During 2007 the Forum engaged with over 100 business leaders to develop an economic manifesto for the region – Building on Energy.    The manifesto is composed of three elements: an ambitious Vision for 2025; two overarching aims – Quality of Life and Economic Growth - and seven strategic priorities which will help deliver the Vision.  

View "building on energy" - The Economic Manifesto for Aberdeen City and Shire

Vision

“We aim by 2025, for Aberdeen City and Shire to be recognised as one of the most robust and resilient economies in Europe with a reputation for opportunity, enterprise and inventiveness that will attract and retain world-class talent of all ages. 

The location of choice for high value oil and gas and renewable energy organisations, and a first choice for organisations of all sizes operating in other high value, quality niche markets.

Our environment, our accessibility and our hospitality will make Aberdeen City and Shire one of the most interesting and enjoyable locations in the UK in which to visit, live, work and grow up.”

Aims

A strong economy and maintaining an excellent quality of life are core to the Vision.

We want to be one of the most successful regional economies in Europe and top of the quality of life "league table", making this a place where people choose to work, live, study and visit.

These two key aims will provide the benchmarks and targets which will allow us to measure progress over time.

Economic growth can be quantified in terms of economic output Gross Value Add (GVA) per capita.  We have therefore set ourselves a target of improving North East Scotland's position within the top 15 EU Regions by achieving a growth rate of 2.5% p.a.

Quality of life is determined by having an active and successful economy and living in a great place with excellent education, leisure, transport, planning, housing, medical facilities and strong, safe communities.  ACSEF is in the process of undertaking research to identify how to benchmark the area and will set appropriate quality of life targets by May 2008.

Strategic Priorities

• Deliver a fully integrated transport network
• Maximise our intellectual capital - people and expertise
• Deliver city centre redevelopment
• Internationalise the oil and gas industry
• Attract and develop skilled people
• Improve the efficiency of planning decision making
• Aberdeen City and Shire as the location of choice for company headquarters

Initial actions have been prepared for each priority and are being pulled together into a Business Plan for 2008/9 with corresponding targets and milestones.  The Plan will be uploaded onto the site following its publication in May 2008.