Full house at the Copthorne Hotel for this morning's Aberdeen Inspired BID networking meeting. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
More than 150 people packed a sold-out meeting organised by Aberdeen Inspired this morning to hear updates on the new Flint market, the arrival of the World Rally Championships in the Granite City, plus a progress report on the Union Street works.
The Business Improvement District Networking Meeting was attended by levy-payers, interested parties, stakeholders and both officials and leaders from Aberdeen City Council at the Copthorne Hotel.
Dr Jeanette Forbes, chairman of Aberdeen Inspired, welcomed the 150 attendees and warmly thanked levy-payers for backing the BID in the recent renewal ballot with a 94% yes vote.
She said this was a vote of faith not just in Aberdeen Inspired, but also in the city centre.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, outlined the BID’s strategic objectives for the next five years after its renewed mandate in the recent renewal ballot. This will include striving for an attractive and vibrant city centre, one which is safer, welcoming and connected, as well as place leadership.
There will also be a huge emphasis on talking up our city centre and building a Team Aberdeen Ethos.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, outlined the BID's strategic plan for the next five years at the networking meeting. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
Adrian pointed to the success of the Aberdeen Gift Card and the £8.5 million it has injected into the city centre’s bricks and mortar businesses, plus Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks which brings a £1 million boost on each of its outings.
He added that Aberdeen was in transition, but Aberdeen Inspired would strive to cement its place as the regional city for the north-east, drawing people from across the area and even further afield.
The meeting also heard from Allan Henderson, CEO of the McGinty’s Group, who announced that the new Flint market, now being built on Union Street and the Green, would open next August as the best food hall market in all of Scotland.
He also described how the new venue would be a major draw in the city centre, attracting people for its mix of high-quality food vendors, independent retailers, plus a huge outdoor space to stage events ranging from farmers’ markets to a gathering place to enjoy major sporting, cultural and social events.
Allan Henderson, CEO of the McGinty's Group, said Flint would be the best food hall market in Scotland when it opens next August. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
Meanwhile, Leah Hodder from Rally Scotland said that the arrival of the World Rally Championship for three years from 2027 would put the Granite City on a national and global stage.
She also emphasised that there would be a stage of the rally in the heart of the city and emphasised the myriad opportunities to boost local businesses and the local economy in much the same way as the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen achieved last year.
To be televised live by the BBC, the event could be seen by a global audience of 100 million viewers, putting the city firmly on the world stage.
Sandy Beattie, Masterplan Manager for Aberdeen City Council, told the audience that the works on Union Street Central are nearing completion. So much so, that the Christmas Parade to kick off the city’s festive celebrations would be going down Union Street on Sunday, November 15.
While there was still snagging and work to be done after that, he said Union Street Central, combined with Flint and the works on the Castlegate – which are on schedule – would be transformative for the city centre.
Leah Hodder, of Rally Scotland, said the World Rally Championships would bring business opportunities similar to the success of the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen last year. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
The meeting also heard from the council’s Jen Lawie on business support opportunities and Dean McGlynn, city centre manager, on the city retaining the Purple Flag for its nighttime economy as well as the introduction of two new Aberdeen Ambassadors to promote the city centre.
And David McKeith, operations manager of Our Union Street, discussed the Our Aberdeen app, which aims to help people get more out of the city centre, while boosting businesses.
Audience members were able to ask questions to the various presenters and hear answers from them as well as council co-leaders Ian Yuill and Christian Allard.
After the meeting, Adrian Watson said: “I know that our levy payers and other interested parties got a lot out of this morning’s meeting. They will appreciate being brought up to speed on the many exciting projects and developments all contributing to the regeneration and future of the city centre.
“Among Aberdeen Inspired’s many aims, one of our prime objectives is to keep our levy-payers informed and give them a voice and a forum to raise their questions and have them answered. Today’s meeting more than did that – as will all future such networking events we will be holding.”
Council co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill answers a question from the audience at this morning's Aberdeen Inspired BID networking meeting. Image - Aberdeen Inspired