Entrepreneurship driving transformation

"The focus by ONE and partners on growth sectors, entrepreneurship and innovation is making a huge difference to our economy and prospects. The achievements we’ve marked today have been achieved together. Each of us plays our part. Stay engaged and stay focused, and we can achieve a lot more." Sir Ian Wood KT GBE, Chair, Opportunity North East

Since 2016, Opportunity North East has developed and delivered action and secured an investment of ￡150 million with partners in north east Scotland’s growth sectors of digital tech, energy, food, drink and agriculture, life sciences and tourism.

ONE held its Entrepreneurship Driving Transformation annual event on 26 August 2024, hosted by Times Radio broadcaster Calum Macdonald . Over 100 entrepreneurs, founders, innovators, business and industry leaders, and funding and delivery partners joined ONE to continue the conversation about their shared ambitions for the region.

ONE chair, Sir Ian Wood KT GBE, set out the vision for private sector leadership, action, and co-investment.

ONE CEO Jennifer Craw shared the impact of ONE and looked to delivery to 2030 to ensure founders and business leaders thrive in the entrepreneurial ecosystem ONE is building, achieve their ambitions and create an economy with innovation-driven enterprises leading international growth.

"The private-public partnership approach works. Since we started operating in 2016, ONE has secured ￡150 million of investment in the region for growth sectors on a co-investment basis and continues to develop as the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem builder, combining economic development with entrepreneurship and innovation." Jennifer Craw,?CEO, Opportunity North East

Perspectives on progress

Austin Hay of ADC Energy Ltd. , Fiona Rudkin of mycoBiologics Ltd , Scott Fraser from Angus & Oink , and Little Brown Dog Spirits ' Andrew Smith explained how disciplined entrepreneurship supports them to scale their businesses.

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy Kate Forbes MSP stressed the significance of the ONE model to driving entrepreneurial growth and national economic transformation.

Leap AI founders Ben Stuart and Ben Bamford and their mentors Deirdre Michie OBE , Mike Fleming and Rob Burnett discussed their experiences of the North East Venture Mentoring Pilot, led by ONE with partners Energy Transition Zone Ltd , Net Zero Technology Centre , University of Aberdeen , Robert Gordon University and Scottish Enterprise .

ONE impact journey

ONE shared its impact journey with the entrepreneurs, innovators and co-funding and delivery partners it works with. A community with a shared ambition to diversify the economy, grow high-value businesses and create skilled jobs.

Entrepreneurship in action

Founders who participated in the entrepreneurship development programme at MIT reflected on the impact of disciplined entrepreneurship on their businesses.

Maximising impact to 2030

ONE is committed to maximising opportunities across the growth sectors, working with partners to secure new resources, funding, and investment to drive economic diversification and growth.

"What we achieve is through effective partnerships and ONE looks forward to working with you to achieve even more. Your part in this is to be ambitious and confident, be positive and continue to work with ONE as a founder or business leader, as a mentor, as a delivery partner, as a co-funder or co-investor. Together, we are ONE, and ONE makes the difference to grow and transform the region." Jennifer Craw

“I’m very encouraged by what we’ve seen and heard today. The focus by ONE and partners on growth sectors, entrepreneurship and innovation is making a huge difference to our economy and prospects. There’s a lot more to do, and there’s a clear appetite in this room to extend and expand action, investment and delivery to achieve our shared ambitions.” Sir Ian Wood