£5 million Just Transition Funding Secured | ONE

Opportunity North East (ONE) has secured more than £5 million of Scottish Government investment via the Just Transition Fund for two major industry projects in north east Scotland.

The funding will support economic diversification, productivity gains and sustainability, helping to create new high-value jobs across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

The SeedPod centre of excellence for food and drink manufacturing will receive £3.1 million. A further £2 million is going to the North East Adventure Tourism project.

Jennifer Craw, ONE chief executive, welcomed the funding, saying: "This region has a clear economic vision backed by effective private-public partnerships. Through ONE, industry is consistently co-creating, developing, co-investing in and delivering impactful projects in key sectors with regional and national partners. We are excited to secure Just Transition Fund investment in SeedPod and North East Adventure Tourism to build on our delivery record and drive economic transformation. Investment in north east Scotland will provide long-term returns through sustainable business growth, increased productivity and high-value green jobs.”

SeedPod is the food and drink industry centre of excellence for manufacturing and production. It will put the region's businesses at the forefront of innovation, productivity and sustainability, increasing high-value exports and creating new jobs. The project is led and co-funded by ONE.

SeedPod includes £10 million of capital funding provided jointly by the UK Government and Scottish Government via the Aberdeen City Region Deal (ACRD) – a partnership between both governments, ONE, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. ONE has committed £4.4 million of funding towards delivering SeedPod’s objectives and set up Food Hub (NES) Limited with an industry board to take the capital project forward. Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) is a strategic delivery partner and provides the site for SeedPod.

David Kilshaw OBE, chair of Food Hub (NES) Limited, welcomed the confirmation of £3.1 million of capital funding over two years for SeedPod.

Mr Kilshaw said: “The award of £3.1 million Just Transition funding toward Seedpod is very welcome. It recognises the crucial role this transformational project will play in increasing sustainable growth in food and drink manufacturing across north east Scotland and nationally.

“SeedPod has been co-created and developed by ONE with industry and partners. It will provide the infrastructure, facilities and support for new and scaling businesses to lead in low-carbon-production and high-value manufacturing, premium product development and increased productivity.

“This investment in SeedPod – alongside the funding already committed by the Scottish and UK governments and ONE – will accelerate economic diversification in the region and supports the sector’s ambition to create good green jobs.”

North East Adventure Tourism aims to transform the region into a leading destination for adventure activities and sports by developing high-quality, sustainable facilities and low-carbon infrastructure.

Ms Craw added: “The North East Adventure Tourism project partners are growing inclusive, low-carbon adventure tourism, creating up to 500 new jobs in rural areas and the city, delivering community and economic benefits and managing the region's natural capital sustainably. The private sector-led approach is driving progress. The Just Transition funding will be transformational in delivering infrastructure that supports the ambition to be a world-class destination for adventure tourism.”

North East Adventure Tourism will harness the region's vast array of natural assets, transforming a rapidly growing sector into a market-facing industry. ONE leads and co-funds the development of NEAT, working with sector businesses, Scottish Enterprise, VisitAberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire Council and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland.