• Membership
    • Become a member
    • Chamber network
    • Member offers
    • Member directory
    • Premier partners
  • Helping your business
    • Events
    • International markets
    • News & opinion
    • North-east jobs
    • The Research Chamber
    • Training
  • Supporting our region
    • Political influence
    • Investment Tracker
    • Vanguard
    • Net Zero North-east
    • Circular North-east
    • Abzolutely
    • DYW North East
Login
  1. Home
  2. Blog

Collaboration is the secret of success for Aberdeen’s City Region Deal

  • October 27, 2015
  • by Belinda Miller, Head of Economic Development at Aberdeenshire Council
Collaboration is the secret of success for Aberdeen’s City Region Deal

THE North-east has long been recognised as a powerhouse for Scotland and the UK, but a City Region Deal could help to maintain this success for years to come.

A “Statement of Intent” was submitted to UK and Scottish governments last week.

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils have been working on detailed proposals for an Aberdeen City Region Deal and have the support of the region’s most influential business leaders.

A range of engagement has been undertaken to inform the plans and this has shaped the latest stage of the bid.

The Aberdeen City Region Deal would improve transport links, infrastructure and housing to meet the demands of a growing population, while investing in innovation, research and development and internationalisation to ensure that the area continues to contribute substantially to UK plc for decades to come.

It is a chance to anchor the oil & gas industry in the North-east, but also to expand upon the expertise and innovation that already exists here, to the benefit of the wider energy sector and related industries.

The Statement of Intent looks at four key policy areas – housing, connectivity, innovation and internationalisation.

The collaboration of the public and private sectors has underpinned, and will continue to underpin, the development of the bid.

The challenges facing the oil & gas industry have been well documented and businesses have been exploring many ways to reduce their costs.

Many recognise that the City Region Deal will help them to maintain their competitiveness, supporting jobs and promoting innovation.

The benefits of a successful Aberdeen City Region are felt far beyond the North-east of Scotland – oil & gas is a global business with skills and expertise exported across the world from research and development, technology and innovation.

Many oil & gas companies based in Aberdeen are firmly embedded in key positions of influence in the global energy sector.

The expertise developed in the North Sea by subsea engineering contractors has allowed the UK to hold around 40% of the global market worth an estimated £20billion.

The oil & gas industry supports thousands of jobs across the UK through supply chains, and contributes significantly to HM Treasury.

In 2011/12, the oil & gas industry was responsible for 16.4% of all corporation tax collected in the UK.

The importance of the continued success and prosperity of the Aberdeen City Region cannot be underestimated to Scotland and the whole of the UK.

By even greater collaboration across industry and all layers of government, we can protect the competiveness of the oil & gas industry already firmly established here and help to power tomorrow’s world.

Back to blog

Share this page

·

Don't just join, join in

Being a member of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce can bring significant value to your business. Talk to us today to find out more.

Join us Log in
British Chambers of Commerce
  • The Hub, Exploration Drive
    Aberdeen Energy Park, Bridge of Don
    Aberdeen, AB23 8GX
  • info@agcc.co.uk 01224 343900
  • About
  • Meet the team
  • Vacancies

© AGCC · Legal notices