ONE SeedPod

David Kilshaw OBE, long-standing food industry entrepreneur and chair of Food Hub (NES) Ltd, the not-for-profit established to develop the ONE SeedPod industry innovation hub, has paid tribute to Sir Jim Walker – “the most iconic figure” in the Scottish food and drink industry. Speaking following the announcement of Sir Jim’s passing, David Kilshaw said: “I have known Jim for nearly 40 years and he was without doubt the most iconic figure in the Scottish food and drink industry. His passing has come as a huge shock, and he will be greatly missed by all those who knew him personally and professionally. What he achieved in terms of the business with his family is phenomenal, building a global brand from its home on Speyside. Wherever you go in the world you will see Walker’s shortbread for sale. “He was also an extraordinary ambassador for the industry in north east Scotland and nationally. Jim was a true gentleman with an amazing ability to make people feel important. He personified all that is good about Scotland’s food and drink industry. His enthusiasm and encouragement have helped many in the industry over the decades. “I also speak for everyone involved in supporting the growth of the food and drink sector at Opportunity North East Limited when I say that Sir Jim served as an inspiration and model for entrepreneurship in the sector. “My thoughts and condolences are with his family. He will be sorely missed as a friend to so many of us,” said Mr Kilshaw.

🚀 New Opportunity Alert! 🌟 Opportunity North East Limited is seeking a ONE Director of Food and Drink to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the industry-leading food, drink, agriculture, and seafood sectors in North East Scotland, driving innovation, entrepreneurship and growth. This new role is an opportunity to spearhead the commissioning and launch of ONE SeedPod in 2025 and continue to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem and sector support from ONE and partners to equip business founders and leaders with the practical insights, knowledge, skills and tools to innovate and scale manufacturing and production businesses. The successful candidate will: ✅ be a passionate leader with significant experience in the food and drink industry. ✅ have a proven track record in senior roles, ideally with a mix of commercial and operational experience. ✅ be a strong communicator and connector, who can foster partnerships and drive collaborative success. For more information on the role see https://lnkd.in/egjkBNsi North East Scotland is home to a £2.4 billion food and drink industry, supporting 22,000 jobs and ambitious to lead Scotland in product and process innovation, automation and high-value manufacturing, and premium market development. This is a truly unique opportunity to build on commercial experience in a customer-focused and entrepreneurial environment to impact the sector’s future growth. If you're ready to lead a dynamic team toward building a world-class food and drink economy, then contact Louise Gibson at New Town Partnership, who is leading the search on behalf of ONE. #OpportunityNorthEast #FoodAndDrink #Innovation #Leadership #ScotlandJobs #CareerOpportunity #ONESeedPod ONE Food, Drink & Agriculture

🌟 Unlocking the Power of Entrepreneurship in North East Scotland 🌟 Entrepreneurship and innovation are central to the impactful work driving economic growth in north east Scotland. Our region is emerging as a hub for technology and product innovation across sectors including green energy, digital tech, food and drink, and life sciences. At the heart of this transformation is Opportunity North East (ONE), leading action and investment to diversify the economy. Since 2016, ONE has secured £150 million in investment in growth sectors, empowering founders to launch and scale innovation-driven businesses. 🚀 Entrepreneurship isn’t just about business: it's about cultural change. As more innovation-led businesses achieve scale, more individuals are inspired to explore this career path, creating a ripple effect of ambition and innovation. With transformational investments in the entrepreneurial ecosystem – ONE Tech Hub, #ONEBioHub and the upcoming ONE SeedPod – ONE is providing vital spaces for collaboration and growth, where expertise meets opportunity. Partnerships with institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ensure that our entrepreneurs have access to world-class resources and mentorship. Through programmes such as the Regional Entrepreneurial Development Programme (EDP) and the North East Venture Mentoring Service, ONE and partners, including Scottish Enterprise, the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University, Energy Transition Zone Ltd, Net Zero Technology Centre, Aberdeen City Council, and Aberdeenshire Council, are equipping founders with the insights, skills, and networks they need to succeed. The momentum is palpable! 🌍 With the region’s digital tech cluster doubling to 300+ companies in just five years, a thriving food and drink industry, an entrepreneurial cluster of life sciences companies and a visitor economy worth more than £1 billion, the potential for impact is immense. Looking ahead, the ONE vision is ambitious: to double high-value life sciences companies, grow the digital tech cluster to 800 firms, put food and drink manufacturing at the forefront of premium market development and process innovation, and expand sustainable adventure tourism. Together, ONE and regional and national partners can ensure that entrepreneurship remains a transformative force in our economy. Together we celebrate and build on the entrepreneurial spirit of north east Scotland. If you’re considering entrepreneurship, there’s no better place to turn your ambition into reality. #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #NorthEastScotland #OpportunityNorthEast #EconomicGrowth ONE Digital Tech ONE Food, Drink & Agriculture ONE Life Sciences ONE Tourism 📸 Photos from the 2024 ONE Annual Event - Entrepreneurship Driving Transformation, in August, where 100+ entrepreneurs, founders, innovators, business and industry leaders, and funding and delivery partners joined ONE to focus on their shared ambitions for the region.

