Fasten your seatbelts - BusinessBulletin - Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
BusinessBulletin
MAY 2019
Life on Marrs
Spotlight on the Shire
Band together
Advancing the
connectivity revolution
Wheels up
Transforming our
transport links
Fasten your
seatbelts
TRANSPORT &
INFRASTRUCTURE
THIS MONTH
Investing in your Railway Forres
Keith
As part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing investment in Scotland’s
Railway we will be closing the Aberdeen to Inverness line this summer Huntly
to carry out major track engineering works in Aberdeenshire and Moray:
rres Saturday 4th May – Insc
Friday 14th June (6 weeks)Keith
Bus replacement Elgin
Dyce to Inverurie. Inverness Huntly
Saturday 15th June –
Aberdeen
Friday 9th August (8 weeks) Huntly
Bus replacement
Dyce to Huntly.
Saturday 10th August – Insch
Monday 12th August (3 days)
Bus replacement Inverurie
Aberdeen
Elgin to Inverness.
Huntly Kintore
Inverness Dyce
Tuesday 13th August –
Monday 19th August (6 days)
Aberdeen
Bus replacement Aberdeen
Aberdeen to Huntly.
Contact aberdeeninverness@networkrail.co.uk
If you would like further information please contact @NetworkRailA2I
the project team by: www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/
scotland/aberdeen-inverness-improvements/
Aberdeen & Grampian
Chamber of Commerce
The Hub
Contents
Exploration Drive MAY 2019
Aberdeen Energy Park Focus on TRANSPORT & INFRASTRUCTURE
Bridge of Don
Aberdeen
AB23 8GX
_
T 01224 343900
E info@agcc.co.uk
www.agcc.co.uk
7
Affiliated Chambers
Moray
_
Simply Marrvelous
President
John Brebner
T 01224 343911
E info@agcc.co.uk
Bulletin Team
Editor
Laura Grant
T 01224 343926
Race against the machine
13
E business.bulletin@agcc.co.uk
News features
Graeme Smith Media
T 01224 275833
Advertising
Jim Bruce
T 01224 343905
Planes, trains and automobiles
23
E advertising@agcc.co.uk
Regulars
Design & production
Andrew Taylor PAGE |
T 01224 343934
E production@agcc.co.uk
POLICY UPDATE
Shane Taylor, research and policy manager
28
Editorial support
Michelle Walker
T 01224 343907
E michelle.walker@agcc.co.uk
TRAINING CALENDAR
New courses for 2019
40
42
Louise Norrie
PHOTO DIARY
T 01224 343918
E louise.norrie@agcc.co.uk Round up of recent events
BUSINESS LESSONS I’VE LEARNED
Brian Menzies, XS Resources Ltd
43
INTERNATIONAL UPDATE
Lorraine Neish, export documentation team leader
48
Cover image
EVENTS CALENDAR
Dates for your diary
50
Transport &
Infrastructure
May’s theme
ON THE MOVE
Who is going places in the region?
52
Leadership
3.
PREMIER PARTNERS
MAY 2019
Our Partners
As well as helping our member businesses
to be better through a range of activities,
the Chamber is committed to investing a
significant amount of energy in moving
forward the economic growth agenda
and lobbying for change on key issues
to create the conditions for success.
Our regional renaissance
Without the support of our Premier
Partners, we would not be able to
undertake much of the good work that
we do. Their engagement is hugely valued
and appreciated.
If you’d like to find out more contact our
head of membership, Seona Shand
T 01224 343929
E seona.shand@agcc.co.uk
4.
VIEWPOINT
MAY 2019
Transporting
the region to
a new level
WE are in the midst of an feasibility of installing a cable car in the
unprecedented period of transport city. It ticks the boxes of being an iconic
infrastructure improvement in the tourist attraction, reconnecting the city
North-east with our tracker telling centre with its waterfront and would be
us that around £4bn of projects are a sustainable transport option capable
currently planned or underway and of moving around 3,000 people per hour.
that does not include the close to £1bn A long shot? Yes, but surely we should
invested in that new road of ours. be encouraging transformational thinking.
Dualling of the railway line will bring Last month a range of Chamber
improved services to the north plus a members including LNER and Scotrail,
new station at Kintore and new rolling met with Transport Scotland’s director
stock will make journeys south more of rail and Network Rail to make the case
comfortable (if not faster). There are that it is unacceptable there is no plan in
plans to improve roads at key city pinch place to meaningfully improve journey
points Haudagain and Berryden and in times by train from and to other major
a year’s time, the new Aberdeen South cities. Currently travelling from Glasgow
Harbour will be open – the largest port to Aberdeen, a distance of 145 miles takes
in Scotland in terms of berthage. around two and three quarter hours.
Exactly the same as it takes to cover
Last but not least of course is the AWPR the 281 miles from Newcastle to London.
which is already transforming journey And the 126 miles separating Aberdeen
times in and across the area, improving and Edinburgh is pretty much the same
productivity and quality of life. In turn, this as from London to Birmingham. Yet the
will open up new markets and audiences former trip takes around 147 minutes
for our transformed international compared to 82 for the latter - and
airport and TECA and brings closer the that’s before HS2. The same HS2 that,
Masterplan ambition of creating more according to a report by KPMG, could
pedestrian friendly areas in the city. negatively impact our regional
As well as this, of course, it will make economy by up to £220m per year.
the region more accessible to visitors
as we build towards the vision of being We welcome the establishment
a £1bn tourism economy by 2023. by Scottish Government of the
Infrastructure Commission and
Businesses must make their voices heard the response from the Regional
to shape other committed projects Economic Strategy partners, we
such as the full dualling of the A96 to must speak with a clear and single
Inverness; ensuring the final plans best voice about our priorities to ensure
serve the overall best interests of the we are heard. The Chamber will
region and are delivered on schedule. ensure this reflects our members’
While we celebrate and begin to enjoy priorities at the same time raising
the benefits these game-changing concerns that the makeup of the
schemes will bring to businesses, group does not appear to adequately
residents and tourists, we cannot reflect the need for detailed
simply sit back and think: ‘job done’. knowledge of and focus on regions
outside of the central belt.
