To my mind, Aberdeen is primed to be a centre of excellence for the marketing industry.
Several of the largest companies in the country are based here, some with a scale second-only to businesses in London.
Simultaneously, the city is known as a haven for startups and the fruits of this can be seen in a plethora of innovative SMEs spanning sectors and specialisms.
Our creative community rivals that of any other conurbation, from craft makers to artisan bakers and from artists to writers.
Our business acumen is world class, thanks to an influx of international talent and perspectives, two of the top universities, a network of schools, colleges and other establishments, all working together to foster new skills and career pathways.
So why isn't it, yet?
I believe there's a fear of competition. I've worked in London, Melbourne and Leeds for the last 10 years and the primary similarity was an abundance of competitors. It forces everyone to be better. And it leads to collaboration between media owners, agencies, freelancers and brands alike.
I also believe it's not an attractive job market. Our students are flying South. There's a lack of pride in our city and our work.
I'm pleased to see that the above is not absolute. There are signs of change.
We need to keep this focus.
What do you think comes next?
Replies
Oh I could write war & peace about this!
For me its promoting even more the wealth of what there is going on in the region and the vibrancy and life there is.
I specialise in life science and medical association and conference marketing - the demand for that is primarily outwith Aberdeen.