A Scottish Starbucks franchisee is set to create 120 new jobs as part of a £4 million investment in new stores across Scotland and the north of England.
OCO, which operates 23 Starbucks locations across the two regions, has reported twelve consecutive years of sales growth and currently employs around 480 people. The company now plans to grow its estate to 29 stores by the end of 2027, with most new sites expected to take a drive-thru format.
The expansion will create a range of new roles, including baristas, supervisors and store managers, alongside additional head office positions as the business scales up its support functions.
Founded by JJ O’Hara in 2013, with its first site in Dumfries, OCO has built a reputation as a people-focused operator and was recently named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work. The company attributes this recognition to its commitment to paying the Real Living Wage, promoting from within, and investing heavily in staff training and development.
OCO refers to its employees as “partners,” reflecting a strong focus on long-term career progression within hospitality. Last year, 83% of promotions across the business were filled internally, with 71 employees moving into new roles.
Training remains central to the company’s approach, with more than half of its workforce holding the Coffee Master qualification, Starbucks’ advanced barista programme often likened to a “black belt” in coffee making. Across OCO’s estate, 54% of partners have achieved this accreditation, reflecting the company’s emphasis on skill development and career growth.
As the business continues to expand, OCO says it aims to challenge the perception of hospitality as a short-term job, offering structured career pathways instead within one of the UK’s busiest service sectors.
O’Hara said integrity works both ways for him: paying a fair wage, properly training teams, and giving people the right conditions to thrive are what build a strong culture. He added that getting this right leads partners to take more pride in their work, deliver a higher standard for customers, and ultimately enjoy what they do — calling it a win-win for everyone involved.
OCO has also made the deliberate choice to pay all baristas, regardless of age, the Real Living Wage of £13.45 — a voluntary move that remains relatively uncommon across the wider hospitality sector.