This is not a case of being ungrateful for
what we have received, rather a collective
responsibility to ensure our infrastructure
is fit for purpose to serve our renaissance
region ambitions and that we get at least Russell Borthwick
our fair share of available future investment. chief executive
Thinking beyond the obvious should
form a part of this process. For example,
the independent group of Vanguard
volunteers is keen to explore the
5.
NEWS
MAY 2019
Lynda McGuigan, Carole Short and Jo Robinson
Funding for Fraserburgh 48 Deirdre Michie
A DIGITAL marketing campaign to encourage
visitors to stay longer in Fraserburgh – 48 hours –
OGUK ramps up diversity
has received a Growth Fund grant from VisitScotland. effort
The Discover Fraserburgh tourism group has been
awarded a £15,000 Growth Fund award to promote OIL & GAS UK has announced plans to ramp up efforts
#Fraserburgh48. Their campaign focuses on three to maintain and encourage a diverse and inclusive
themes – history and heritage, coastline and food workforce.
and drink. The campaign will promote neighbouring
towns Pennan, Rosehearty and Inverallochy, OGUK has launched an industry network to highlight
efforts to encourage diversity and inclusion; and
as well as Fraserburgh.
identify collaborative approaches to further encourage
talent through the sector’s doors.
A series of short promotional videos, including aerial
drone footage of the stunning coastal locations as According to the Workforce Dynamics Review by
well as images for social media, will be created as well OPITO, in partnership with RGU’s Oil and Gas Institute,
as inspirational content and ‘48-hours in Fraserburgh’ the industry will have to recruit and retain over 40,000
itineraries, with the purpose of increasing visits during people between 2018 and 2035 – this includes 10,000
the ‘shoulder months’ and extending the economic new roles in areas such as data science, robotics,
benefits of the tourism season. material science, nano-technology and cyber security.
Fraserburgh is keen to highlight the strength of the Deirdre Michie, OGUK’s chief executive, said fostering
region’s food and drink offer. Fraserburgh boasts the a diverse workforce was critical to business success and
largest shellfish port in Europe and Aberdeenshire is ensuring a competitive position for the UK Continental
a major producer of Aberdeen Angus Beef. The region Shelf. “The moral and business cases for better balance
also offers some of the best whiskies in the world and are clear and well-established and we need to embrace
with two new restaurants having recently opened in them if we are to ensure this sector sustains and
Fraserburgh, fresh locally-sourced farm-to-fork beef improves its competitiveness,” she added.
and seafood is on the menu for visitors and locals
to enjoy. “Our industry supports over 280,000 skilled jobs,
but with women representing only one in four of the
sector’s talent pool, there is clearly still more work to be
done.”
Five-star Cala
CALA Homes, which has developments across Macphie scholarship
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, has achieved the
maximum five-star rating in an independent customer FOOD ingredients manufacturer Macphie has signed
an agreement with Abertay University to create a new
satisfaction survey.
scholarship for students.
The survey, from industry body the Home Builders The scholarship, which is being funded by its employee
Federation, measures customer satisfaction levels trust, is aimed at students on the BSc (Hons) Food and
amongst new home purchasers. The five-star accolade Consumer Science degree, starting with those who
is only given to companies where more than 90% of begin their third year in September 2019.
their customers would recommend the housebuilder to
a friend. In this year’s survey CALA scored more than The recipient will receive a £3,000 donation to aid their
93% to achieve the maximum five stars. studies and will also take part in a summer placement
at Macphie, providing an invaluable opportunity to build
up both experience and contacts.
6.
FEATURE
MAY 2019
Simply
Marrvelous
MARR is the largest geographical working with businesses and the
area in Aberdeenshire. Occupying community council in Aboyne to help
almost half, it stretches from Huntly them form a business association.
in the north down through Alford, There seems to be a real enthusiasm
Torphins and Banchory in the east and energy down there as well so I
and out to Ballater and Braemar in think businesses in Deeside are
the west. generally feeling positive, wanting
to take things into their own hands
It includes much of the Cairngorms and drive them forward,” said Michael.
National Park which provides a
platform for a well-developed “What happened in Ballater in 2015
tourist industry based on heritage actually inspired people. We have been
and outdoor pursuits. Elsewhere very strong over the last couple of
forestry and livestock are key years at communicating what we are
industries but there is a wide range doing around the area and including
of successful businesses from oil people.”
and gas service suppliers and award-
winning architects to distilleries and He said visitor analysis in the
brand design specialists across resurrected caravan park showed that,
its 1,136 square miles. surprisingly, while Ballater is attracting
significant numbers from France and
‘Collaboration and inclusion’ is the Germany and smaller numbers from
motto of the Ballater Business Scandinavia, it is attracting only a
“What happened in Ballater Association and its chairman, Michael single percentage from England
Coletta, says that the tragic railway creating “a huge untapped market.”
in 2015 actually inspired station fire in May 2015 and the
people. We have been very devastating flood seven months He said Ballater’s history and heritage
strong over the last couple later helped galvanise the village. is a major attraction. The village was
established initially as a spa resort
of years at communicating
He said everyone gathered round to accommodate visitors to the
what we are doing around and stepped forward to support the Pannanich Mineral Well, a favourite
the area and including businesses affected and that has destination of Queen Victoria, which
people.” included investment from people is located on the hillside on the
outside the village. Collaboration is opposite side of the river Dee.
developing but he believes more is
Michael Coletta
needed. “Ballater is in the heart of Royal
chairman, Ballater Business Deeside, its culture and heritage and
Association “The Business Association has been the quaintness of the village are its
7.
FEATURE
MAY 2019
Bill Dean Mike Ward
strong points but we don’t shout original breeding ground. Now the “Alford is in the middle of theNorth-
about as much as we should. I think Grampian Transport Museum stands east triangle and is really well
the same applies to the whole of on the site of the old marshalling connected by road. However, there
Royal Deeside and the North-east of yard and has attracted more than is also a lot of emotional attachment
Scotland. 1.5m visitors since it opened in 1983. to the museum because it grew out
It provides a window to the future of the community and is supported
“There will be a huge opportunity of transport by bringing alive the by them. It wasn’t foisted on them
when the big cruise ships start coming transport of the past and recently – it came from people with real
to Aberdeen in 2020 but businesses launched its latest exhibition passion, which still exists, and has
are not ready for them. ‘Probing the Future’, which looks at been a real strength of this place.
autonomous vehicles. Alford and Donside is often seen as
“There does not appear to be any the poor relation to Deeside in terms
joined-up thinking for the whole of the Research has shown that the visitor of visitor flow but we are important
Deeside corridor and I think that this split is about 50-50 between locals to this area which in turn gives us even
stretches into Aberdeen city as well. and tourists, with a higher percentage more support and backup.
There are massive opportunities for so from local area (within 90 minutes’
many businesses but none of us are drive) during the peak holiday period. “People are genuinely fond of the
talking about it in the right manner and Research has also shown that tourists museum which is not seen as a hard-
perhaps the Chamber of Commerce come from all over the world and headed commercial operation but as
can assist in driving this – but it needs many boost the local economy by a North-east home spun, homegrown
to be now. The city has a large part to factoring in a visit to the museum organisation and the Museums
play in connecting with the whole when planning tours of Scotland. Galleries Scotland, our industry-lead
of Aberdeenshire and outlying body, frequently use us as an example
areas and the city will benefit by Curator Mike Ward said that one of of an innovative, self-helping initiative-
feeding those businesses as well.” the secrets of the museum’s success taking museum.
is staying relevant and topical, vital for
After a century of operation the any museum. From Loch Muick and Crathes Castle
railway line to Ballater closed in 1966, to the Royal Deeside Railway and the
a victim of the Beeching cuts. Alford He said that many people over the Dinnie Stones, there are an almost
also grew up around its railway station, years have questioned why the limitless number of unique visitor
opening in 1859 and like Ballater museum is not sited in Deeside with its experiences across Marr. One of the
closed in 1966. much heavier tourist footfall. newest – and oldest – is the recently
refurbished Fife Arms Hotel which
The two main reasons for the raillink “We even carried out a relocation reopened in January following a multi-
were to transport the famous pink assessment as part of an options million pound refurbishment.
Corrennie Quarry Granite from appraisal required for a major grant
Tillyfourie and the world-renowned but we think there is nowhere better During the extensive renovations, new
Aberdeen Angus cattle from their than Alford and that was accepted. owners Iwan and Manuela Wirth put
8.
FEATURE
MAY 2019
The Fire room at The Fife Arms
a significant focus on the property’s In the early days Helen’s son Bill and in Huntly has many advantages; “It’s a
design and art collection. Co-owners his three siblings used to take turns to great environment and many people
of the Hauser & Wirth Gallery, the lick their mum’s baking bowl when the don’t want to spend 10 hours a week
couple have brought in a large number days’ baking was complete. Now the commuting to Aberdeen for work,” he
of antique and newly commissioned company managing director, Bill jokes said.“Being able to work here offers a
pieces. As a result, the hotel’s that the mixing bowls have grown over better work/life balance and we have
collection boasts more than 14,000 the years and mix a quarter of a tonne generations of mothers and fathers,
historic objects and works of art, many of shortbread at a time – just a little too sons and daughters who have worked
with close associations to the Braemar big to scrape out with a spoon. for us and still work for us.
area and its history.
He describes the exports as the “From an access point of view,you
The hotel’s collection includes pieces “romantic side of the business” and could argue that we are more
by artists such as Lucien Freud, says that seeing their products in far fortunate than the likes of Orkney
Louise Bourgeois, Pablo Picasso and flung places is a great accolade for and Shetland, or Wick in the Highlands.
Archibald Thorburn. It also boasts what his mum and dad started in 1975. With the bypass around Aberdeen it’s
a pencil and watercolour piece by become so much easier to transport
Queen Victoria dated October 6, 1874. “The exports account for about 10% your products down south and it has
of our turnover but we also now have made a big difference. It also makes
But the region has also supported around 10% of our business through it a much easier commute to meet
the growth of some major businesses the retail and cafe side of the business. customers or attend events in the
whose products are known around the That’s a great marketing tool because central belt and beyond.
world. One of Scotland’s best-known people come from far and wide and
companies, now the biggest employer we have a very open culture. They can “It would be great to have the dual
in the Huntly area, started off when come in and see the mixing taking carriageway out past Huntly, and it
Helen Dean began baking shortbread place in the bakery. There is a two-tier is scheduled, but the lack of it hasn’t
to support the local pipe band in which café bistro with a gallery overlooking stopped us growing over the last 44
her husband Bill was a drum major. the production hall so families can years.
come and see the robotics and the
The ‘melt in the mouth’ shortbread packing lines and learn a wee bit more “We have a great core team of people
proved extremely popular and as word about the business,” he added. here who enjoy the more relaxed
spread during the band’s travels Helen lifestyle a country town can offer. The
had to start a small home bakery to Dean’s supplies its everyday retail nearer you are to the main hub the
cope with demand. packs to supermarkets but it also higher the cost of living - here we have
supplies several premium private more space and no lengthy commute
Today Dean’s of Huntly exports label customers. In addition, there is a to endure each day.”
to more than 30 countries including growing online sector.