🩷 The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Summit provided a fantastic opportunity to highlight the role ONE SeedPod will play in shaping the future of the food and drink sector. 💬 On the Fuelling Innovation panel, ONE FoodHub Director Neil Freckingham shared exciting updates about the £27 million investment into ONE SeedPod. A food and drink innovation hub set to open early next year. This national asset will support innovation and growth in food and drink manufacturing, helping ambitious businesses meet customer demands and secure new opportunities. Find out more about how ONE SeedPod will drive innovation ➡️ www.oneseedpod.com #ONESeedPod #FoodAndDrink #Innovation #FuellingInnovation #ScotlandFoodAndDrink Peter Cook Gary McDonald Jane MacLeod Jenefer Strathie (CMktr) Kathryn Ellaway Steven Marr Mallory Reid Trish Macfarlane Stanley Morrice MBE David Kilshaw OBE Jennifer Craw Lindsay McKenzie Liz Rattray Donella Beaton Jamie Newbold Alan Rowe

What do you think of the pink? 🩷 The scaffolding is down at ONE SeedPod and the vibrant pink cladding has been fully revealed up at the Craibstone site. Housing 11 food safe manufacturing spaces, NPD kitchen, pilot plant and much more as well as being the home for industry expertise and advice, ONE SeedPod's practical support will help set food and drink manufacturers up for success.🚀 What would you like to see available at ONE Seedpod? Register your interest on the website now 👉 https://lnkd.in/eSbpBVyd ONE step closer to food and drink innovation! Opening early 2025 🤩 Opportunity North East Limited Aberdeenshire Council Scottish Enterprise Robertson Group Scotland Food & Drink SRUC The Scottish Government #ONESeedpod #InnovationHub #foodinnovation #scotlandfoodanddrink #opportunitynortheast #aberdeen #foodbusiness #foodstartup #foodentrepreneur David Kilshaw OBE Stanley Morrice MBE Donella Beaton Jennifer Craw Bill Dean Neil Freckingham Liz Rattray Alan Rowe Lindsay McKenzie

ONE SeedPod will bring the food and drink sector together, building a supportive community of likeminded entrepreneurs and a home for food and drink innovation. Find out more about ONE SeedPod ➡ www.oneseedpod.com Opening early 2025

ONE SeedPod is more than an innovation hub. It will be the first of its kind in the UK, offering a dynamic blend of commercial manufacturing and innovation space combined with unparalleled access to food and drink industry expertise, market insights, and networks, all under one roof. Opening early 2025 Visit oneseedpod.com to find out more

