 
Most businesses require some external advice
or financial support at some stage of their development. Economic Development
offices around Aberdeenshire are staffed by experienced Business Development
Executives who offer support and practical advice to businesses.
The Business Services Team administers Aberdeenshire Council's business
assistance scheme, Support
for Aberdeenshire Business. The scheme offers grants for market
development, industrial premises rental, job
creation, training, product development, trade exhibitions, sustainable
business and support for rural shops.
The Business Development Executives work in conjunction with the three
Aberdeenshire Enterprise Trusts to deliver a comprehensive service to
new and established businesses.
Contact: Morna Harper
e-mail: business.support@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1224 665218
Fax: +44 (0)1224 664713
Community Economic Development activities help release the enterprise
potential within local communities.
Where possible, Economic Development provides real support to developing
communities, guidance in project development and assistance in organisational
development.
Contact: Reid Hutchison
e-mail: ced@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1346 519172
Fax: +44 (0)1346 515765
The
strategic objective of European Programmes staff is to maximise the
uptake of funding opportunities from European Structural Funds programmes
in the period 2000-2006.
The services provided to the Council are as follows;
• Dissemination of information
on EU Structural Funds programmes and related policy.
•
Handling State Aid
queries.
•
Provision of advice
on completion of Structural Funds application forms and approval process.
•
Provision of guidance
on EC Regulations relating to project management and financial claims.
Establishment of good practice in project management.
Contact: Fiona Bell
e-mail: european.services@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1224 665225
Fax: +44 (0)1224 664713
Aberdeenshire Council recognises the importance of Information and
Communications Technology as a vital tool for economic growth. Advice
and information is available to businesses on the general uses of
new technology such as electronic mail and the world wide web, to
help increase efficiency and maximise opportunities.
Economic Development is supporting several telematics
projects, which offer the prospect of significant benefits to
the rural economy by enabling businesses to harness modern communications
to overcome geographical disadvantages and reduce the need for workers
to commute. The Aberdeenshire Satellite
Office Initiative (ASOI) aims to create offices in rural areas
that are fully equipped with the latest technology enabling workers
who normally commute to the urban centre daily, to work electronically
for all or part of the week. The Aberdeenshire
Web Server project has developed an infrastructure on the Internet,
producing both an economic and community development framework. It
provides information on the area and a gateway to relevant sites for
business and communities in Aberdeenshire. We also offer a number
of Internet services ranging from
domain name registration to web hosting and our secure server provides
a facility for hosting e-commerce sites.
We also work with the ICT sector to promote its growth. This is mainly
carried out through joint initiatives with PICT (Partnership in Information
and Communication Technologies), a body comprising economic development
agencies in the North East of Scotland.
Contact: Valerie Gunn
e-mail: ict@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1224 664066
Fax: +44(0)1224 664713
Aberdeenshire Council recognises the importance of the food industry
and it's relationships to the traditional industry sectors of farming
and fishing. A successful partnership of the private and public sector
is the Grampian Food Forum. Set up in 1993, the Grampian
Food Forum provides a strategic focus for the development of the
food and drink industry in the North East of Scotland.
The Forum exists to help companies consolidate their competitive position
in the short term, and more importantly, guide them towards sustainable
long term growth. The Grampian Food Strategy, which was developed
by the Forum, sets out how this can be achieved.
As well as the main strategic group, there are two other groups that
provide a focus for the industry. The Promotions Group, which involves
marketing and sales personnel, aims to identify and maximise promotional
and sales opportunities both at home and abroad. Activities include
trade missions, in-store promotions, exhibitions, workshops and seminars,
and the production of publicity materials including the quarterly
Food Matters magazine. The Technical Group provides an opportunity
for personnel involved in quality assurance and product development
to share ideas and discuss key issues.
The Food Forum is open to all food and drink related businesses in
Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Moray.
Contact: Louise Stratton
e-mail: food.and.drink@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1224 664575
Fax: +44(0)1224 664713
Economic Development acts as a link between the Council
and the fishing industry both onshore and offshore.
The service provides advice on all development issues relevant to
fishing and access to a variety of networks and information including
trade development opportunities and EU schemes to assist fishing dependent
communities adjust to changes in the industry.
The Council provides access to information and contacts both nationally
and internationally through the following networks:
•
North East Scotland Fisheries Development Partnership
• North
Sea Commission Fisheries Group (eight countries around the North Sea
including Norway).
• North
Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership (Regional forum where the fishing
industry and scientists can co-operate in the management of North
Sea Stocks, comprising representatives from eight countries around
North Sea including Norway)
• Conference
of Peripheral Maritime Regions has representation from 183 local and
regional maritime regions of Europe.
Contact: Ann Bell
e-mail: fishing@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: + 44 (0) 1224 665341
Fax: + 44 (0) 1224 664713
Aberdeenshire Council recognises the importance of
agriculture to the rural economy of the North East of Scotland and
the challenges faced by the sector. The Council focuses on assisting
the rural economy to readjust to the restructuring of rural industries
and services and works in partnership with a wide range of enterprise
bodies and organisations to this end.
The North East Scotland Agriculture Advisory Group
Aberdeenshire Council leads a major cross-sectoral forum that lobby
on behalf of the sector as well as providing support and advice both
to the agricultural sector and the wider rural economy of the North
East. Membership of the Group consists of the three North East of
Scotland local authorities (Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council
and The Moray Council), the Local Enterprise Company, key representatives
from the agricultural industry, environmental agencies and wider rural
interests.