India, China and the USA and has
around 150 full time equivalent staff. According to Bill, being based
9.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
MAY 2019
Road to new
opportunities beckons
NOW the dust has settled on the Our team frequently works out of moving to the region for the first
long-awaited Aberdeen Western clients’ operation bases in Peterhead, time and those who have already
Peripheral Route (AWPR), we can while the new road also creates better established their roots.
look forward to the positive effects access to customers in the central belt
it will undoubtedly bring for the and beyond. The start of this new chapter for the
entire North-east and beyond. region also sees returning confidence
We are already seeing benefits for following a testing few years for the
People have commented that its arrival all of our drivers in terms of significant local economy.
is 10 years too late but I believe we time and fuel savings, but also
need to embrace the bypass now it’s environmentally by re-directing heavy Throughout the downturn, we have
finally here and get on with making the traffic away from the city centre and managed to retain staff levels and
most of the opportunities it presents other built-up industrial and residential are now in a position where we are
in the months and years ahead. areas. actively recruiting again as the market
continues to recover. We continue to
The North-east has been crying out Our drivers use the AWPR wherever invest in our people, machinery and
for this kind of serious investment in possible, depending on the equipment in anticipation of expected
our road infrastructure for decades abnormality of the load. In most cases, demand for our services – with the
and, in some respect, we’ve now we can now avoid the city centre new bypass being a key route to our
caught up with the rest of the country. altogether which helps improve the success.
It’s difficult to overstate just how much quality of our drivers’ working lives
of an impact this development will since they don’t need to navigate
make to the region and those who traffic and inconvenience other road
work and live here. users so regularly.
Combined with other major projects, This all leads to easier movement of
such as the Haudagain improvement goods, particularly for our haulier and
works, the AWPR will boost connectivity quayside clients who benefit from
and relieve congestion at traffic greater efficiencies by having materials
blackspots in and around the city. delivered more quickly – up to 20
minutes on some routes.
From an operational perspective,
it has certainly made it much easier The opening of the AWPR is a clear
to manage our own company’s indication that the whole North-east
logistics with the supply of goods is open for business. It makes the area
and materials heading both north more attractive in terms of generating
and south. new investment from companies
10.ADVERTISING FEATURE
MAY 2019
11.HOT TOPIC
MAY 2019
What is your biggest
connectivity headache?
“The clients we support often come from some of the most rural areas of Scotland,
not only in the North-east but also within Moray, Orkney and Shetland, with many
having limited access due to slow internet services. Whilst we must keep abreast
of new developments and adapt our services accordingly we must also be aware
that not everyone has the level of connectivity we see in cities or built up areas.
“Where possible, we empower people affected by a cancer diagnosis to link up
with others through our community-based centres with specialist cancer support
groups based within CLAN House in Aberdeen regularly connecting via Skype
to clients in Shetland who benefit from connecting with others experiencing this
particular type of cancer. The challenge will be how we continue to meet the
needs of younger generations and millennials and how these groups
will engage with us and access information in the future.”
Fiona Fernie, head of income generation and business development, CLAN
“Mobile connectivity throughout Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire is variable
and to some degree you would expect that in an area with our geography. The
headache however comes from feature-rich websites that just assume everyone
is using broadband on a desktop device. I find some of the media companies
being the worst offenders, where their sites have such a heavy load time on
mobile and most of it is not related to the content you actually want to view.
“If you are on a mobile data plan, you are actually paying to wade through their
pop-ups, unoptimised pics, ads and consent forms, just to read some text on a
page. It doesn’t take much to give a decent mobile experience to all users and
still monetise content. It’s something we think very carefully when designing our
sites for clients.”
Scott Graham, project manager, MTC /media
“The two main connectivity headaches which we have had for some time have
recently been resolved. The first relates to our office in Fraserburgh and the
ability of staff and clients to get there easily. The opening of the AWPR has
transformed that journey and it is now much easier, the new road has given a
significant boost to the Buchan economy. Any digital connectivity problems
which we have had have also been resolved by our recent move to a new office
in Aberdeen’s Marischal Square where we have ultrafast broadband.
“I would like to see improved connectivity from the airport both for business and
person travel. It is disappointing that routes to London have been lost but having
spoken to airport officials recently I understand there is a lot happening and
before long Aberdeen will have the air connectivity it should have.”
Carole Bruce, business development manager, VT Wealth Management Ltd
12.FEATURE
MAY 2019
Race against
the machine
HIGH quality broadband connections education sectors with state-of-the- officials and members of the
are no longer simply desirable for art digital infrastructure, capable of business community. There is also
business and home – they are meeting their data connectivity and only one other main infrastructure
essential. communication needs for decades provider at present, BT Openreach.
to come.
In this changing digital world, more “So it’s good news for everyone, both
and more bandwidth is required to CityFibre, which has been serving the residents and the business community,
meet our daily needs, including the business community in Aberdeen since because we are rolling out improved
growing use of online video, consumer 2015, is investing at least £40m to roll connectivity but also driving competition
cloud traffic, home and healthcare out city-wide full fibre infrastructure, in the market,” said Allan.
applications, teleworking, gaming with services to residents available
and the proliferation of smart devices initially through a partnership with “It’s also beneficial for the business
which now populate almost every Vodafone. Allan McEwan, city community that our network will cover
house and office. manager at CityFibre, said one of the the vast majority of Aberdeen. We are
main reasons Aberdeen had been planning to pass as many homes and
High definition TV, autonomous chosen as the first gigabit city in businesses as we can with full fibre
vehicles, 5G mobile phone services Scotland was the ‘real appetite’ connectivity.”
and personal mobility solutions will demonstrated by senior council
soon be with us which will rely on He said many businesses are already
the same type of fibre optic cable benefitting from its full fibre network
infrastructure for delivery. but going down most streets in
Aberdeen brings it far closer to even
The good news is that Aberdeen city more businesses, making connection
and Aberdeenshire are ahead of the far more practical.
curve and businesses and residents
are in prime position to reap the “It’s also beneficial for the “It’s important to mention that there
benefits of an ongoing technological is currently UK Government funding
revolution.
business community that available to businesses which are not
our network will cover the yet connected to full fibre through the
Aberdeen is set to be Scotland’s first vast majority of Aberdeen. Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.
gigabit-speed fibre broadband city, We are planning to pass as Gigabit vouchers can be used by small
with work already underway. Within many homes and businesses businesses and the local communities
the next couple of years, superfast surrounding them to contribute to the
as we can with full fibre
broadband will also be accessible installation cost of a gigabit-capable
to virtually everyone in Aberdeenshire, connectivity.” connection.
no matter how remote.
