Opportunity North East leads and delivers £6 million of new business growth, innovation and skills programmes funded by the North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund to boost employment and economic recovery in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
The projects include key sector accelerators, an innovation investment fund, a graduate into business programme, leadership and entrepreneurial skills programmes, and hospitality apprenticeships.
A summary of the programmes is provided below with links to the programmes in delivery. To register your interest in ONE-led NEERSF activity for businesses and individuals and to receive further information, please email NEERSF@opportunitynortheast.com with NEERSF Programme in the subject heading.
All Sectors
- Business accelerators and innovation funding – for early-stage and established businesses – to stimulate business startups, growth and innovation and create new jobs in digital, food and drink, life sciences and tourism.
- Entrepreneurial training to bring new skills into the region and stimulate business growth.
- Green leadership for low-carbon business growth with training and support for businesses to assess, develop and implement sustainability models.
- Graduate into business programme supporting SME businesses to grow by bringing in graduate-level skills. Graduates will benefit from the work experience and business skills training.
Food, Drink and Agriculture
- Agriculture supply chain technology training to increase adoption of digital tech and stimulate innovation in primary production.
- Management training for food and drink industry leaders to grow ambition and confidence in the food and drink manufacturing sector.
- SeedPod food and drink industry development training in business growth, digital, marketing and sustainability.
- Provenance Festival delivery and training to support food and drink producers to target the high-growth food tourism market with visitor experiences to connect consumers with their products at source.
Life Sciences
- Commercial manager for hire and technical training programme to provide life sciences businesses with access to specialist skills to stimulate growth.
Tourism
- Hospitality apprenticeships with leading hotels to provide young people with a structured career path and accredited training to develop careers in hospitality and attract talent to increase quality and service in the sector.
- Adventure tourism skills training to help businesses grow this key visitor market through service excellence
- Best in class hospitality training to upskill hospitality staff and enable them to build stronger connections between the region’s hospitality industry and produce from the food, drink and agriculture sector.
The North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund is a £14.3 million investment by the Scottish Government to support economic recovery and enhance skill levels in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire though key sector growth, employment, training, and skills development opportunities.
The Fund is delivering 29 employment, upskilling and reskilling, and business growth and innovation projects that will benefit more than 3,000 people across the region. The projects focus on entrepreneurship; accelerated business start-up, development and growth; increasing digital skills in the workforce; equality and inclusion; and upskilling and reskilling people to enter or remain in work and take advantage of new, green jobs as part of the energy transition.
The North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund delivery partners are Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Skills Development Scotland, Robert Gordon University, University of Aberdeen, Opportunity North East, Energy Transition Zone Limited, and Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce.
Aberdeen City Council is the lead accountable body for the North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund.
Opportunity North East Ltd
11 Queens Gardens
Aberdeen
AB15 4YD