Princess Royal opens new £90m Standard Life Aberdeen HQ

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

She met people from across the business along with apprentices, graduates, and representatives from the company’s charity partners, construction associates and local suppliers, before unveiling a plaque.

The nine-storey development has already invested £90 million in the capital, and will generate a further £200 million each year to the Scottish economy.

It has created a new ‘foodie quarter’ within the city centre, luring chefs and restaurants to Scotland, and 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 operates out of 50 locations worldwide with around 9000 people, 1000 of which are based at the new headquarters on St Andrew Square.

The 100,000 sq ft office building was developed by the Standard Life Pooled Property Pension Fund and joint venture partner Peveril Securities, along with 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.

In a joint statement, Keith Skeoch and Martin Gilbert, co-CEOs of Standard Life Aberdeen 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 £200 million each year for the local economy, seven new restaurants, plus numerous contracts and collaboration opportunities for local businesses, suppliers, charities, apprentices and graduates.”