The Group oversees the work of short life task forces e.g. Red Meat
Task Force that may need to be established from time to time in order
to address specific issues of concern.
Contact: Robert Armstrong
e-mail: agriculture@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 13398 87222
Fax: +44 (0) 13398 85271
Aberdeenshire
council is active in both NEFIG, the North East Forest Industry Group,
which co-ordinates the interests of those involved in the industry
from growers through to manufacturers of finished product and NEFTAG,
the North East Forestry Training Action Group, which promotes Vocational
Training to Industry standards in the area.
The Forestry Industry
in Aberdeenshire has the potential to witness considerable expansion
over the next decade. During this period a large tonnage of sitka
spruce will be available for harvesting and the high quality pulp
produced by this species could reduce our Paper Industry's dependence
on imported pulp and improve competitiveness.
There are growing
markets for indigenous hardwoods with the potential for locally based
businesses to add value by converting such timber into consumer ready
products.
Timber by products
and timber grown for fuel can be used in Community Heat and Power
Stations or larger units - power and heat generated from replaceable
sources do not attract the Climate Change Levy imposed by Government,
reducing the cost base of businesses which are large consumers of
power or process heat - again, the Council are active in promoting
such schemes for which Lottery funding is available.
Contact: Roddy Matheson
Email: forestry@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 664922f
Fax: +44 (0) 1224 664713
The Farm Business Development Scheme (FBDS) is a new scheme due to
be launched by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs
Department (SEERAD) in the near future.
The FBDS, which is funded by SEERAD, will operate in Lowland Scotland
within the ambit of the Rural Development Regulation (RDR) 1257/1999.
Lowland Scotland is defined as all of mainland Scotland outwith the
Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme area.
The FBDS is an innovative business development scheme for farmers
and immediate family members. The overall aims and objectives of the
FBDS are to increase income and employment opportunities for farming
families and help maintain a key sector on which the economic, environmental
and social well being of many rural communities depends.
The FBDS will provide assistance towards the development of new, or
expansion of existing diversification enterprises, based either on
or off-farm.
Applications will be assessed by local Project Assessment Committees
(PACs), chaired by SEERAD, with representatives from Local Authorities,
Local Enterprise Companies, Scottish Tourist Board, Scottish Natural
Heritage and others. This will ensure that projects approved under
the Scheme will take account of local strategies, market and economic
needs.
The maximum grant assistance will be £25,000 per agricultural business,
with a grant rate of up to 50% on eligible expenditure. There is no
upper limit to the size of project which may be submitted, however
the maximum eligible expenditure on which grant may be paid is £50,000.
In addition, assistance may also be offered to applicants and employees
for specific training in diversification and business management skills,
to help ensure the success of the diversified enterprises.
Eligible measures within the FBDS will include the following:
•
Alternative Agricultural
Production
•
Leisure, Recreation
and Sporting Facilities
•
Marketing of Agricultural
Products
•
Processing of Forest
Products
•
Residential Letting
•
Rural Services
•
Tourist Accommodation
and Tourist Facilities
Contact: Vicky Thomson
e-mail: fbds@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1467 620981 Ext. 6983
Fax: +44 (0) 1467 624285
By keeping businesses informed through regular newsletters, Economic
Development encourages participation in forthcoming events, including
trade missions and exhibitions. Through these activities the Council
supports and promotes Aberdeenshire businesses locally, nationally
and internationally in building networks and identifying new markets.
Contact: Louise Mackie
e-mail: marketing@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 664574
Fax: +44 (0) 1224 664713
The Export Partnership is one of thirteen similar organisations throughout
Scotland set up to co-ordinate the export support services available
from local and national organisations and agencies.
This includes delivering missions, seminars, exhibitions, export information
and training services, hands-on business development support and publishing
exportlink every two months.
Chaired by James Knowles, Head of Economic Development at Aberdeenshire
Council, and delivers wide-ranging export support services through
its partners and directly through the Export Counsellor.
The Export Partnership comprises; Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of
Commerce, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Enterprise
Grampian and the Moray Council. Associate Members; Scottish Trade
International, Scottish Enterprise Energy Group.
Contact: Claire Wilson
e-mail:export.partnership@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 218627
Fax: +44 (0) 1224 627006
The Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership
(ATP) is a formal partnership between three public sector organisations:
Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Grampian and Scottish Homes.
The overall aim of ATP is to maintain the social, economic and environmental
well being of Aberdeenshire's main settlements through a programme
of targeted investment based upon a vision shared by the Partners
and the community.
The Partnership focuses on four main issues to be integrated in the
development plan:_
• Economic
performance
• Environmental
enhancement
• Community
involvement
• Transportation
It is now generally accepted that partnership working is the best way
forward for public service delivery. ATP puts this into action with
the current focus on Aberdeenshire's main towns - Ellon, Fraserburgh,
Inverurie, Peterhead and Stonehaven, given their important role as commercial,
cultural and employment centres for surrounding areas. Banff & Macduff
are associate members of ATP during 2001. This means that the three
partner organisations are joining forces to respond more effectively
to community needs.
Contact: Nick Brown
e-mail: atp@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1467 628107
Fax: +44 (0) 1467 624285
The Council also promotes industrial and commercial development through
the provision of business centres, development sites and factories.
Premises
and sites are available for lease from within the Council's 400
units of varying sizes at locations throughout the area.
Contact: David Young
Commercial Development Manager
e-mail: property@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1224 664247
Fax: +44(0)1224 664266
|
