Opportunity North East Limited

🚀 New programme primes high-growth companies for go-to-market success 🌍 Ambitious Scottish businesses are being empowered with go-to-market strategies to launch, grow, and scale internationally through a new partnership between Opportunity North East Limited, Scottish Enterprise and Grand Scale. A nine-week programme focusing on international market entry, accelerated business growth and securing investment launched at the ONE BioHub innovation hub in Aberdeen yesterday. The 10 participating companies are drawn from a diverse range of sectors in the north east and across Scotland, from digital technology, biotechnology and health technology to food and drink manufacturing. This programme is another step in building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region, with ONE committed to driving innovation and economic diversification. 💬 Jennifer Craw MBE, CEO of ONE “ONE and Scottish Enterprise share a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation to drive economic diversification and growth. This programme gives founders and their leadership teams the tools, insights and confidence to develop and implement international go-to-market strategies successfully. It leverages the proven experience of the team at Grand Scale in supporting businesses to define customer value propositions and develop practical marketing and sales plans, and we look forward to supporting the cohort on this journey.” 💬 Leah Pape, Head of High Growth Services, Scottish Enterprise “We are delighted to partner with ONE and Grand Scale to provide this exciting opportunity for Scottish High Growth businesses to access skills and networks necessary to achieve the next stage of international growth. We look forward to seeing the impact of the programme.” 💬 Roisin Garland, Grand Scale Co-founder and Director said: “At Grand Scale, we are passionate about empowering ambitious founders and leaders of innovation businesses to be bold and make their presence felt internationally. We’re proud to collaborate with ONE and Scottish Enterprise to deliver Grand Scale Kickstart for Growth – a proven, intensive and results-orientated programme that accelerates entrepreneurial success and supports a thriving ecosystem for high-growth businesses across the north east of Scotland." #OpportunityNorthEast #entrepreneurship #innovation #marketdevelopment Jenifer Scott, Opportunity North East | Angela Bashir, Scottish Enterprise | Leanne Jennings, Grand Scale | David Rigterink Lindsay Fraser Nicholas Smith, Cytomos | Gail Henderson Ashton John Basile, Dev4 Online | Inese Pritchard Rebecca Juytong-Gray, IPGN Solutions | Fiona Rudkin, mycoBiologics Ltd | Jimmy Buchan Jenna Urquhart 🦞🐟 Julie Coutts, Amity Fish Company Ltd | Kimberley Mackenzie, GLYKOGEN LIMITED | Guy Phillips Will Inglis, Highland Heritage Woodworks | Claudia Padula Luis Ibarra, I&P VENTURES LIMITED | Nassima Brown Adrian Brown Aspen Kissinger, FENNEX | Jim Ashley, Outlaw Rum Co.

💡 Entrepreneurs and founders from businesses across north east Scotland have completed one of the world’s most impactful entrepreneurship development programmes at the MIT Sloan School of Management. 📍 They attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology last week for the intensive Entrepreneurship Development Programme supported by Opportunity North East Limited, Scottish Enterprise, Energy Transition Zone Ltd and the University of Aberdeen. This is the fourth cohort to attend MIT as part of the North East Scotland Regional EDP Project, led and co-funded by ONE. 📈 The programme uses Bill Aulet's 24-step disciplined entrepreneurship process and covers venture creation, from generating ideas to building viable global businesses. It equips participants with proven tools and knowledge to use in their own businesses. 🤝 After their MIT experience and now back in the region, ONE and the regional partners will support the founders with a programme of follow-on activity as they apply their learnings. 💬 ONE CEO Jennifer Craw MBE said: “The entrepreneurs and founders have immersed themselves in learning and using tools, techniques and processes that are used around the world to successfully create and scale innovation-led enterprises. We will now support them to apply their experience and knowledge from MIT in their businesses to realise their growth ambitions and create high-skill jobs for the future." Bill Aulet, Paul Cheek, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship | Jennifer Craw MBE, Jenifer Scott, Opportunity North East Limited | Louise Martin, RigRun Ltd | B Corp™ | Richard McGowan, Fathom Group | Carol Rafferty, Dentherapy Limited | Steven Lewis, Burnside Brewery | David McHardy, Fierce Beer | Claire Partridge CMktr, Scottish Enterprise | Craig Ritchie, Scottish Brain Sciences | Adam Harris, Myriad Wind Energy Systems | Eilidh Mutch, Your Spin Limited | Alex Speakman, E.V.A Biosystems | Tom Murdoch, Brimmond | Adam Smith BEcon MSc FHEA, University of Aberdeen #OpportunityNorthEast #entrepreneurship #innovation #MITEDP

