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EPSON Scotland Design Centre Q: What made EPSON decide to come to Scotland? A: The deciding factor for Epson in moving to Scotland was the availability of experienced DSP engineers. Our job is to develop firmware for DSP (Digital Signal Processor) mainly for mobile equipment, including mobile phones and portable audio equipment. It is very hard in almost all countries in the world, especially in Japan, to employ or even find experienced engineers in this field, because these applications have become a very hot market. I have tried to employ such experienced engineers in Japan for over three years but, because the market is hot, resources are limited and existing large, well-known Japanese companies tend to hold on to their engineers. Another important factor was that only Scotland, between several other location candidates, offered financial assistance from a local government body. Q: Did you conduct research into the possibility of locating to Scotland? A: Due to the difficulty in employing experienced DSP engineers in Japan, we had already decided to move to Europe. I received some information from Locate In Scotland which I compared with information from other locations within Europe. However, with the brand name of EPSON, it is almost impossible to employ well-experienced DSP engineers even in Europe because EPSON does not have any mobile phone business. I was advised there was a high possibility of employing such people in Scotland, so that was the final reason for my selection. Q: Did you find it easy to locate into Scotland, or did you have any problems with the process of moving your business over here? A: The process was very easy, because of the excellent support of The Alba Centre and Locate In Scotland teams. For example, when we decided to start up an office in Munich 10 years ago, I had to be on location to ensure that everything was done to our specification. I was living in London and had to commute to Munich to establish our office every week for five months. But this time I did not need to do this because The Alba Centre took care of everything for me. Q: Did you apply for any financial assistance and if so was this process easy for you? A: Yes, we did apply. The process again was helped by The Alba Centre team and Locate In Scotland team, and was not too difficult for us. Q: How did your family feel about moving to Scotland? A: It was not difficult at all, because they were used to living in London and Munich so we had experienced different cultures. I have noticed some different culture in Scotland from the one in London. However, Japanese who have never lived in Europe must feel some difficulties due to differences in language, cultures and business/lifestyle. If an advisory booklet was available that explains some concrete examples this would be helpful for them. (NB The Alba Centre have now produced a brochure with case study examples of engineers and their families who have moved to Scotland.) Q: Have you bought a house? Or are you renting? A: Renting. Q: Did you find it difficult finding rented accommodation? A: No there was no problem in finding rented accommodation in Edinburgh and, again, we were given assistance with this by Locate In Scotland. Q: You have worked in Japan and Munich, how does Scotland compare to this? A: There are advantages and disadvantages like anywhere you move to but my favourite place, especially from a business point of view, is Scotland. Q: How do you see EPSON in the Alba Centre in the future, and where you will be in the future here in Scotland? A: I think the Alba Centre project has gradually been recognised as the semiconductor centre in the world. Q: Are you looking forward to moving up to the new campus? Do you think that will help business? A: Yes, I believe so, especially for our R & D business. It can be very difficult to establish our own office and I feel the advantage of us moving into the Multiple Occupancy Building (MOB, this attractive facility, to be named Integration House, is due for completion in early 2001) will lead to us progressing good working relationships with other companies there, with ISLI (Institute for System Level Integration) and the Universities. Q: What about recruitment. Have you come across any problems in trying to recruit? A: Due to the worldwide lack of resources, it is not too easy, but Locate In Scotland introduced us to a very good recruitment agency. Because of the involvement of ISLI and other design companies, I believe that Scotland offers the highest potential to recruit the staff EPSON require. Q: And the quality? A: Very high. Our Company Assistant was introduced by a recruiting agency. The most important factor in recruiting such support staff to EPSON was experience with start-up companies. The company assistant we now employ has had many years of experience with newly established companies and she has taken us forward with her knowledge and understanding of how the systems in Scotland work. She has been very helpful. We have also successfully recruited a Team Manager. He has been an excellent DSP engineer and, in fact, some algorithms developed by him have been adopted as international standards. I believe we will establish a high level Development Team. Q: Will Epson recruit more design engineers? A: My plan is to employ about 13 - 15 people within two years, we will stay with this number of people for two or three years then, depending on our results, we may expand. Q: Overall you are happy with the support and help you have received from The Alba Centre team? Especially The Alba Centre. I have never come across such experience and expertise from a dedicated team. The Alba Centre team helped us through the transition from the initial contact through to moving in, I had no worries, even the placement and ordering of furniture was taken on by the staff of The Alba Centre. More information about locating in Scotland
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