesting to note that although Moray is primarily rural, manufacturing accounts for over 15% of employment. Industry types included in this sector are food and drink, textiles, paper and the manufacturing of metals. Moray has over fifty distilleries, which is about half of all the distilleries in Scotland. Walkers of Aberlour and Baxters of Speyside are also crucial to Moray’s economy.

Moray has a great deal to offer tourists, and the tourism industry is becoming increasingly important. Along with wonderful scenery, a stunning coast line and sites of historical importance, Moray also offers some of the best fishing in Scotland. The Whisky industry which is not only an important export industry, also features heavily on the tourist route.

Moray has a huge amount to offer both in terms of education, job opportunities and tourist experiences. With such a diverse range of industries keeping the area afloat, and a rising population, Moray and in particular Elgin is a perfect place to move to. Many people come to the area to retire in some of the quiet sea side towns and villages. Many others choose to setup their businesses here with plenty of office space available near the centre of Elgin. A significant number of jobs in the area are in small businesses, demonstrating that Moray is a great place to setup an office and has a lot to offer.