OVERVIEW
Scotland’s tech industry is forecast to be the second-fastest growing sector in Scotland by 2029 and the Aberdeen city region is home to a thriving and fast growing digital tech community with over 200 existing digital companies.
Businesses in north east Scotland are driving solutions of the future through the latest blockchain, AI, IOT and 5G technology in health and social care, energy, agriculture, creative industries, fashion, training and education.
OPPORTUNITY NORTH EAST (ONE)
Private sector economic development catalyst Opportunity North East (ONE) develops and leads activity to stimulate and accelerate the growth of the ecosystem and businesses in the region. The focus is to support and nurture digital tech businesses from early start-up phase through the national TechScaler programme and support for more established businesses ready to scale. This is delivered through entrepreneurship programmes, mentorship and support, drawing on deep sector knowledge and expertise from across the ONE team, board members and partner organisations and critically being part of and drawing support from a like-minded community.
In 2022, this included a first-of-its-kind incubator partnership with IMPERIA to support women founders in North East Scotland and to build and strengthen a community of ambitious and empowered women in the region. A cohort of 16 women founders from across health, agriculture, fashion, energy and digital businesses participated in the programme.
ONE TECH HUB
The anchor point for this activity is ONE Tech Hub. Opened in 2019 in the former home of Gray’s school of art, ONE Tech Hub was sympathetically refurbished and upgraded with the latest high speed technology and amenities to create a bright, innovative and flexible space for the growing digital tech community. The building offers a versatile mix of hot desking, co-working spaces, offices, and digitally connected meeting and event spaces for up to 150 people in the heart of Aberdeen city centre.
More than 80 people regularly work in ONE Tech Hub and it is home to 13 digital tech businesses and seven partner organisations from across the digital tech ecosystem including the DataLab, Barclays Eagle Labs, S5G Connect, Censis and TechScaler the Scottish Government programme for creating, developing and scaling tech startups. Techscaler provides a uniform approach to delivering the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review recommendations to establish Scotland as one of Europe’s leading start-up economies. Delivered nationally by CodeBase, Opportunity North East is the regional partner and ONE Tech Hub is the Techscale North East Hub.
Regular educational programmes at ONE Tech Hub include foundational courses to introduce early-stage businesses to the key concepts in tech product development, entrepreneurship, growth and investment. In 2022, more than 40 would-be founders and early-stage digital tech start-ups participated in accelerator activity delivered by ONE. For the wider digital tech community meetups and events run throughout the year with speakers from partner organisations, founders and leading tech experts covering the latest trends in tech, entrepreneurship and start-ups.
Adrian Brown, is co-founder and managing director of ambitious energy technology firm Fennex who moved in to ONE Tech Hub in August 2022 recognising the need for a space and ecosystem to support their growth ambitions.
“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 and being in ONE Tech Hub is certainly a key factor in attracting the best technology talent and immersing them in a dynamic startup community.
“The addition of TechScaler will increase the talent pipeline and strengthen the community which is great to expand our teams’ horizons – possibly to spinning out their own tech start-up!”
Adrian Brown
CONTACT
T: +44 (0)1224 346145
E: enquiriesIA@investaberdeen.co.uk
Twitter: @Invest_Aberdeen
Web: investaberdeen.co.uk
QUICK FACTS
ONE Tech Hub is home to 13 digital tech businesses and seven partner organisations from across the digital tech ecosystem and provides a space for growth and collaboration opportunities in the heart of Aberdeen city centre.
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