Allan McEwan “Businesses can claim up to £2,500
A gigabit city provides local residents, city manager, Cityfibre against the cost of connection, either
business, government, health and individually or as part of a group
13.FEATURE
MAY 2019
project. Our local partners can take This backbone full fibre network will will result in around 89% coverage in
care of the whole process, including enable smart city technologies to be Aberdeenshire compared to a
the paperwork and funding application.” rolled out which will benefit those national average of over 95%.He said
living and working in Aberdeen. Smart the challenge of delivering fibre
He explained that with standard city technologies can do everything broadband in Aberdeenshire is
broadband, the upload speed is vastly from making our roads more efficient significant as the area has around
inferior to the download speed but and our streets safer, to improving the twice the national average of
with a full fibre connection they are environment around us.” Exchange Only (EO) lines, which
symmetrical, providing key benefits are more expensive to upgrade.
to users. In Aberdeenshire the challenge is very
different. Aberdeenshire Council’s In 2017, with the intention of offering
“For example, an architectural service manager (industry sectors), a 30 Mbps connection to 100% of
practice typically uploads and works Roddy Matheson, said it had long premises in Scotland, the Scottish
on huge files on a daily basis. People recognised the importance of high- Government announced a successor
need to save those to the cloud and quality digital connectivity for its programme, R100, to address those
also share them with colleagues and residents and has been at the forefront premises not covered by the earlier
clients so there are increasingly large of efforts to improve infrastructure. DSSB programme. £600m has been
delays with a slow internet connection. allocated and the scheme is likely
A full fibre connection is faster, more A significant increase in the number to deploy a mix of technologies.
reliable and much better quality so is of premises able to access superfast R100 is expected to start delivering
actually making these businesses a lot broadband has been achieved since upgraded connections later this year
more efficient. They are far more April 2014 when the first publicly following contracts being concluded
productive with their time. A high- funded upgrades were delivered by this summer.
quality internet connection is no the Digital Scotland Superfast
longer just a preference but a strong Broadband (DSSB) programme. “We believe that Aberdeenshire could
requirement and something many of The council contributed £16m to the be a pilot area for aligned interventions
us have come to expect. DSSB programme which has helped (using a variety of methods to make
make it possible for an additional 30 Mbps superfast broadband
“Since 2015 we have been serving 84,000 properties in Aberdeenshire available) which will have a significant
the business community and we to access fibre enabled superfast impact on rural businesses,” added
have made hundreds of connections. broadband for the first time. Fibre Roddy
From 2017 onwards we also started to enabled broadband is fibre optic
connect public sector sites including cable to a cabinet and then copper “As we cross the Brexit threshold
schools, libraries and community cable to individual premises. farmers support payments will move
centres on behalf of Aberdeen City from being production focused to
Council through our client, Capita. An uptake which exceeded being environmentally focused so
This will bring wider benefits to the pre-determined targets made they are going to have to cut costs
city, aside from making businesses additional money available for further and concentrate on growing crops or
more efficient and productive. upgrades which are continuing and animals that will make them money.
14.FEATURE
MAY 2019
That almost inevitably means there more infrastructure is required and a
will be fewer jobs in the countryside. couple of years ago one of the
However, you can tell a lot about a network operators said to me that
“As we cross the Brexit cow if you attach a sensor to it which demand for capacity on the UK mobile
measures its temperature and how network was increasing by 1% a day
threshold farmers support
often it drinks. Instead of the farmer which gives an idea of the scale of the
payments will move from having to travel round his land all the challenge.
being production focused time to check on his animals the sensor
if there is suitable wireless connectivity, “Aberdeenshire’s population has
to being environmentally will send a signal to the farmer who grown by about 40% in the last 40
focused so they are going can then intervene at individual animal years, the fastest growth of any local
to have to cut costs and level if there is something wrong. It authority area in Scotland, and BT’s
can also make the selective spreading infrastructure investment didn’t reflect
concentrate on growing of fertilisers possible and all these that.
crops or animals that will contribute to precision farming and
make them money.” will aid farmers’ competitiveness and “That’s probably why there were so
profitability. many EO connections which has made
the challenge here so great.”
Roddy Matheson “The use of that data will be also much
service manager, enhanced if it can be pooled and for
Aberdeenshire Council that you need the fibre infrastructure.
The more data intensive we get the
15.@oilandgasuk
@oilandgasuk
#OGUKIndustryConf
#OGUKIndustryConf
The crucial role of Vision 2035 in driving
the continued competitiveness of the UKCS
An Industry The
the continued competitiveness of the UKCS
crucial will
role of under
come Vision the2035
OGUK Industry Conference.
inatdriving
spotlight the
ustry
In Transitionwill come under the spotlight at the
OGUK Industry Conference.
With a 2019 conference theme of ‘An Industry in
Transition’, delegates will hear industry leaders and
keynote speakers reflect on the people, business
processes and diversification opportunities needed
sition 4 – 5 June 2019With a 2019
to unlock growth as the sector continues to emerge
conference
from one of thetheme
toughest of ‘An Industry
downturns in
in its history.
