COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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Young talent set for greater recognition with launch of monthly Player Awards
Amplus Energy Services Ltd has agreed a two-year deal with Aberdeen Football Club, launching a monthly player award programme to nurture talent in Aberdeen FC’s Bobby Clark Youth Academy. The Youth Academy Player of the Month award scheme, which will recognise young players for their work ethic and performance in training and games, was officially introduced at Cormack Park last night with Alfie Bavidge (U16) and Rory Phillips (U11) presented with their awards for this month by Gavin Levey, AFC Youth Academy Director and Ian and Ali Herd from Amplus Energy Services Ltd. Both players were nominated by their AFC Youth Academy coaches for their continued desire to improve and develop their talent with both setting good examples to their peers, pushing
NORTH EAST SCOTLAND’S
digital tech sector can look to the future with confidence
The outlook for digital tech in north east Scotland is very positive and Opportunity North East is leading activity to stimulate and accelerate the growth of the tech ecosystem in the region. The focus is to support and nurture technology businesses from the early start-up phase through to fully scaled maturity, drawing on deep sector knowledge and expertise from across the ONE team and partners.
The north east of Scotland is home to a thriving and growing digital tech sector with big ambitions to maximise new opportunities and markets. Businesses with their roots in the energy supply chain are building on their experience to develop products to address opportunities presented by energy transition and by other industrial sectors faced with similar challenges. Accelerating growth among established digital tech businesses is a key priority and the region is home to a number of high potential, scalable businesses. The ONE Digital Business Growth
their development out-with training and games and focussing on their future ambitions. The renewed agreement will also see Amplus Energy Services Ltd continue its sponsorship of Angus the Bull, making the Aberdeen based floating production services firm one of the longest running sponsors of the Club’s beloved mascot. Amplus Energy Services Ltd Managing Director Ian Herd said: “We are proud supporters of Aberdeen Football Club and are thrilled to be strengthening our relationship, particularly as the Club continues to make positive improvements across the Youth Academy. “This is an exciting time for the Club, and I’m pleased that as a local company we will get the opportunity to play a small part in its ambitious plans to be the best developer of young talent.”
AFC Commercial Director, Rob Wicks, is delighted to see another long-term commercial partner bolster its relationship with the AFC. “Having been a key partner of the Club since 2014, Amplus Energy Services Ltd have reaped the many positive benefits of partnering a football Club and it is really encouraging to see the desire from them to not only increase their level of engagement but also broaden the partnership to see them supporting the young players emerging from our Youth Academy. “In addition to highlighting talent and rewarding hard work, the partnership with Amplus Energy Services Ltd will also tie into their long-running association with the charity North East Sensory Services (NESS) which will see AFC support Amplus Energy Services Ltd with the provision of goods and services to support the annual NESS fundraising event.”
Programme, sponsored by Inoapps and Sword ITS, supports established digital tech business owners and leaders to develop and scale their business faster. Jen Scott, Opportunity North East Digital Development Manager, said: “It’s extremely encouraging to see eight north east companies build on their experience, create new products and have success in new markets as part of the ONE first Digital Business Growth Programme.” Businesses from the first cohort seeing success include STC Insiso who have introduced new software products for different sectors, Solab IT who have secured significant, multi-year contract wins and Core 29 who have increased their team to support new and existing clients in the UK and overseas. Kevin Coll, Solab Managing Director, said: "The concept of encouraging growth amongst strong, established tech companies is long overdue as their success directly results in quality job creation that attracts and retains people in the region.” The north east of Scotland is also home to an exciting and growing cluster of early-stage digital businesses at the forefront of disruptive technology. These emerging digital tech companies are working with major players from across the energy industry to drive digital transformation and culture change as part of EnergyTech, an initiative delivered in partnership by ONE, Barclays Eagle Labs and CodeBase. The ambition for EnergyTech is to create a community for people to learn and collaborate – pushing the dial on conversations between incumbents and start-ups to better understand each other’s challenges and ultimately bridge the gap. A key element has been bringing in experience from outside the energy sector from companies including Airbus, Shazam and Palantir to help accelerate the sector’s digital take-up.
Jennifer Craw, Chief Executive, Opportunity North East, said: “EnergyTech builds the trust and relationships to harness the agility and fail fast methods of early-stage companies to support the energy sector and help it to embrace digital technology as a key enabler to shape the future of energy.” At the heart of all ONE digital activity is ONE Tech Hub – an inspiring place for founders to connect with practical know-how and expert advice relevant to their stage of company growth and to be part of a community with a shared ambition. Following 18 months of virtual activity and support ONE Tech Hub opens again in November offering hot desking, co-working, on-site expertise and an exciting programme of events and meet ups. Upcoming activity will include the launch of two new programmes for early stage tech businesses as part of the ONE lead delivery of £6 million of new business growth, innovation and skills programmes within the Scottish Government’s £14.3 million North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund (NEERSF). With a clear vision for growth, focused, expert support and a vibrant home at ONE Tech Hub north east Scotland’s digital tech sector can look to the future with confidence.
