Getting local people to tell Aberdeen’s stories will dispel the myths

PERCEPTION is reality, they say. So, if we want to attract the foreign investment to underpin our ambitious regional growth plans and assist north-east businesses to compete in international markets, it would be helpful if we could understand how others view and judge us. To quote one of Scotland’s most famous “exports”, Robert Burns: So, what might they see or say? We are overly dependent on one sector? Oil and gas in the North Sea is an industry in terminal decline? This is a cold and inaccessible outpost? We failed to make hay while the sun shone on our regional economy? We are difficult to do business with? We have a “can’t” rather than a “can-do” attitude? It is a dull and dour place? We have no viable economic future?

Harsh? Not if this is what others believe to be true.

If this is the case how can we expect to attract the investors, entrepreneurs, skilled workers and students we need to deliver our future vision?

Fundamentally, in any market research exercise, there are only two types of outcome – truths and myths.

Where truths are revealed the required response is for the subject to deal with them and I believe our city region is doing that – we have a plan.

Our economy is at a crossroads and businesses of all shapes and sizes are adjusting to a “new norm” but it is one that many parts of the UK would give their right arm for, even today. We have a strong platform from which to move forward.

There are currently £5.3 billion of infrastructure projects in the pipeline, with more to come. We have an economic diversification plan that is gathering pace. Our strength in innovation is being further developed through City Region Deal investment. There is real momentum behind the city centre masterplan. Most of all we are beginning to demonstrate confidence and ambition.

Attracting the Tour Series cycling and the Great Aberdeen Run to the region sends out the message that we are open for business and things are happening here that previously wouldn’t have reached the start line.

Dealing with the “truths” is a work in progress. The next job is to communicate all of this at the same time as challenging the many myths that persist about the region.

The recent Nuart Festival and the amazing legacy it will leave in Aberdeen city centre is an example of a project that will help prove that far from being dour, this is an edgy and cool place, and might even encourage local folk to see things differently and talk positively about it – and therein lies the key. We need to mobilise our people and businesses to think differently about the region and to become our storytellers.

If we could export just one thing, it has to be this positive narrative.