ONE SeedPod to boost high-value food and drink manufacturing

The project, led by Opportunity North East (ONE), is the single largest public-private investment in the growth of Scotland’s food and drink manufacturing sector.

The £27 million project, part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, is creating a hub for businesses to scale production, develop new products, test innovative processes, and access industry expertise, entrepreneurial education and mentoring developed by ONE and partners. The new-build includes 11 food-safe manufacturing kitchens, new product development and demonstration kitchens, and pilot plant and process testing spaces, and is the new home for the sector.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill joined ONE chair Sir Ian Wood KT GBE and David Kilshaw OBE, chair of the not-for-profit Food Hub (NES) Ltd for the official launch of ONE SeedPod. The hub will open to the industry next month.

ONE SeedPod is led and co-funded by ONE and supported with £5 million each from the Scottish and UK governments as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal. The Scottish Government has provided an additional £3.1 million through the Just Transition Fund, bringing its total contribution to the project to £8.1 million. Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) is the strategic partner providing the serviced site for ONE SeedPod on its Craibstone Campus near Aberdeen.

Sir Ian Wood said: “The ONE SeedPod innovation hub is the private and public sectors investing in the economic potential of a key industry sector to drive diversification and growth. Food and drink is north east Scotland’s biggest industry after energy, employing 22,000 people, and the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. The unique combination of food-safe manufacturing and innovation space, facilities and support at ONE SeedPod will accelerate the growth of businesses in the region and across Scotland. We celebrate a milestone in the project delivery today and look ahead to ONE SeedPod becoming home to a community of ambitious businesses. This project is part of broader action and investment by ONE and partners to build the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

David Kilshaw said: “Now is the critical time to invest in value-adding food and drink manufacturing, drive entrepreneurial growth, create innovation-led businesses, and deliver more high-skill jobs across our communities. Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter to realise that ambition. ONE SeedPod will be the launchpad for the next generation of food and drink entrepreneurs and innovators and the catalyst that inspires and accelerates growth in businesses regionally and nationally.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “The North East of Scotland has a flourishing food and drink sector which employs over 22,000 people and turns over more than £2.4 billion annually.

“ONE SeedPod has come from an ambition to do even more by supporting businesses to develop high quality produce which is innovative and sustainable, ensuring Scotland is recognised around the world as a leader in low-carbon food production.”

UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: "It was an absolute privilege to help officially open the £27 million ONE SeedPod. Backed by £5 million UK Government funding - part of our £125 million commitment to the Aberdeen City Region Deal - this innovation hub will help further grow north east Scotland’s world class food and drink sector.

"Thanks to city and growth deals, a package of more than £3 billion UK Government and partner investment is driving local growth and improving living standards for communities the length and breadth of Scotland. The UK Government is also separately investing £840 million in some two dozen local growth projects and programmes across Scotland over the next 10 years. This is our Plan for Change in action, working with the Scottish Government and local partners with investment and reform to turbocharge growth and put more money in people’s pockets."

Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie said: “ONE SeedPod is a fantastic asset for the north east, bringing together ambitious startups, industry experts and academia to maximise economic benefits for Scotland. Food and drink is our top international export sector and this new state-of-the-art facility will help secure its future success by creating and supporting innovative start-ups and scale-ups.”

Professor Wayne Powell, Principal and Chief Executive of SRUC, said: “We are delighted to host ONE SeedPod on our Craibstone campus. The co-location of businesses within this excellent new facility will provide new opportunities to connect and accelerate the translation of innovation along the value chain, from primary production agriculture to new food products and, ultimately, the consumer. We look forward to working with partners on this hugely exciting venture.”

On behalf of the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee, Councillor Miranda Radley, Aberdeen City Council’s Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee convener, said: "The ONE SeedPod project, backed by the Aberdeen City Region Deal, is the largest such investment in Scotland. The deal fosters innovation and growth in the high-value food and drink manufacturing sector, paving the way for ground-breaking advancements and increased productivity in North East Scotland."

Robertson Construction Eastern was the main contractor for the build of ONE SeedPod.

Elliot Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Robertson Group, said: “As trusted delivery partner, it was incredibly important to us that we realised ONE’s vision of a food and drink industry innovation hub, which drives inward investment and champions regional and national economic growth. It was also essential that we delivered a high-quality building that throughout construction, supported local jobs, early career development and local suppliers.

“It has been fantastic to continue our strong relationship with ONE, and we wish them and their partners every success as ONE SeedPod opens its doors as a pioneering innovation hub for the food and drink sector.”