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North east Scotland's oil and gas legacy paves the way for significant growth in energy transition activity and a net-zero carbon energy future. Writing in The Herald newspaper on 8 October 2020, Opportunity North East's chair Sir Ian Wood KT GBE made the case for Scotland being a global leader in the era of sustainable energy. Sir Ian wrote: “As I look ahead to the next 50 years, I can see Aberdeen and Scotland as a global leader in the energy transition, the green recovery and the sustainable energy era that follows. “We will achieve this by leveraging our vast potential in net zero carbon: repurposing our energy infrastructure; developing a strong and competitive energy transition supply chain and expert workforce; and investing with focus and pace. “In doing so, the oil capital will fast become a global integrated energy hub to the benefit of the people, the economy, the supply chain and ultimately the climate.” Read his full article on our www.opportunitynortheast.com website. #ONEEnergy #energytransition #netzeronortheastscotland

A private-sector loan fund established in 2019 is supporting ambitious businesses in north east Scotland to achieve their growth plans, which will be vital to diversification and resilience in the wake of the economic shock delivered by COVID-19. Opportunity North East (ONE) and the Andrew Salvesen Family Trust created the £2 million ONE Enterprise Fund to help SMEs to grow by providing funding for critical points in their growth. It is supporting investment by innovative businesses in new technology, manufacturing and production capacity, and jobs across the digital; energy; and food, drink and agriculture sectors. The Fund has approved more than £500,000 of loans, and one of its first loan recipients has already repaid its funding. Recipients include a clean power developer for the oil and gas industry, a company pioneering on-street charging solutions for electric vehicles and an agritech business improving herd management for beef cattle. The Fund has also helped early-stage businesses to secure meaningful equity investment or achieve a significant commercial milestone. Patrick Machray OBE chairs the ONE Enterprise Fund’s assessment panel and is vice-chair of ONE. He said: “The ONE Enterprise Fund was born out of a shared ambition for ONE and the Andrew Salvesen Family Trust to support entrepreneurial business growth and employment. The economic shock of COVID-19 has underlined the need to accelerate growth in enterprising SMEs. In growing businesses, there are points when funding can be difficult to secure or where funds are needed to leverage more investment – these are examples of where our Fund is making a difference. The positive response from businesses and investors demonstrates that it is meeting a funding need and supporting the goals of businesses and the regional economy. “The Fund is supporting businesses at key points in their development so that they get ahead faster and create jobs for the future, and that’s more important than ever,” said Mr Machray. #ONEEnterpriseFund #Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire

A new programme from Opportunity North East will help life sciences businesses in north east Scotland to prepare for raising investment. The business support programme, tailored to the needs of participants and delivered via the ONE Life Sciences Leadership Forum, comprises four virtual workshops and associated one-to-one support. ONE is working with the UK's most significant science incubator BioCity Group to deliver the investment ready series, which is already fully subscribed. CEOs in early-stage companies or managers within more established companies who will take a role in future funding and investment rounds are the target audience. The programme, which starts on 6 October, is fully funded by ONE as part of the broader action and investment it is leading, with regional and national partners, to double the number of life sciences companies in and around Aberdeen. It will provide participants with an understanding of investment readiness, investment types and the implications of raising finance. They will also prepare and deliver an investment pitch and will receive feedback on it from sector-specialist investors, helping them to strengthen their investment propositions. Businesses in the UK biotech sector raised £894 million in investment in the first half of 2020. Seed and early-stage investment remain some of the most challenging hurdles for businesses to overcome. Prof Stephen Logan, chair of the ONE Life Sciences sector board, said: "ONE's investment in delivering specialist support for the sector will ensure that life sciences businesses based in north east Scotland are equipped with the tools, knowledge and insights to succeed. The sector goal is to anchor growing innovative businesses here for the long term along with the high-value employment that they provide. "Providing best-in-class business support to our life sciences innovators, will also accelerate the commercialisation of research and ideas to bring new drugs, products and technology to market to treat patients and enhance healthcare delivery. This will benefit the health economy regionally and nationally,” said Prof Logan. #ONELifeSciences #lifesciences #Aberdeen

#COVID19 continues to shape our eating and drinking habits. Earlier this week, Levercliff shared its latest UK consumer survey insights with the North East Scotland Food & Drink Network to help food and drink manufacturers and processors in the region adjust to the changing market and identify opportunities. The six key factors driving consumers are: 1. Online is king 2. Anxiety – eating out and money 3. Cooking from scratch 4. Home drinking 5. Brexit – fragility of supply chains and benefits of local products 6. Health and weight loss You can access the full presentation and a recording of the webinar on the Food, Drink & Agriculture section of our website. #ONEFoodDrinkAgriculture #foodanddrink #consumerinsights #marketinsights #Aberdeen #Aberdeenshire