Transition’, delegates
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre will hear industry leaders and
At the heart of the agenda is industry’s shared
keynote speakers reflect
ambition for the on the
future people,
– Vision 2035 –business
which
processes andlooks
diversification opportunities
to add a generation needed
of productive life to
ogukindustryconference.co.uk the UK Continental Shelf and expand supply chain
e 2019
to unlock growth as theatsector
opportunities continues
home, abroad to emerge
and into other sectors.
from one of the toughest downturns in its history.
Principal Sponsor Supporting Sponsor The agenda will take on three broad areas;
nference Centre • Energy transition
At the heart of the agenda
• Businessistransition
industry’s shared
• People transition
ambition for the future – Vision 2035 – which
looks to add a generation of productive life to
onference.co.uk
Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities available
please email events@oilandgasuk.co.uk the UK Continental Shelf and expand supply chain
opportunities at home, abroad and into other sectors.
Supporting Sponsor The agenda will take on three broad areas;
• Energy transition
• Business transition
• People transition
tunities available
co.ukADVERTISING FEATURE
MAY 2019
An industry
in transition
WE are living in an age of change. domestic production met 60% of it. Continental Shelf and expand supply
Global energy demand continues It’s an impressive statistic that might chain opportunities at home, abroad
to intensify and by 2035 will have surprise many people and underlines and into other sectors. With the
grown by 30%. At the same time, the important role we continue to industry behind it we will ensure we
we support the transition to a lower play in providing security of energy continue to provide secure, affordable
supply. Ensuring this security depends energy to our communities, exciting
carbon energy economy.
on our ability to compete, not with and fulfilling jobs and support the
renewables, but with imports from transition to a low carbon economy.
Rapid technological advances
other international oil basins.
continue to bring new opportunities
Underlying Vision 2035 and key to its
and, indeed, challenges. New ways
UK Government figures forecast that success is the power of our talented
of working, changing societal
even by the 2040s oil and gas will be people and we know that delivering
expectations and expanding global
required to meet up to 60% of the UK’s diverse and inclusive workplaces is
populations are raising big questions
total energy need. This means that if a determining factor to keeping and
about how we live, how we work and
we innovate, adapt and redouble our attracting the people we need for the
how we play.
efforts to remain competitive we will future. Diversity is about more than
continue to support many thousands just gender, but we do know that
All of these issues affect our energy
of jobs, contribute billions to the women currently only represent one
producers, and more importantly for
economy and in so doing continue quarter of our industry’s people.
us, the UK’s offshore oil and gas
to benefit regions including Aberdeen
industry. We have a membership
for many years to come. A study by RGU and OPITO last year
of almost 400 companies here in
identified there are some 10,000
Aberdeen and also in hubs throughout
The same pioneering spirit, new roles needed in our industry in
the UK. They are working in every
technological innovation, adaptability jobs like automation and predictive
part of the industry from exploration
and skills which have made our technologies, we need to take the
through to decommissioning and,
industry such a success are the very opportunity of these new roles to
increasingly, in renewables and other
same that we need to also support the open the door for more women
low carbon technology too. Making
transition to a lower carbon economy. and other underrepresented groups
sense of who we are and where we
Whether this is through our world to join our industry.
are going is a key job for OGUK.
class supply chain diversifying into
other energy sectors, or expanding Through evidence and fact, OGUK
It’s why our OGUK Industry
opportunities for companies into is proud to champion an industry
Conference this year will focus on
hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation which embraces change and remains
an ‘industry in transition’ and what it
and storage; and renewable energy. so critical to our future. We look
means for our businesses change, our
forward to putting these big issues
future low carbon energy mix and the
Our industry is far from being the in the spotlight at our conference.
people and skills we need.
enemy of the energy transition, the
UK offshore oil and gas industry is
As our recent Business Outlook
at its heart. Vision 2035, our shared
report showed, oil and gas represents
ambition for the future, will add a
75% of total UK energy need and
generation of productive life the UK
17.OPINION
MAY 2019
How can
businesses
learn from
teamwork
in sport?
by Jane Setter,
Aberdeen partner, MG Search
POWERFUL motivators are the and coaching expert Tony Stanger • Business leaders can use a sports-
driving force behind every successful from Stanger Pro. based approach to running their
sports team and business. In business better – defining what it
businesses, motivation is vital. Stanger Pro is helping us bring the is to ‘win’, creating a clear metric
world of elite sport into the boardroom. that directly relates to revenue and
Great sports teams succeed because Tony, who was most recently head of profitability and letting your team
they work together, successful sales talent at the Scottish Institute of Sport, be more involved. This will create a
teams sell well because they work specialises in understanding how to self-directing, self-correcting team
together, enterprising executives maximise the potential of talent. because they see a direct correlation
exceed expectations because…they between their actions and the results
work efficiently together. Get the Identifying and developing top talent on which they are rewarded.
picture? Teamwork does, in essence, on behalf of our clients to help further
make the dream work. But how do advance business leaders and their • Taking a sports-based approach
organisations is driving this sport-led makes business fun and therefore
you get the team to work together
initiative. A shared passion of sport inspires people.
in the first place. This is the burning
and coaching brought us to Tony
question for many businesses and
and we are delighted to have secured • In team sports, every player is
something we hear consistently
such a Scottish legend as a partner viewed as important and vital to the
from our clients.
for our business. success of the team and therefore
they feel involved and motivated. Is
Our clients range from fast-moving this always applied in business?
