I joined a small delegation from Scotland to Denmark to learn about the impact that being awarded European City of Culture has on a city. Aarhus is a city which has been on a journey. By putting culture and innovation at the heart of its regeneration, it is enjoying definitive economic growth, seeing vast levels of investment and population gains. Business is at the heart of that journey and we must look to strengthen connections to help Dundee & our region grow too.
They have much to be proud of, were extremely welcoming and absolutely inspiring. Visit Aarhus2017 to read about their programme.
We'll be making strong connections with Business Aarhus and building business to business opportunities. Hover over the images below to read more about my experiences!
I am travelling to Denmark with Stewart Murdoch of Leisure and Culture Dundee, who is driving the #dundee23 bid and looking to build on the work that was done for Dundee's bid for UK City of Culture. So it's trains, planes and a walk to our aparthotel which is on the riverfront and has an amazing view!
The most stunning building opposite our first meeting today - we were with MindLab, an innovation unit which involves citizens and businesses in creating new solutions for society. They work with the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, the Ministry of Employment, the Ministry of Education.
We are met by our host Theresa Blegvad, CEO of Insights Denmark and Member of the City Council. Our first visit in Aarhus is to Godsbanen, a centre for cultural production, which sits side by side with an organically created village of maker spaces, new businesses and community spaces.
Aarhus reopened a canal in the heart of the waterfront district & created a vibrant cafe culture leading to DOKK1, an impressive new library building. Our dinner was a stunning end to the day...Michelin standard!
A visit to the Insights Denmark office starts the day...then we watch hundreds of children compete in the national School Olympics!
The ARoS Art Museum's Rainbow was added to the building in 2011. ARoS will host a large conference in 2017: 'rethinking the value of arts and culture'.
Moesgaard is stunning - set 10 minutes out of Aarhus in vibrant forests. It is hosting Røde Orm – a magnificent Viking saga performed on the roof of the building.
Theresa & all of her Aarhus colleagues have been an inspiration - thanks from Bryan, Alison & Stewart...you've been amazing!
For business travellers, a 45 minute sea plane hop to Copenhagen, rather than a 3 hour train journey, is proving a popular trip.
As I return to Dundee, it's time to reflect and build the ways that business can have impact and contribute to #dundee23
This globe installation is Climate Planet - and behind it the stunning Navitas building - a unique collaboration for engineering between education and business.
The standard of food was superb...and all put together in the most thoughtful and well-presented way, and delivered with top service too!
A modern university with a long history and a clear sense of our distinctive mission, highly regarded for our academic performance in areas with genuine relevance and impact on society and the economy, and with a community of talented students and academics who make us the success we are.
On every level, the College is a place where potential and ability is valued over background or ethnicity. It is an establishment where further and higher education is available and welcome to all.
Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE:BHGE) is the world’s first and only fullstream provider of integrated oilfield products, services and digital solutions. Drawing on a storied heritage of invention, BHGE harnesses the passion and experience of its people to enhance productivity across the oil and gas value chain. BHGE helps its customers acquire, transport and refine hydrocarbons more efficiently, productively and safely, with a smaller environmental footprint and at lower cost per barrel. Backed by the digital industrial strength of GE, the company deploys minds, machines and the cloud to break down silos and reduce waste and risk, applying breakthroughs from other industries to advance its own.
Balhousie Care homes provide residents with a happy, friendly, safe and caring environment coupled with an exceedingly high level of accommodation.
DC Thomson & Co Ltd is a private company and is one of the leading media organisations in the United Kingdom. The company publishes newspapers, magazines, comics and books. More recently, DC Thomson has expanded into the internet and digital developments including a major focus on genealogy.
Fuel dispenser manufacturer, exporting to most EU countries. Manufactured 70k plus dispensers of varying specification across Europe.
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
Dundee and Angus College is moving away from traditional thinking and focussing much more on careers not courses. It wants the people of the Dundee and Angus region to be better informed and prepared for the career options available to them, no matter what stage they are at.
Formed in 1999, mtc offers a complete rounded web development service. They provide the expertise and know-how to deliver web solutions to clients across a wide range of sectors. From branding, website development, eCommerce, content management systems and intranets, to search engine optimisation and email marketing.
Nobel Prize winning poet and honorary graduate Seamus Heaney has described the University of Dundee as ‘having its head in the clouds and its feet firmly on the ground.’ The ability to be both aspirational and down-to earth and to blend ground-breaking intellectual achievement with practical applications, has given the University its distinctive character.
Hillcrest Housing Association was established in 1967 and is one of Scotland’s largest Housing Associations. They provide housing and support in Dundee, Edinburgh, Angus, Perthshire and Fife, with over 5500 good quality, well maintained homes at affordable rents. In each area of operation there are local offices with housing advice teams who can provide an immediate response to the customers.
Jack of all trades...Master of them too.
Whether you're starting off, established or looking for an exit we have all the services you could ever need. Get in touch to find out how we can help you feel more in control of your finances and spend more time doing what you love.
Castle Water is the leading independent water retailer in the UK. We supply hundreds of thousands of businesses, charities, and public bodies throughout England and Scotland. We provide water retail services to all types and sizes of organisation. We have expertise of working in hard to reach areas, ranging from dispersed rural sites to high density urban environments nationally.
