North East Scotland's Digital Tech Sector Can Look to the Future with Confidence

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

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.