Elevator launches £1m entrepreneurship hub to lure talent and speed up growth

ENTREPRENEURSHIP has received a boost with the launch of a dedicated centre and accompanying accelerator programme in Aberdeen, aiming to attract global talent to the ci t y and boost economic longevity.

The new £1 million Centre for Entrepreneurship is located at The Hub in the city’s Energy Park at the Bridge of Don, looking to promote and accelerate rapid growth in early-stage global businesses. The facility was launched together with Elevator, the rebranded Scottish business support and development organisation Enterprise North East Trust.

Elevator said that with support from Aberdeen City Council, it won a capital grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the super-connected cities initiative “to create an outstanding space to encourage entrepreneurial spirit and attract global talent to the city”. As well as helping entrepreneurs achieve local, national and global success, the new centre will also provide education about entrepreneurship to school, college and universit y students.

As for the 20-week global business accelerator programme, Elevator is hosting this for “high-potential” industry start-ups.

Elevator’s chief executive Gary McEwan set up the centre and programme after being inspired by the likes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He said the centre’s creation was key in safeguarding economic strength in the north-east, “as the region continues to face the prospect of a declining oil and gas industry”.