🤩 Dive into market insights and consumer trends like never before! ONE SeedPod will provide access to the latest market research and consumer data, enabling food and drink entrepreneurs and industry leaders to make informed decisions and drive innovation 🚀 Whether you are a start-up or an established brand, ONE SeedPod will be a go to destination for: 💫 Market Analysis: Gain valuable insights into current market trends and growth opportunities. 🛒 Consumer Behaviour: Understand the evolving preferences, needs and behaviours of consumers to help tailor your products and marketing strategies for maximum impact. 📈 Industry Trends: Stay informed about the latest innovations, technologies and the best practices shaping the food and drink industry. 👥 Networking: Connect with like minded professionals, experts and thought leaders to collaborate, share ideas and spark creativity. 🚧 Currently under construction. Opening early 2025 Visit oneseedpod.com for more information and to register your interest now. David Kilshaw OBE Stanley Morrice MBE Donella Beaton Jennifer Craw Bill Dean Neil Freckingham Andrew Lacey Liz Rattray Alan Rowe Lindsay McKenzie Opportunity North East Limited #ONESeedpod #ONEfooddrinkagriculture #opportunitynortheast #transformingourregion #foodinnovation #aberdeen #scotlandfoodanddrink #abzdeal #ONESeedPodInnovation #FutureOfFood #ScotlandInnovationHub

📢 Last night's annual industry awards highlighted the role of ONE SeedPod in delivering north east Scotland’s food and drink growth ambition. 🏆 Businesses from across north east Scotland were recognised for their excellence and innovation at the 2024 North East Scotland Food & Drink Awards dinner, delivered by Opportunity North East Limited in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and hosted by broadcaster and writer Aleesha Hansel. ✨ Winners of the 2024 awards across nine categories – including best new products, innovation and growth – were AGD Duff & Partners, Amity Fish Company Ltd, Associated Seafoods Ltd, Burnside Brewery, Little Brown Dog Spirits, Reynolds Cocktails and Singularity Sauce Co. Fraser Chapman, a trainee auctioneer with ANM Group received the rising star award and SeaFest Peterhead landed the best food and drink tourism experience title. 💬 Speaking to the audience of more than 230 industry professionals, Peter Cook, Director of Food, Drink and Agriculture at Opportunity North East Limited, said: "The sector is about to realise the single most significant investment in its growth. At ONE SeedPod, we are creating the ecosystem and specialist commercial facilities to support your development of new products, entry of new markets, scaling of companies, and increased productivity and sustainability. There will be nowhere else like this in the UK. The £27 million project is in its main construction phase and ONE SeedPod will open in 2025 on SRUC’s Craibstone campus outside Aberdeen. So, my call to action tonight is this: keep working together and with us to grow your customer base and find new markets. And champion food and drink manufacturing and production - the most important industry for this region's future!" 📈 For over 30 years, the awards have served as a catalyst for businesses venturing into new markets. Entrants have reaped the benefits of expert feedback and insights from judges across the UK food industry to enhance their competitive edge, including senior representatives from Waitrose & Partners and SPAR Scotland on this year’s judging panel. 💡 The awards dinner saw Martyn Lee FCMI CMgr., Executive Chef for Waitrose, who leads the retailer’s food innovation team, and Alison Hargreaves from Young's Seafood share insights on the importance of their retailer-supplier relationship. 🤝 ESS, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, is the title sponsor for the awards, and SPAR Scotland, Strachans Ltd, Serco NorthLink Ferries, CMS, Scotland Food & Drink, DYW North East and G McWilliam (Aberdeen) support the awards. #ONESeedPod #foodanddrink #foodmanufacturing

🤩 Construction at ONE SeedPod is progressing well and the internal spaces are beginning to take shape! It is exciting to see the headway being made in the development of this innovation hub for the north east food and drink sector. From demonstration kitchens, food manufacturing units and collaboration spaces to industry expertise and advice, ONE SeedPod’s practical support will help set food and drink manufacturers up for success. 🚀 🌟 Stay tuned for updates to learn more about this unique space for growth, collaboration, and industry advancement. Visit ➡ oneseedpod.com to find out more about this national asset and register your interest now. David Kilshaw OBE Stanley Morrice MBE Donella Beaton Jennifer Craw Bill Dean Neil Freckingham Andrew Lacey Liz Rattray Alan Rowe Lindsay McKenzie Opportunity North East Limited #ONESeedpod #ONEfooddrinkagriculture #opportunitynortheast #transformingyourregion #foodinnovation #aberdeen #scotlandfoodanddrink #abzdeal #ONESeedPodInnovation #FutureOfFood #ScotlandInnovationHub