A Scottish Starbucks franchisee is set to create 120 jobs as part of a £4m investment in new stores across Scotland and the north of England.
OCO, a Scottish operator whose key trading business operates 23 Starbucks stores across Scotland and the north of England, has recorded 12 years of continuous sales growth.
The business currently employs around 480 people.
Further growth is now planned, with additional locations expected to take the estate to 29 stores by the end of 2027.
The majority of the new sites are expected to be drive-thru stores.
The expansion will create roles including baristas, supervisors and store managers, as well as head office positions as the company’s support function grows.
The growth plans follow OCO’s recent recognition as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work.
The business said Real Living Wage pay, internal promotion and investment in training are central to supporting its people, known internally as partners.
OCO said an important part of this is building and empowering teams where people can see a future in hospitality, rather than viewing the sector only as a short-term job.
Last year, 83% of promotions across the business were filled internally, with 71 people progressing into new roles.
More than half of OCO’s workforce hold the Coffee Master qualification, Starbucks’ advanced barista training programme.
The company describes the qualification as earning the “black belt” of coffee making.
Across the estate, 54% of employee partners are accredited Coffee Masters.
For OCO partners, the qualification forms part of turning barista roles into career-building opportunities, giving colleagues the confidence and specialist skills needed to progress.
As the business expands, OCO said it wants to help people develop, progress and build careers in one of the UK’s busiest service sectors.
JJ O’Hara founded OCO after opening his first Starbucks franchise in Dumfries in 2013.
He said the company is making a deliberate choice to pay all baristas, regardless of age, the Real Living Wage of £13.45.
The move has been made voluntarily and ahead of any legal requirement, which OCO said remains rare across the hospitality sector.
O’Hara said: “For me, integrity works both ways. Paying a fair wage, investing in proper training for our teams and giving people the right conditions to thrive – that’s what builds a great culture.
“When you get that right, our partners take more pride in their work, they deliver a higher standard for customers and ultimately enjoy what they do. It’s a win-win.”
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