What have we learned so far from
consumer goods to oil and gas and
partnering with a pro?
technology – although they operate in One of the most important behaviours
different industries they all have the executives can learn from business
• There are many interwoven
pain-point of teamwork and leadership coaching from a professional athlete is
character traits that drive elite
values in common. how to keep a level head in a fraught
professionals in sports and business
alike and those links are what we environment. We all want to raise our
Some say that people are born leaders are capitalising on for both our own game and performance. Often that is
but we believe that leadership doesn’t business and our clients. Many of purely a willingness to look at things
come naturally to everyone. We aim to the learned skills and inherent traits differently to ask – how can we do this
flip that misconception on its head and of elite sportspeople are hugely better? Businesses should remember
help both our clients and our business beneficial to business people. that teamwork means that ‘Together
lead with intent. Attitude, confidence, commitment, Everyone Achieves More’.
taking a long term view and also the
How are we doing this? With the help ability to deal effectively with failure.
of Scotland rugby hero turned talent
18.ADVERTISING FEATURE
MAY 2019
Investing for the
future of the North-east
FROM the Aberdeen Western we have seen that demand across all Scott continues: “We are more than an
Peripheral Route and the Aberdeen of our teams. That we continue to employer. Our aim is to be part of the
Harbour expansion to The Event attract recognised experts to service fabric of this region; invested in its
Complex Aberdeen, the Music those clients in the region is testament development and promotion as a
Hall and the Art Gallery, there is to our commitment to deliver a great place to live and work. With
no doubt that this is an exciting business that recognises the specialist many major infrastructure projects
time for Aberdeen. The city’s key skills, experience and sector knowledge highlighting the ambition of the
infrastructure developments and that the North-east market requires.” Aberdeen City Region we remain
those of the wider North-east region optimistic about its future and the
tell a story of commitment Focusing on that commitment to opportunity for our firm to play a part
to investment for the future. sector expertise, Brodies has in that.”
introduced dedicated traineeships
That story is a familiar one to Brodies. based in Aberdeen that will cover all
Opportunity continues to be driven practice areas including corporate and
by client demand for its leading legal commercial, litigation, personal and
services which span all the key sectors family, real estate and banking and
of the Scottish economy. That sectoral finance.
diversity is also prevalent in Aberdeen,
where the firm’s clients include the “We invest heavily in our colleagues
public sector, businesses and private and we believe that these specialist
individuals. traineeships offer real potential to
create long lasting legal careers.
The recent arrivals of Aberdeen-based Opportunities like this are part of how
partners Elaine Farquharson-Black, we develop talent across our business,
a recognised leader in the planning including in Aberdeen,” added Scott.
arena, and Bryan Wilson who will
bolster the firm’s dedicated oil and gas Giving back is important for Brodies.
practice, are the latest in a number of Beyond giving back to the legal
appointments that have seen Brodies profession through career
grow its team in Aberdeen to 87, an development opportunities the firm
increase of 16% in the last 12 months. is committed to its role in the
communities where its people live
Brodies’ managing partner, Nick Scott, and work. As an Aberdeen Inspired
who hails from Inverurie, said: “In voluntary BID Levy contributor and
setting our strategic plans we listen an active voice in the Chamber of
carefully to clients and take our lead Commerce Vanguard series it is firmly
from where they tell us there will be behind the vision for the Aberdeen city Bryan Wilson
demand for our services. In Aberdeen region. and Elaine Farquharson-Black
19.NEWS
MAY 2019
Violet gives up retirement
AN ABERDEEN woman has come out of retirement – to sell homes
to the retired.
Violet Teague 71, who has more than 32 years’ experience selling
new homes in the Aberdeenshire residential market, has spurned
a life of leisure to bolster the sales team at Brio Retirement Living’s
Landale Court in Chapelton.
The grandmother-of-two has joined Brio as a part-time sales advisor,
helping retirees find their dream home at the new town five miles
south of Aberdeen.
Violet is one of a growing number of pensioners who are enjoying
working part-time in their later years.
Violet, who is originally from Aberdeen and now lives in Fordoun,
said: “I retired two years ago but I missed the buzz of selling
fantastic new homes and meeting so many lovely people. I’m a real
people person and I’m still full of bounce. I enjoy helping people find
a new home and guiding them through the process.
“Finding the right home in your retirement years is such a big
decision. I have a genuine understanding of what people around
my age are looking for in their retirement years and I look forward
to helping them on their journey to the next stage in their life
Violet Teague at Landale Court.”
Digital boost from ONE Twin success for Exchange
and ScotlandIS Communications
PRIVATE sector economic development body EXCHANGE Communications has been appointed
Opportunity North East (ONE) and digital industries by travel experts If Only… to undertake an ambitious
trade body ScotlandIS are partnering to develop the expansion plan and started delivery of a full
digital company base and ecosystem in the North-east communications overhaul for leading technical
of Scotland. textiles specialist Don & Low.
Digital is a key theme in the long-term economic vision Exchange is providing an end-to-end solution at the
for the regional economy and there is an established
travel firms’ new headquarters in Glasgow city centre
base of tech companies in the region, primarily working
which will enable the business to significantly improve
within energy. The new partnership will bring additional
its customer contact experience.
resource into the region to support growth in the
established company cluster and increase the profile
of the region’s tech capabilities with stakeholders,
regionally and nationally. A co-funded digital
development manager post has been created and Jen Local hero
Scott, formerly with the University of Aberdeen as
manager of public engagement with the research team, PHIL Anderson Financial Services Ltd was the winner
will take up the role. of the Best Firm Scotland category in the NatWest
Intermediary Solutions inaugural Local Hero Mortgage
The new post will be based at the ONE Tech Hub on Awards.
Schoolhill, where a £1.5m investment is creating a
dedicated hub for digital and entrepreneurship activity These awards recognise mortgage advisers who have
in Aberdeen led by ONE in partnership with CodeBase, gone the extra mile to put customer needs and their
the UK’s leading digital tech incubator, and Robert local community at the heart of their firm.
