£420m
Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour development, built for offshore wind, decommissioning, cargo and cruise
Source: Scottish Financial News, reporting the AGCC Investment Tracker, latest Investment Tracker
Aberdeen and the North East
Commercial and Asset Finance for Aberdeen and North East Scotland
Plant, vessels, vehicles and property finance for businesses across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray, with access to 575+ lenders and a Scotland lead who knows the Scottish process.
- Broker since 1997
- 575+ lenders
- Led from Dundee
The North East in numbers
£30bn+
investment expected to flow into Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire over the next decade
Source: Scottish Financial News, reporting the AGCC Investment Tracker, latest Investment Tracker
£500m
Scottish Government Just Transition Fund over ten years for the North East and Moray
£17.3m
UK Government funding for Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone, confirmed on 30 October 2025
An economy built on energy, now diversifying
Aberdeen and the North East built their economy on oil and gas, and the energy supply chain still dominates. Around one in four of the UK’s 154,000 offshore energy jobs are in the region, and North East Scotland contributes about £18.4 billion of gross value added each year, according to Robert Gordon University research. The challenge now is to diversify without losing that expertise.
Several projects are designed to do exactly that. Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour has opened with deepwater berths for offshore wind, decommissioning, cargo and cruise. Next to it, the Energy Transition Zone is a purpose-built site for clean energy businesses, and Aberdeen City Council’s masterplan expects it to directly support 2,500 green jobs. The North East Investment Zone covers the Energy Transition Zone and Peterhead, focusing on green industries and the digital and tech sectors.
The region is much more than energy. The largest seafood catches in Europe are landed at Peterhead and Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire is farming country and the home of the Aberdeen-Angus breed, and hospitality accounts for around 4.3% of Aberdeen’s economy.
For borrowers, the opportunity and the risk come from the same place. Lenders know the region’s energy expertise, but they also know that contracts can be cyclical, so they look closely at your customer mix, contract cover and plans for diversification. We help you present those clearly.
What we can help finance in the North East
Engineering and fabrication plant
CNC machines, fabrication and welding equipment, lifting gear and workshop plant for engineering firms at Altens, East Tullos and beyond.
Workshop, yard and quayside property
Commercial mortgages for owner-occupied workshops, yards and industrial units near the harbour and across Aberdeenshire.
Vessels and marine support
Workboats and marine support vessels. Fewer lenders finance vessels, and most require a survey, registration and insurance.
Seafood and food processing
Processing, cold storage and packaging equipment for businesses around Peterhead and Fraserburgh. Fishing vessels need specialist lenders and are assessed case by case.
Farm machinery
Tractors, harvesters and handling equipment for Aberdeenshire farms.
Taxi, private hire and fleets
Aberdeen’s Low Emission Zone has been enforced since 1 June 2024. Fully electric vehicles face no restrictions, which affects fleet decisions.
Across the North East
| Area | Main economies | Typical finance needs |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen city | Energy and engineering, offshore wind, decommissioning, professional services, hospitality, cruise and port activity | Workshop and yard plant, quayside and industrial property, fleets, bridging for time-critical purchases |
| Aberdeenshire coast: Peterhead and Fraserburgh | Fishing, seafood processing, harbour services, emerging green industries | Processing and cold storage equipment, vessels, industrial property |
| Rural Aberdeenshire | Arable and livestock farming, food production, rural tourism, estates | Farm machinery, production premises, hospitality property |
| Moray and Speyside | Whisky and food and drink, tourism, forestry | Distillery and brewery equipment, visitor and hospitality property, forestry machinery |
Which lenders are available varies by location and by case.
Talk to us about your plans
Send us a few details and we’ll come back to you to discuss the options. There is no obligation, and we don’t carry out a credit search at this initial stage.
Aberdeen and North East finance FAQs
Our Scotland lead, Irfan Nassir, is based in Dundee, and we don’t run a public office in Aberdeen. The team works remotely, so we usually meet by video call, and in person where it helps.
Often, but fewer lenders do so and they usually require a survey, registration and insurance. The process can take longer than for other equipment.
Aberdeen’s zone has been enforced since 1 June 2024. The standards apply to petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, while fully electric vehicles face no LEZ restrictions.
Appetite varies a great deal between lenders. Contracts, diversification and the assets being financed all matter, which is why matching the case to the right lender is important.
Related
Sources
- Robert Gordon University report on North East energy, via AREG 2024 data
- Scottish Financial News: AGCC, over £30 billion of investment to flow into Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire latest Investment Tracker
- Scottish Government: financing a just transition 2023
- UK Government: £17.3 million for the Energy Transition Zone October 2025
- Aberdeen City Council: Energy Transition Zone masterplan January 2024
- UK Government: Investment Zones to bring jobs and cash to Scotland 2025
- Energy Voice: Aberdeen City Region undated
- Fraser of Allander Institute: hospitality statistics briefing 2025 2023 data
- Traffic Scotland: What are Low Emission Zones? November 2026
This page is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures come from the published sources listed on this page and were correct when last reviewed. Lender availability, terms and criteria vary and are subject to status and underwriting.
Paul Thompson, trading as Acorn.finance, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 660207). Not all of the finance we arrange is regulated by the FCA.
Last reviewed: 13 November 2026