New Strategic Partnership Set to Elevate the Region’s Leading Retail and Leisure Destination

Published: June 23, 2025

SGS UK Retail, TDL Media and XPE have launched a strategic partnership to align the
marketing, management and leasing of Braehead Shopping Centre, Braehead Arena
and XSite, the adjacent regional leisure destination. Called Braehead Ambition, the
partnership will add value for visitors, retailers and operators, working in collaboration to
deliver a consistent and clear approach to the customer experience across the extensive
Braehead estate.

Reporting to a board comprising SGS UK Retail, TDL Media and XPE Group Plc, the
asset management and operational team includes Pradera Lateral, Savills, BWP Group,
Lunson Mitchenall, BGP, ClickstoBricks, and Metis. The owners and their advisors will
work as one team to enhance and evolve the assets, and visitors, retailers, and
operators can look forward to a more enlivened, coherent and compelling experience,
amplifying and expanding the natural trading synergy between adjacent ownerships.

Totalling 1,450,000 sq ft and attracting a combined 16.3 million visitors a year (which is
expected to grow to 17.6 million by the end of 2026), Braehead Shopping Centre, XSite
and The Arena offer shopping, dining, leisure and entertainment, along with live events,
exhibitions, sport and extensive free parking. As well as serving the local population, the
destination dominates a loyal and growing catchment of 2.2 million people with over £6.3
billion of available retail and leisure spend. Braehead Ambition will ensure Braehead is
always the destination of choice for consumers, and for retail and leisure businesses
looking to open in Glasgow.

Commenting on the creation of the partnership, Claire Barber, CEO of SGS UK Retail,
said: “The scale and diversity of Braehead Ambition’s offer means the destination is
more relevant to more consumers more of the time. The partnership will position

Braehead as a lifestyle choice, creating even higher levels of loyalty and engagement
that will drive the commercial performance of the individual assets, and the wider social
and economic prosperity of the area.”
Barry Cox, Non-Exec Director at XPE Group Plc, commented: “This partnership
celebrates a shared commitment to offer consumers a unique destination, one whose
total is greater even than the sum of the parts. As consumers are becoming ever more
discerning as to where and how they spend their time and money, bringing together the
strength of our individual assets to create the strongest destination of scale in Glasgow
makes total sense for our customers, our business partners, and for Renfrew.”

Councillor John Shaw, Convener of Finance, Resources and Customer Services at
Renfrewshire Council and Chair of Renfrew Local Partnership, also welcomed the
initiative, adding: “I welcome the creation of this strategic partnership between Braehead
Shopping Centre, Braehead Arena and XSite.  Individually, each is very popular and very
successful, but together they create a destination unrivalled in Scotland.  This collective
approach creates more choice, scale and opportunity, and I am confident the partnership
will fuel further success for Braehead and bring additional benefits to the local area
through community engagement.”

All the assets in Braehead Ambition are benefiting from ongoing programme of
enhancement, with over £12 million being invested by XPE Group Plc in XSite, and
anchored around the recently announced K1 go karting attraction. Similarly, SGS UK
Retail has secured several new brands, upsizes and renewals at Braehead Shopping
Centre, and Braehead Arena, which is now owned by TDL Media, has received
upgrades that increase its flexibility as a 5,200-seat multi-purpose events and sports
venue.

In addition to Braehead Shopping Centre, Braehead Arena and XSite, the area has
become established as a hub for premium automotive brands, such as Ferrari, Land
Rover, Mercedes, BMW, Harley Davidson and Ducati, and is also home to IKEA and
Sainsbury’s. Alongside the significant growth in housing, public realm enhancements to
Renfrew Riverside and major infrastructure investment, including the recently opened
Renfrew Bridge spanning the River Clyde, are adding value to local residents and
businesses.