The resource, developed by Aberdeen City Council following engagement with local firms, aims to help them adapt to changing consumer habits and boost the city centre’s vibrancy. It includes information from a new more comprehensive tool for measuring footfall data in a wider area across the city centre.

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “Shifts in consumer behaviour, pandemic recovery, and rising energy and living costs have all had an impact on why and how often people visit their local high street. That is as true here in Aberdeen as it is anywhere else in the country.

“The new business toolkit will be a help to shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars in the city centre to further develop and diversify their offering to customers in line with changing consumer habits.”

Aberdeen City Council Finance and Resources convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “A mix of functions including retail, hospitality, culture, leisure, work, green spaces and residential is required to deliver a truly vibrant city centre which attracts locals, visitors, residents and tourists again and again.

“Embedding local businesses at the heart of the city centre contributes to the sense of place and creates a cornerstone for our city centre economy and local communities and this toolkit will help local businesses to achieve that goal while remaining flexible.”

The toolkit contains comprehensive information about city centre events, how business or groups can put on their own event, grants for business or groups to hold their own event, and how to access different types of grant support.

It also signposts business support partners offering digital training, website reviews, expert help and webinars, and a simple communications toolkit for promoting businesses and the city centre.

Together with Aberdeen Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Aberdeen City Council will be offering free tailored training sessions at the Art Gallery and Marischal College on topics relevant to city centre businesses on Monday 10 February, Tuesday 18 February, and Thursday 20 March.