Fifty female students from the UAE and Qatar visited the award-winning company, Mackays in Arbroath today (Wednesday, February 2) to see how jams and marmalade are made in the traditional Scottish way.
The students are taking part in an Academic Training Programme (ATP) in Multiculturalism and Leadership at Dundee’s Al-Maktoum Institute, the 11th educational programme of its kind, including Summer Schools, organised by the Institute since the first in 2003.
This is the biggest group of students to come to Scotland so far and brings the total number of students visiting Dundee for such programmes to over 400.
This was the third time UAE and Qatar students have visited Mackays, which specialises in traditional marmalade and jam production. The family-run business employs 130 and currently exports to a total of 44 countries, with India and China among its newest markets.
In all, the company – it won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2004 – fills 12 million jars of jam, marmalade and other products a year.
Originally founded in 1938 by the Mackay Brothers, the business was kept in the family until being bought over in 1995 and is now run by Paul Grant MBE.
“A visit to Mackays, which is a real success story, is always a hugely enjoyable part of the students’ itinerary,” said Professor Malory Nye, Principal of the Al-Maktoum Institute.
“It is an interesting company with a global reputation to visit, particularly as it is one of the few companies in the world still using the traditional open pan boiling methods for its products.”
Mackays opened its current factory in Arbroath in 2008 in a £4.5 million move from an original base six miles away in Carnoustie.
Commercial Director for the multi-million pound business, Martin Grant, said:
“Once again, we are pleased to welcome the students from the UAE and Qatar so they can see how we make jams and marmalade in the traditional way.
“We will have sample for them to taste and we hope they’ll round off their stay by visiting the gift shop here.”
The students’ four-week programme offers an interesting and stimulating schedule of social, historic and cultural elements.
The visit of the third and fourth-year students forms a key part of their degree course studies and the various activities arranged by the Institute have been tailored to advance their overall learning and understanding of Scotland and the challenges of global dialogue and exchange.
