A new quarterly event series aimed at supporting SME businesses across the region is launching in Aberdeen, bringing together expertise in legal, finance, business coaching and marketing to deliver practical guidance for business owners.
Louise Smith, Partner at Hall Morrice, is part of the group of Aberdeen business representatives behind the launch of the North-East Scotland Business Academy (NES Business Academy). The initiative has been inspired by the success of the Blackadders Aberdeen HR Club and a growing demand from business owners for clearer, more integrated guidance as they start, grow, scale and plan for exit.
Commenting on the launch, Gillian Donald, Partner at Blackhadders said:
“The problems SME’s and owner managed businesses face rarely sit neatly in one box but instead require input from varied skill sets including legal, accounting, marketing and coaching disciplines. NES Business Academy brings joined up expertise together, so business owners can anticipate this and be proactive, not reactive. The emphasis here is very much on learning and creating a single hub to deliver practical guidance. The kind you can use the next day.”
Hall Morrice is collaborating with Blackadders, Prospect 13 and ActionCOACH to establish the Business Academy, which launches at Park Inn by Radisson, Aberdeen on 23rd April (8.30am – 11am). The events will be free to attend and will run quarterly in May, August and November 2026, and February 2027, with future topics shaped by delegates to ensure each session stays relevant to the real challenges facing SMEs and owner managed businesses.
The first event will take place on 23 April at the Park Inn by Radisson, Aberdeen. Book a place here.
Cerri McDonald of Prospect 13 added:
“I jumped at the chance to get involved in something that I would have hugely benefited from when I started my business back in 2018. In my experience, business growth is rarely a straight line. It’s momentum, setbacks, pivots, learning and correction, often all at once. NES Business Academy has been built with that reality in mind. We are creating a trusted expert learning hub where founders and leaders get practical insights from multiple disciplines in once place, so they leave with clarity and next steps, not just inspiration. We’re serious about being useful. Every event will deliver real tools and actions, and we’ll keep it human, down-to-earth and commercially grounded.”
The NES Business Academy has been designed to bring something new to the region, moving away from traditional speaker-and-networking formats. Instead, each session will focus on real-world scenarios and the kinds of practical insights typically shared in client meetings, including risks, common pitfalls, the right questions to ask and simple actions businesses can implement straight away.
To find out more about the North-East Business Academy (NESBA), email hello@nes-ba.co.uk.
