Expert Office Advice

Vital stats and business information for companies considering relocation to or setting up an office in Aberdeen.

Originally settled nearly 8,000 years ago and given Royal Burgh status in 1319, today Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city. Aberdeen’s traditional industries of fishing, shipbuilding, textiles and paper-making have given way to its oil industry, seaport and heliport - one of the world’s busiest. So much so that the city is now known as the Oil Capital of Europe.

The city is also considered the educational centre of Scotland’s North East with two prestigious universities located there.

Aberdeen has a fine art gallery, hosts the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and is a ten time winner of the prestigious Britain in Bloom competition.

Population
202,370

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Aberdeen is an ethnically diverse community
• although the city is populated by majority Scots and a smattering of the English, three per cent of the population come from ethnic minorities like Indians and Asians
• Even though the ethnic representation in Aberdeen is higher than the national average of two per cent, it is still lower than other major cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee.

Unemployment/employment rate
• Aberdeen boasts of having the lowest unemployment rate in the whole of the Scottish mainland.
• The unemployment rate in the city stands at 1.6 per cent, which is way below the national average of 4.5 per cent.

Average income/salary
• £16,813 is the usual household income in Aberdeen.
• The average income rate translates to 18 per cent of Aberdeen households living below the poverty line.

Location within the UK and closest major location
• Located between the River Dee and the River Don
• Aberdeen is approximately 71.22 square miles and located in the north of Scotland in the Grampian Region

Transport options to and within
• Passenger and freight ferry services go to and from the city, linking it to other parts of the United Kingdom as well as the rest of Europe.
• There are modern facilities in place for air, rail and sea transportation.
• Visitors from the UK can also travel to the city by car. The roads leading to Aberdeen are well maintained.

Closest airports with average distance from town/city centre
• Aberdeen Airport

Dominating sectors / industries
• The strongest industries in the city are the oil and gas sectors
• The discovery of vast oil deposits in the North Sea transformed the city into one of the centres of Europe’s petroleum industry.
• The more traditional industries in Aberdeen, like deep sea fisheries and tourism, are still strong economic forces in the city

Large companies that have headquarters or major branches in the location
• The Abbott Group PLC (an oil contracting company)
• BMI Regional Airlines
• First Group PLC (A transport company)

Areas that are considered to be prime business locations
• Union Street
• George Street

Awards
• Aberdeen has won the Britain in Bloom competition in ten different occasions

3 best things about the location
• Aberdeen is considered as the second most competitive business location in the United Kingdom
• It has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Scotland
• Aberdeen has 52 golf clubs, a big enticement when inviting business clients or partners.

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