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A web developer from Aberdeen here. The transition from wealthy to poor in Aberdeen has been instantaneous. Everyone I know in the city has been affected—my fi

A web developer from Aberdeen here. The transition from wealthy to poor in Aberdeen has been instantaneous. Everyone I know in the city has been affected—my fiancee was made redundant, my Dad (after 25 years at BP) and my best mate’s dad (after 25 years at Shell) too. I studied CS at Robert Gordon University, which is cutting academic staff. I also worked at a design and dev shop, but that went bust in December last year. It’s actually a really bleak time, but this outcome was avoidable. Although my friends and family all live in Aberdeen, I feel like I can’t sustain myself there. I currently live in Wellington, NZ, which is beautiful, vibrant and diverse.

T2_t2 10y ago
So you basically hate/have never seen the sun?
cr1895 10y ago
Have you noticed any pick-up from the offshore wind industry? There's certainly some overlap between oil and wind industries, and Scotland is doing quite a lot of offshore wind development nowadays.
- stuartalex 10y ago
  Nah, unfortunately not. Scotland in general is very well placed for renewable energy, with both great geography and skilled labour. I feel like the businesses based in Aberdeen haven’t realised that opportunity though. The local industry has been a one-trick pony with no ambition to diversify. The end result is what we’re currently seeing.
nevetsh71 10y ago
Its trying to change. There is a programme to support digital start ups being developed, a recognition that the single reliance on Oil & Gas is not healthy and significant investment being raised to support next generation energy technologies...who wants to hunt for oil using ML ...we will be opening up a lot of data next year so if you want to know more drop me a line at steve dot harrison "at"scotent dot co dot uk...but I do understand that NZ is lovely...
nevetsh71 10y ago
Lots changing.... Out of the fire comes renewal... We are working on a programme for digital founders, working on opening up the oil data so that data scientists and hackers can have a play at finding oil and creating lots of opportunities for folk of a similar mind to meet, mingle and work...its too late, but we are hopeful. If anyone want to learn more, especaiily about hack for Oil email me at steve dot harrison at scotent dot co dot uk and I will share some secrets and ask some opinions...

T2_t2 10y ago

So you basically hate/have never seen the sun?

cr1895 10y ago

Have you noticed any pick-up from the offshore wind industry? There's certainly some overlap between oil and wind industries, and Scotland is doing quite a lot of offshore wind development nowadays.

stuartalex 10y ago
Nah, unfortunately not. Scotland in general is very well placed for renewable energy, with both great geography and skilled labour. I feel like the businesses based in Aberdeen haven’t realised that opportunity though. The local industry has been a one-trick pony with no ambition to diversify. The end result is what we’re currently seeing.

nevetsh71 10y ago

Its trying to change. There is a programme to support digital start ups being developed, a recognition that the single reliance on Oil & Gas is not healthy and significant investment being raised to support next generation energy technologies...who wants to hunt for oil using ML ...we will be opening up a lot of data next year so if you want to know more drop me a line at steve dot harrison "at"scotent dot co dot uk...but I do understand that NZ is lovely...

nevetsh71 10y ago

Lots changing.... Out of the fire comes renewal... We are working on a programme for digital founders, working on opening up the oil data so that data scientists and hackers can have a play at finding oil and creating lots of opportunities for folk of a similar mind to meet, mingle and work...its too late, but we are hopeful. If anyone want to learn more, especaiily about hack for Oil email me at steve dot harrison at scotent dot co dot uk and I will share some secrets and ask some opinions...