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April

Following the recent ACSEF Youth Summit, where a vision for Aberdeen City and Shire in 2025 was discussed, we asked the next generation what should be done to improve the economic future of the region?

There are certainly many developments with new focuses that will have a positive impact on Aberdeen’s economy. The City Square development has grounded principals to create jobs and create an aspiring city centre to attract young entrepreneurs and businesses to the City as the oil supply starts to dwindle.

Other developments such as the Trump development, look to again create jobs and also put Aberdeen in a position where more revenue is generated from tourism rather than solely relying on revenue from oil and gas. Aberdeen’s aim to become the World Energy City by becoming leaders in renewable energy and carbon capture can only have a positive impact on our overall reputation and economic future. More focus on renewable energy is something that we must look to grow in the coming 15 years along with more resources directed towards increasing tourism to the area.

Aileen Scott, Sales Executive of Indigo Technologies

The economic future of Aberdeen can be changed in many ways; I think transport definitely needs be addressed. The cost of transport in and around Aberdeen City is far too expensive. From where I stay in Portlethen, going to Aberdeen City and back costs me £5. So it costs me £25 a week to travel. Tying in with transport, the roads around the city are nothing short of a disgrace, the amount of pot holes is appalling. The government tries to roll out new safer driving policies each year; these are pointless if the roads themselves are not suitable to drive on! I hate to think how much people must pay to repair the damage caused by running over these potholes. The litter around some areas of Aberdeen is also embarrassing, the council should be working extra hard to clean up the city so people feel proud to live here.

Ross Mackay, Corporate Communications Student, RGU

By 2025, I feel that businesses in the city need to start thinking about what they are going to do once the oil industry comes to an end.

Even though North Sea oil should be sustainable until well beyond 2025, it isn’t going to last forever, and I think that if companies don’t start planning soon, Aberdeen is going to have a serious problem. So much of the wealth in the city is based on oil, that when the industry starts to dry up, we could see large numbers of people leaving the city to other parts of the world, taking the wealth with them. Something needs to be found to keep them here. Maybe the city’s expertise in non-renewable energy could be used to pioneer new sustainable energy technologies.

Aberdeen prides itself on being the Oil Capital of Europe, but I think that, soon, it will need to find something more.

James Flegg, Mechanical Engineering Student, Aberdeen University

Following my attendance at ACSEF’s youth summit, it was very clear to me that a bright future is to be had for Aberdeen and Shire’s local economy – providing it is approached in the correct manner. The most lucrative natural resource is not offshore or underground; rather it is the young people within our communities. Although it is true young people are the business leaders and politicians of tomorrow, the challenge bestowed upon business, education and politics alike is to embrace the region’s young citizens as leaders and change makers today. I have heard the ideas and ambitions of local young people firsthand and there are many fruits to be picked by channeling and responding to these. There is an old proverb that “it takes an entire village to raise a single child.” This message rings true in Aberdeen and the Shire today, by seeing young people as an integral part of the present and future, we will see a flourishing and sustainable economy that all ages and areas can enjoy and take pride in.

John Loughton, Big Brother Winner, Former Chair of Youth Parliament, member Commission on Scottish Devolution