News from Opportunity North East
Opportunity North East Limited
Private Sector Economic Development | NE Scotland | Growth | Diversification | Entrepreneurship | #TransformingOurRegion
Industry projects driving diversification
Opportunity North East is creating innovative industry hubs across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire as focal points for action and investment to diversify the economy.
ONE Tech Hub, BioHub and SeedPod are where key growth sector communities come together. They provide the places to meet, share, learn, start-up, innovate and grow.
Funding secured by ONE also backs new adventure tourism facilities for this fast-growing visitor market.
ONE chief executive Jennifer Craw explains: "ONE is working to create the places, spaces and entrepreneurial environment for businesses to grow, develop new markets and create high-value jobs.
"This region is confident, has a clear purpose in diversification, is investing in its strengths and is committed to being a world-class entrepreneurial location in the net zero economy.
“ONE Tech Hub is flourishing. BioHub will open this year, we are investing in adventure tourism, and SeedPod will move into construction.
"ONE is entering a new delivery phase. I'm excited about how much more we can achieve with the region’s businesses, growth sectors and partners."
Entrepreneurship, innovation and high-growth
ONE and its partners are using a world-class entrepreneurship programme to drive the creation of high-growth, innovation-led enterprises.
ONE is working with the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology and regional partners to develop and deliver best-in-class entrepreneurial education.
Home of digital tech
ONE Tech Hub is the thriving centre of a digital tech community of start-ups, scaling businesses, and industry partners, including TechScaler – the new Scottish Government programme for creating and scaling tech start-ups.
"Our move to ONE Tech Hub is an important part of our growth plan. It's great to be in the hive of digital and technology excellence. We've hired seven new graduates this year alone, with plans for more. Being in ONE Tech Hub is key in attracting the best technology talent and immersing them in a dynamic start-up community.” Adrian Brown, co-founder and managing director, Fennex
Transforming life sciences
The ￡40 million BioHub is the iconic new location for life sciences in Aberdeen. Inspiring ambition, giving people skills and knowledge to turn research into businesses, and supporting them on the entrepreneurial journey.
Opening on the Foresterhill Health Campus in spring, BioHub provides five floors of laboratories, incubation and collaboration space, customisable accommodation, business support programmes, and access to expert networks and investors.
Food innovation hub
Food and drink manufacturing is north east Scotland's most significant employer after energy, supporting more than 22,000 jobs.
The SeedPod food and drink industry innovation hub will put businesses at the forefront of product and process innovation, low-carbon high-value manufacturing, and developing premium markets with consumer-led foods of the future.
Adventure tourism developments
Work has started on two infrastructure projects as part of north east Scotland's ambition to be a leading destination for adventure tourism, which is a significant next step to realise this goal.
Almost ￡400k secured by ONE through the Just Transition Fund for the North East Adventure Tourism (NEAT) project is creating new mountain biking and cycling facilities.
Fund delivers ￡1m boost to NE businesses
The private sector loan fund established by ONE and the Andrew Salvesen Family Trust in 2019 has reached a significant milestone.
The ONE Enterprise Fund has approved more than ￡1 million of interest-free loans to 30 ambitious businesses working in digital tech, energy, food and drink, life sciences and sustainability.
Opportunity North East Limited, 11 Queens Gardens, Aberdeen, AB15 4YD