14 April 2016
Last few spaces available for Aberdeenshire Town Conference on Investment and Development
Spaces are filling up fast for the second Aberdeenshire Town Conference taking place next week.
This year the conference will address issues around empty, vacant and void properties within local town centres and anyone who wants to go should book now.
Organised by Aberdeenshire Council as part of North East Business Week, it takes place from 10am-2pm on Friday, April 22 at Fraserburgh Leisure Centre.
The free event will allow anyone with an interest in property and investment to come together and hear from a range of keynote speakers expert in their fields.
Aberdeenshire Council’s regeneration and town centres manager, Christine Webster, will launch the council’s new Property Investment Fund.
This will be available to investors and property owners in Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff and Macduff, to help bring empty and derelict buildings back into use.
Moira Simpson, an affordable housing development officer, will give information on the Aberdeenshire Empty Homes Loan Fund.
Information on funding options will be also be provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland’s Business Banking Director, Keith Pope.
Diarmaid Lawlor of Architect and Design Scotland will speak on issues regarding empty space, town centre planning and shared space.
Bill Duguid from Ryden will give a brief update on the current market and will talk about investment and development within town centres.
Tom Duff, a historic architect from LDN architects in Forres, will discuss ideas around listed buildings within conservation areas.
Local social enterprise, Elevator, is dedicated to supporting the entrepreneurs, business leaders and employees of today and tomorrow.
It is one of the organisers of Business Week 2016, of which the Towns Conference is a part.
Chief Executive, Prof. Gary McEwan, said: “It has never been more apt and timely for North East Business Week to focus on ‘Entrepreneurship Driving Growth’.
“Determination, Innovation, Energy and Passion are just some the entrepreneurial trademarks that can fall by the wayside when the market turns against us.
“The fact is, however, that these characteristics have never been more important as we all face the uncertainty that pervades the oil and gas sector along with all the attendant reverberations that are being felt across every part of our business community.
“Despite the current challenge, our region remains the most entrepreneurial part of Scotland. We are showing continued growth in the numbers of businesses starting and growing.
“With unparalleled resilience, the people of the North East continue to show that entrepreneurship is in our blood. We must now dig deep, face up to the challenges, innovate, diversify and prepare for the bright future we have before us.”
Following the keynote presentations and a question and answer session, there will be an opportunity to network, visit stalls around the back of the room which will showcase empty properties, see new town centre developments and ask further questions of key speakers. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
You can see more information on the Property Investment Fund on our website.
You can view the conference and book on Eventbrite.
Further information about the Towns Conference is available from: Audrey.michie@aberdeenshire.gov.uk