ONE SeedPod is more than an innovation hub. It will be the first of its kind in the UK, offering a dynamic blend of commercial manufacturing and innovation space combined with unparalleled access to food and drink industry expertise, market insights, and networks, all under one roof.
"ONE SeedPod is a springboard for ambitious businesses," explains long-standing food industry entrepreneur David Kilshaw OBE. He chairs the board of Food Hub (NES) Ltd, the not-for-profit established to develop ONE SeedPod.
"It offers a platform to both start-up and scale production in food-grade manufacturing units, a space to develop new food products in the NPD kitchens, innovate processes and digital technology in the pilot plant space, and a stage to showcase products online and in person in the demonstration kitchen. It will be home to a vibrant community for entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders, to access tailored support to accelerate growth."
With its striking design, inspired by the region's rural vernacular, and its iconic pink cladding, ONE SeedPod will be a landmark in the development of the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem alongside ONE Tech Hub in Aberdeen city centre and ONE BioHub on the Foresterhill Health Camus—the ONE-led innovation hubs for digital tech and life sciences.
The 30,000-square-foot new building, which will open in spring 2025, is currently in its main construction phase. ONE is leading and co-funding the Aberdeen City Region Deal (ACRD) project, with capital funding from the UK Government, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and the Just Transition Fund. Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) is the strategic partner, providing the serviced site for ONE SeedPod on its Craibstone Campus.
Mr Kilshaw says ONE SeedPod is critical to achieving the region's growth ambition in food and drink: "ONE SeedPod is a unique home for the food and drink entrepreneurial ecosystem that ONE is building to accelerate growth, increase productivity and create new, high-value jobs in the industry. The project partners are investing in the growth potential of new and established businesses by creating the home for practical support to the sector, which is the region's largest employer after energy and vital to our future economy."
Visit the ONE SeedPod website to find out more.
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