ONE FD&A COVID-19 Update | ONE

We know that food, drink, agriculture and fishing businesses in north east Scotland face unprecedented challenges arising from the COVID-19 global pandemic, which has impacted everything from how we work to supply chains and routes to market.

The ONE Food, Drink & Agriculture team and sector board are keeping in contact with businesses, partners and colleagues in industry organisations, local authorities, the enterprise and skills agencies, and national government. We are connecting businesses to the funding schemes introduced by government, developing a key worker digital tool and new support programmes for businesses, driving forward the design of SeedPod and building the Seafood Transformation action and investment plan. Through our partnership with Scotland Food & Drink, we are bringing regional insight and knowledge to the national recovery plan for the industry.

Despite the immediate financial and operational challenges, many businesses are thinking about how they adjust their business model and products given the dramatic changes to markets due to COVID-19. ONE Food, Drink & Agriculture will be launching targeted programmes to support businesses in this process, which will include detailed market insights, intelligence on consumer behaviours, new routes to market and experience from international markets where lockdown has been relaxed.

In the meantime, if we can support you with advice and guidance in the current climate or help you to access the government support available then please get in touch with us. You can contact Elizabeth Mathie our network manager in the first instance.

Elizabeth.Mathie@opportunitynortheast.com

The primary source of online information on the business funding support that is available in Scotland, including eligibility and how to apply, remains the https://findbusinesssupport.go... website.