Gordon University (RGU). The ONE Tech Hub will host
a range of new activity including ONE CodeBase and NatWest head of intermediary mortgages Graham
RGU’s start-up accelerator. It will also be the natural Felstead said: “These firms have exemplified putting
choice for digitally-focussed alumni from accelerator the customer and their local community at the heart
programmes such as TechX and Elevator and for spin- of everything they do, in addition to providing sound
outs from RGU, University of Aberdeen and NESCol. financial advice for those consumers within their
locality.”
20.NEWS
MAY 2019
AAB’s Douglas Martin, Tomas Carruthers and Edwin Hamilton of Project Heather and Stuart Cooper of AAB
Rebirth of the Scottish Stock Exchange
CHARTERED accountants and business advisors Anderson & Brown LLP has secured a seven figure equity
investment for Project Heather to support the re-launch of the Scottish Stock Exchange after almost 50 years.
Project Heather, headed by financial services entrepreneur Tomás Carruthers, will be headquartered in Edinburgh
with offices planned throughout Scotland.
In late 2018, Project Heather agreed a partnership with one of the world’s largest stock exchange platforms,
Euronext, to run the exchange on its Optiq trading platform. Following FCA approval, Project Heather plans
to launch before the end of 2019 having already received significant national and international interest from
businesses considering a listing on the exchange.
RDS award for platform Additional £1m for
drilling design apprenticeships
RDS, KCA Deutag’s global provider of engineering IN COLLABORATION with Skills Development Scotland,
and design solutions to the energy and infrastructure Aberdeenshire Council is to offer an additional 134
sectors, has been awarded a contract for the detailed foundation apprenticeship opportunities for young
design of a drilling facility for an offshore platform. people in S5 and S6 within its secondary schools from
August.
The 12-month contract has follow on support executed
from RDS’s central London offices. This is RDS’s first Foundation Apprenticeships are designed to provide
detail design award for a new greenfield platform since young people with real experiences of the world of
the oil price decline in 2014. work, while gaining a qualification at the same level as a
Scottish Higher (SCQF Level 6). It usually counts as one
option choice and is taken alongside other S5 and S6
Double cheer for airport subjects.
Graeme Hendry, Skills Development Scotland national
ABERDEEN International Airport won two awards at manager – development and delivery for foundation
The Moodies which recognise the best in airport and and graduate apprenticeships, said: “Foundation
travel retail digital, social media and marketing. The Apprenticeships are closing the gap between the
awards, now in their sixth year, shortlisted 170 finalists classroom and the workplace, with pupils seeing the
from airports around the world including Heathrow, benefits. Employers are telling us that pupils who have
Dubai and Copenhagen. taken a Foundation Apprenticeship are more attractive
candidates for apprenticeship jobs.”
Aberdeen won the Best E-commerce award for its
targeted frictionless online booking system. This relates Opportunities which will be available from August cover
to the ease of purchase for services like parking and the up to 12 different job types, including engineering,
booking of the Northern Lights Lounge. business, accountancy, financial services, digital
technology, children and young people, health and
The Aberdeen team also won the Best Website award, social care and scientific technologies.
with the judges focuses on functionality, overall
structure, navigation, design and use of content. In Employers keen to support Foundation Apprenticeships
addition, the airport was shortlisted in the Best can obtain further details from the SDS website at:
Relaunch and Best Video Campaigns for the Northern www.apprenticeships.scot.
Lights Lounge’s first birthday celebrations and recent
security top tips video respectively.
21.ADVERTISING FEATURE
MAY 2019
PERHAPS one of the less predictable potential hub for trans-shipments and network and is a 20-minute drive to
outcomes of the Brexit ‘journey’ multi-modal activity. an international airport, unusual assets
has been a realisation of the vital for a Scottish port. South Harbour has
role that ports play in facilitating The port is located within the heart of been built with the accessibility of the
Europe’s largest oil and gas supply AWPR in mind: within minutes, our
trade with the rest of the world. An
chain, and for the last 900 years, has customers can be connected to the
incredible 95% of all UK trade rest of the region and the rest of the
been a vital element of the North-
passes through its ports, and their country.
east’s transport infrastructure,
importance cannot be generating prosperity an opportunities
underestimated. In Scotland alone, for generations. And that’s just on land. Aberdeen
ports handle approximately 67m Harbour has direct shipping
tonnes of cargo each year. By 2020, Aberdeen will be the largest connections with approximately 40
port – by berthage – in Scotland, and countries including Germany, the USA
It is interesting, therefore, that when we have every intention of being a and Nigeria; and scheduled weekly
focus falls on transport and leading port in the UK and services to Norway and continental
infrastructure as a theme, people still ports. In South Harbour the ability to
internationally. But we can only
immediately think of our road and rail berth vessels of 300 meters alongside,
achieve these ambitions if we succeed
networks, rather than the incredible coupled with a water depth of 15
in our mission to connect our
global shipping network that keeps meters at highest tide, will allow larger
customers to what they need,
vessels to bring in more opportunities
the bulk of world imports and exports wherever and whenever they need it.
from further afield, providing our
moving every day of the year.
customers with an incredible
Connectivity is our hallmark and our opportunity for global trading.
Clearly this was not the case when, activities revolve around it. For our
in 2012, the Scottish Government customers – whether they are oil and Our connectivity, combined with our
identified the expansion of Aberdeen gas majors, ferry operators or part of scale, experience and location is what
Harbour as one of 14 strategic the vital cargo distribution network makes us unique. Our port is open
planning objectives within Scotland of – our strategic location is of vital 24/7, bringing the North-east of
‘national significance’. It is hoped that importance. Many of them require a Scotland to the rest of the world, and
they believe the construction project close connection with the all- the rest of the world to us.
– which is the largest investment in important supply chain and service
an infrastructure project in Trust Port companies, which populate the city
history – will put Aberdeen on the map and region. Furthermore, our harbour
of world shipping routes and as a is rail connected to the national
22.You can also read