💡 This week, the founders of businesses in north east Scotland are immersed in one of the world's most innovative and successful entrepreneurial ecosystems at the MIT Sloan School of Management. 📍 A cohort of entrepreneurs is attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for the intensive Entrepreneurship Development Programme supported by Opportunity North East Limited, Scottish Enterprise, Energy Transition Zone Ltd and the University of Aberdeen. This is the fourth cohort to attend MIT as part of the North East Scotland Regional EDP Project, led and co-funded by ONE. 📈 The founders are working with participants from around the world to learn the 24-step disciplined entrepreneurship process created by Bill Aulet that equips them to identify, evaluate, and create new venture opportunities, interpret customer needs, build innovation-led companies, understand global entrepreneurial variations, develop winning business plans, scale startups globally, and navigate investment. 🚀 It is a transformative experience that allows participants to acquire proven tools, network with global innovators, pitch to judges, receive personal feedback, and engage with MIT's world-class entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since 2022, 55 founders, entrepreneurial amplifiers, and educators across three cohorts from the region have completed MIT's EDP programme and are applying their learnings within their businesses and organisations. Many more people benefit from in-region programmes delivered by ONE and partners. 💬 Jennifer Craw MBE, CEO of ONE, said: “Entrepreneurship and innovation are transforming north east Scotland’s economy. Our work with Bill Aulet and Paul Cheek at MIT and the regional partners is equipping founders and business leaders from key sectors with practical and effective tools to support growth from ideation to scale. This project is key to ONE-led action and investment to build the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem and support entrepreneurs to start up, build their customer base, grow their team, raise investment and scale globally.” Jennifer Craw MBE, Jenifer Scott, Opportunity North East Limited | Louise Martin, RigRun Ltd | B Corp™ | Richard McGowan, Fathom Group | Carol Rafferty, Dentherapy Limited | Steven Lewis, Burnside Brewery | David McHardy, Fierce Beer | Claire Partridge CMktr, Scottish Enterprise | Craig Ritchie, Scottish Brain Sciences | Adam Harris, Myriad Wind Energy Systems | Eilidh Mutch, Your Spin Limited | Alex Speakman, E.V.A Biosystems | Tom Murdoch, Brimmond | Adam Smith BEcon MSc FHEA, University of Aberdeen #OpportunityNorthEast #entrepreneurship #innovation #MITEDP

⏰Today is the day! EDGE North East funding competition closes at 2pm today 🏆If you are a business, social enterprise or charity in north east Scotland, either pre-trading or within your first five years, then apply to Regional EDGE before for the chance to secure between £10k and £50k in funding. 👉 Learn more and ✍️ apply https://lnkd.in/eEgZZGZm #RegionalEDGE #EDGENE #OpportunityNorthEast #entrepreneurship

🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️ There is still time to apply for the EDGE North East funding competition which closes on Monday 20 January at 2pm 👉 Learn more and ✍️ apply @https://lnkd.in/eEgZZGZm #RegionalEDGE #EDGENE #OpportunityNorthEast #entrepreneurship

⏰Tick Tock! EDGE North East funding competition closes at 2pm on Monday 20 January ⏰ 👉 Learn more and ✍️ apply https://lnkd.in/eEgZZGZm #RegionalEDGE #EDGENE #OpportunityNorthEast #entrepreneurship

📢 Remember, remember! EDGE North East funding competition closes on Monday 20 January at 2pm! 📢 🤝 EDGE North East has a £50k top funding award and is open to start-ups from all sectors that are pre-trading or under five years old, generating a sales turnover of less than £1m, and/or have received less than £500k in investment. 👉 Learn more and ✍️ apply @https://lnkd.in/eEgZZGZm #RegionalEDGE #EDGENE #OpportunityNorthEast #entrepreneurship

🚀 This morning, ONE kicked off 2025 with an inspiring Business Breakfast in partnership with Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and Cala Group Limited, celebrating the pivotal role entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth in north east Scotland. A capacity audience of 300 welcomed Sara Davies MBE, founder, investor, and TV personality, who shared her insights in a conversation with Ryan Crighton at The Chester Hotel. ONE CEO Jennifer Craw MBE set the tone, emphasising the transformative power of entrepreneurs in the region’s economy. ONE is committed to supporting founders and innovators through every stage of their journey - from ideation to scaling. Backed by a £64 million investment from The Wood Foundation, ONE has already secured £94 million in additional investment in the region’s growth sectors from public, private, and philanthropic partners. Entrepreneurship is a team sport, and ONE works with key partners including the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, Energy Transition Zone Ltd, CodeBase, and Barclays Eagle Labs - building an ecosystem where innovation thrives and new industries emerge. Entrepreneurship is fuelling high-value, high-skill jobs and leading the charge in digital tech, green energy, life sciences, food and drink manufacturing, and tourism. 💬 Jennifer said: "The role of ONE is to spark, ignite and catalyse opportunities for entrepreneurs and founders to start up, build their customer base and support them in the journey to grow their team, raise investment and scale innovation-driven enterprises. North east Scotland’s entrepreneurs are the architects of tomorrow. They’re developing solutions that will transform our key sectors and position our region as a global leader in innovation." #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #NorthEastScotland #EconomicGrowth 

🌟 Celebrating Excellence in Economic Development! 🌟 Congratulations to Jennifer Craw, the visionary co-founder and CEO of Opportunity North East (ONE), for being awarded an MBE in the King's 2025 New Year Honours list. 🎉 With over 30 years of trailblazing leadership in economic development, Jennifer has been at the forefront of transforming north east Scotland’s economy, fostering innovation, and spearheading the transition from oil and gas to green energy. 🌱 Her passion for entrepreneurship has helped diversify the region’s economy, create high-skill jobs, and build a thriving ecosystem for growth. 🚀 Through her work with ONE, which she co-founded with Sir Ian Wood in 2015, Jennifer has been instrumental in shaping the key sectors of digital tech, food and drink, green energy, life sciences, and tourism. Under her leadership, ONE has secured and led over £150 million in investments, created vibrant innovation hubs in ONE Tech Hub, ONE BioHub, and ONE SeedPod, and supported the creation and growth of innovation-driven enterprises. 💡 Jennifer’s hands-on approach, in collaboration with entrepreneurs, businesses, and regional partners, has made a tangible impact, with the digital tech sector doubling in five years, the food and drink sector growing faster than any other in Scotland, the life sciences cluster growing and the region’s adventure tourism gaining international acclaim. 🌍 Jennifer's dedication, passion, and vision are helping to shape the future of north east Scotland and have inspired countless entrepreneurs and business leaders. We are excited to see what’s next in her remarkable journey. Well-deserved recognition! 👏👏👏 #Leadership #EconomicDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #OpportunityNorthEast

This final newsletter of 2024 reflects on the action and investment putting entrepreneurship and innovation at the heart of economic development. Best wishes from the Boards and the team at Opportunity North East for a safe and peaceful end to the year and a healthy and prosperous 2025.