Business Planning
Campbeltown Airport - Scale of the Opportunity
Client - Southworth Clubs / Kintyre Development Company
MKA Economics led the Scale of the Opportunity research into investing in Campbeltown Airport to facilitate better connectivity for business and communities in the Mull of Kintyre, attracting more flights, larger aircraft and more passengers. A final presentation was delivered to Argyll and Bute Council, HIAL, Loganair and the Scottish Government (Transport Scotland and MSP) in May 2025.
St Andrews Harbour Hub and Pier Restoration
Client - St Andrews Harbour Hub
MKA Economics led the business case to develop the St Andrews Harbour Hub, a multi-purpose facility that includes a Harbourmaster's officer, a new cafe and heritage interpretation centre. MKA Economics was retained by the Trust to lead funding applications for the Hub and associated harbour repairs in 2025.
North East Adventure Tourism
Client - North East Adventure Tourism
MKA Economics led the business cases of four adventure tourism projects seeking funding from Opportunity North East. This included multi-million pound investments at Glenshee Ski Centre, Transition Extreme, Gravitate North East and new mountain bike trails in Huntly for Huntly Development Trust.
Project Safe Haven
Client - Unicorn Preservation Society
MKA Economics was commissioned to support the formation of the business case to safeguard HMS Unicorn and to develop a new visitor centre at City Quay in Dundee, supporting the ongoing regeneration of Dundee's waterfront.
Economic Impact Assessment
Lost Shore Surf Lagoon
Client - Lost Shore
MKA Economics was re-commissioned in 2025 to update our previous economic impact assessment of the now operational Lost Shore Surf Lagoon near Ratho in Edinburgh, focusing on the onsite and offsite expenditure of surfers and the impacts of Loch Shore's own expenditure.
Vault City Brewing Relocation
Client - Vault City Brewing
MKA Economics was commissioned to assess the economic impact of Vault City Brewing's new brewery at the Bush in Midlothian. This was to assess the economic benefits it brings to the local, regional and national economies to guide its future investment in light of the new National Planning Framework 4.
Mallaig Harbour
Client - Mallaig Harbour Authority
MKA Economics carried out an independent economic assessment of Mallaig Harbour to the local and national economies, taking into account various investments and an assessment of 'do nothing'. This also mapped the outcomes delivered by MHA against national and regional strategies.
Various Renewable Developments
Client - Various
MKA Economics has led the Socio-economic, Tourism, Land Use and Recreation Assessment of a number of renewable investments across Scotland, including onshore and offshore wind proposals, pumped storage schemes, green hydrogen production, anaerobic digestion facilities, solar arrays, battery storage facilities and grid infrastructure investments.
Event Impact Assessment
Event Impact Assessments
Client - Various
MKA Economics has led the event impact assessment of over 100 events over the last decade, including the Caledonian Challenge, Callander Jazz Festival, Dunbar SciFest, Eilean Dorcha Festivals, GlasGLOW, Fringe by the Seas, HebCelts, Irish Open, International Sheep Dog Trials, John Muir Festivals, Mauritius Open, Scottish Opens, Oban Live, Pedal for Scotland, Ryedale Festival, SkiffieWorlds, T in the Park, Tiree Music Festivals and the Wickerman Festival. MKA Economics deploy 'EventImpact' compliant assessments, which includes visitor and business surveys to ascertain impact to guide the future development of sustainable events.
Paddle Steamer Waverley
Client - Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
MKA Economics estimated the economic impact assessment of the PS Waverley from her sailing programme in 2023. This was based on a visitor survey with those passengers who sailed on PS Waverley in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England in 2023.
External Funding (Source and Application)
External Funding Support
Client - St Andrews Harbour Trust
MKA Economics has been supporting St Andrews Harbour Trust apply for external funds to develop St Andrews harbour. This includes heritage works to repair storm damage, funding for a heritage hub building and an audience development plan/activity plan. This has included bids to the Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and Tay Cities Deal.
Policy and Strategy Support
DYW Moray Economic Evaluation 2025
Client - DYW Moray
MKA Economics was commissioned by DYW Moray to complete an economic evaluation of their activities in 2024, covering stakeholder interviews, a survey of participating businesses, case studies and a presentation to the DYW Moray Board in June 2025.
Rural Community Led Vision 2024 - 2027
Client - Aberdeenshire Local Action Group (ALAG)
MKA Economics was commissioned by ALAG to develop a strategic plan to reflect the needs and ambitions of Aberdeenshire's rural communities and lay the foundations for the implementation of a rural development support programme which will deliver meaningful impact.
Aberdeenshire Harbours Economic Development Plans 2024 - 2029
Client - Aberdeenshire Council
MKA Economics was commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council in 2023 to develop Economic Development Plans (EDPs) to drive the development of their harbours in Banff, Gourdon, Johnshaven, Macduff, Portsoy, Rosehearty and Stonehaven. The EDPs seeks to support new investment to grow existing markets and develop new markets to ensure the harbours retain their valuable economic role for the communities and businesses they serve.
Net Zero and Energy Transition
Pumped Storage Hydro
Client - SSE / Gilkes Energy / Statera
MKA Economics has completed the socio-economics, tourism and recreation assessment of six major pumped storage hydro (PSH) schemes (totalling 7,400MW) across the Highlands over the 2018 - 2025 period. This has included Glen Earrach Energy's 2,000MW PSH, SSE's 1,500MW Coire Glas PSH, Gilke's 1,500MW Loch Earba PSH, Gilkes 1,800MW Loch Fearna PSH and Statera's 600MW Loch Kemp PSH.
Solar and BESS
Client - Locogen
MKA Economics has completed a wide range socio-economic, tourism and recreation assessments of solar plant and battery energy storage systems for Locogen over the 2021 to 2025 period, these have included projects in Fife, Angus, East and South Ayrshire and County Durham.
Anaerobic Digestion
Client - Acorn Bioenergy
MKA Economics completed three socio-economic, tourism and recreation assessments of three anaerobic digestion plants in Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highland. It is their intention to make an immediate impact by reducing CO2 emissions in transport, industry, and agriculture. Each AD plant across the Highlands, Moray, and Aberdeenshire will form a virtual pipeline, with biomethane being compressed to 250 bar and subsequently transported to the Injection Hub at Morayston, Dalcross via biomethane-powered trucks. Each plant will have an annual generating capacity of 100GW.
Option Appraisal
Portgordon Harbour Option Appraisal
Client - Portgordon Community Trust
MKA Economics was commissioned in 2024 to carry out an independent feasibility, option appraisal and business case of transferring Portgordon Harbour from Crown Estate Scotland to Portgordon Community Trust. This has involved community events, stakeholder consultations and a HM Treasury Green Book compliant Option Appraisal to develop a preferred option.
