Australian-based Breathe Life Sciences (BLS) is setting its sights on Scotland, with bold plans to open its first manufacturing and distribution facility in the Scottish Borders—a move expected to create up to 100 jobs over the next three years. The company, which already operates sites in Manchester, Prague, and Nagoya, is taking a significant step into the UK’s rapidly expanding medicinal cannabis sector, buoyed by a surge in patient demand and a groundswell of regional support.
According to BBC News, the opening of the new Borders facility is scheduled for late next year, with 36 jobs to be filled initially and a business plan aiming for a workforce of around 100 by 2029 or 2030. Recruitment could begin as soon as the summer of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Although the exact location of the site remains under wraps, the company’s ambitions—and the local impact—are already generating excitement.
Medicinal cannabis was legalised by the UK Government in 2018, and since then the sector has seen explosive growth. As reported by STV News, cannabis-based medicines are now available through the NHS, prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and to relieve the side effects of chemotherapy. The market’s value has ballooned to approximately £250 million annually, with 80,000 active patients in 2025—a number that, according to market forecasts, could more than double to 190,000 by 2029.
Sam Watson, CEO and founder of Breathe Life Sciences, told BBC News: “This is a fast-growing industry and coming to Scotland is part of our plans for meeting demand. In the whole of the European market, the UK is the quickest growing area. There are very few manufacturers of these products in the UK—most are imported—so we will be building a Scottish pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure to satisfy that market.”
Watson also highlighted the importance of public sentiment in the sector’s evolution. “Public sentiment was at the forefront of the legalisation of medicinal cannabis, which is rigorously tested, quality-assured, more affordable, and of course fully legal,” he noted to STV News. “We are honoured and inspired by the support received from SOSE and Scottish Borders Council and are proud to be investing in a region that values innovation and economic growth.”
Unlike some facilities, no cannabis plants will be cultivated at the Borders site. Instead, as Watson explained to Greatest Hits Radio, “We do the processing into pharmaceutical products. So, we aggregate supply from various suppliers, cultivators, ingredient manufacturers; we take those into our warehouse and then we turn those into the patient-ready products—the final dose-form medicines.” The facility will focus on manufacturing, research, and the development of innovative cannabinoid-based solutions, drawing on the company’s expertise in pharmaceutical processing.
To launch the project, Breathe Life Sciences has secured significant financial backing from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), receiving a grant of almost £350,000 and a further £500,000 loan, as reported by BBC News and The Glasgow Times. The total investment from SOSE tops £840,000, a testament to the confidence in the company’s vision and the region’s potential. SOSE chair Russel Griggs welcomed the move, stating, “We are delighted to welcome BLS, a key international life sciences company, to the South of Scotland. With a surge in the number of life sciences companies wanting to come to our region, the South is quickly positioning itself as a hub for innovation and growth in the emerging medicinal cannabis industry. BLS will bring further investment and skilled jobs, and are the latest company to recognise that the South of Scotland is a fantastic place to do innovative business.”
The facility itself will be equipped with state-of-the-art clean rooms, air quality controls, and secure storage for controlled drugs. Watson explained the process: “Initially, what we have to do is build the clean rooms, which have air quality controls; as well as the controlled drugs storage rooms. So there's a reasonable amount of infrastructure that we need to put in place to be able to do what we do, and get the licences to carry out the business (which could take between six and 12 months).” While no cultivation will take place on-site, the company will still require a licence from the Home Office before operations can commence.
The Scottish Borders were chosen for several reasons, not least the region’s “entrepreneurial spirit” and the strong backing from local authorities. As Watson told Greatest Hits Radio, “We've been looking at entering the UK market for several years and we found the entrepreneurial spirit of the Borders, and the support that we've received from Scottish Borders Council and SOSE has been absolutely phenomenal. That's one of the main reasons that we feel confident this is the best place in the UK to be investing and to be growing our business, and distributing to the rest of the country from here.”
The wider impact on the region is already being felt. Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for economic growth, said, “This is very welcome inward investment into the Scottish Borders, which will create a number of jobs initially, with scope for that to grow. It is a perfect example of how, through working with local members and our regional partners, we are able to attract businesses and new jobs to the area. This investment will support the Borders economy and community into the future.”
Business minister Richard Lochhead also weighed in, noting, “Life Sciences is a sector that spearheads economic growth, transforms health and care and stimulates innovation across our economy. This investment from South of Scotland Enterprise to help Breathe Life Sciences establish its first base in Scotland opens up an exciting new chapter for the Scottish Life Sciences sector and a tremendous opportunity for the region to develop its reputation as a hub for the industry.”
Beyond cannabis, Breathe Life Sciences has been expanding its pharmaceutical portfolio. The company also produces psilocybin and MDMA for medical use, and recently secured contracts for MDMA capsules to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Watson remarked, “By leveraging Bioxyne’s manufacturing capabilities, the mental health sector can now source high-quality Australian-made medication for patients suffering from PTSD.”
With the UK’s medicinal cannabis market growing at a rapid pace and patient numbers expected to rise sharply over the coming years, Breathe Life Sciences’ investment marks a significant milestone for both the company and the Scottish Borders. The new facility promises not only to create jobs and boost the local economy but also to improve access to vital medicines for patients across the UK—a development that could reshape the country’s life sciences landscape for years to come.
