The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
£1.6m for taste of success
Opportunity North East (ONE) has unveiled plans to invest up to £1.6million in the region’s food, drink, fishing and agriculture businesses over the next 12 months.
The private sector-led economic development agency said the investment would comprise £800,000 of its own funds and around £800,000 of match funding from partners.
Chairman of the agency’s food, drink and agriculture board, Pat Machray, said funding for food, drink and agriculture projects in the past year totalled £200,000 with around £250,000 of match funding.
Projects have included the start of ONE’s business growth programme for the sector, and joint-funding for the appointment of a market development manager for the region with Scotland Food and Drink.
ONE has also worked with Aberdeenshire Council to help carry out feasibility studies for the dairy sector following Muller’s decision to shut the only milk processing plant in the region, as well as funding a pig monitor farm project with red meat levy body Quality Meat Scotland.
“Accelerating growth across the region’s food, drink, fishing and agriculture businesses is absolutely critical to ensuring we have a strong and balanced economy,” said Mr Machray, who is also vicechairman of the overall One board.
“ONE’s focus is to add value by bringing both expertise and resource to the table to help businesses to grow through efficiency, innovation, market development and skills.”
ONE’s director for the sector and agricultural consultant, Peter Cook, said activities in the year ahead would be focused on providing resources and creating new partnerships and co-investment.
He said: “We will continue to focus on the opportunities for businesses in the sector to grow.
“The region has significant strengths – including large shares of primary production activity, established and emerging brands, and research capabilities – and building successfully on this competitive advantage will increase turnover, profitability and employment.”