Why Aberdeen is the perfect home for our business
When I graduated from RGU back in 2014, I was ambitious and full of energy - determined to craft the perfect career and land my dream role. Like many young professionals, I kept feeling drawn to larger cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow or London. It seemed like there were more opportunities further afield, and a higher chance to achieve the “success” I thought I was chasing.
For the first few years of my career, I found myself scanning LinkedIn job posts every morning while getting ready, waiting to find the marketing role that truly excited me - however despite all the searching, these opportunities always seemed to exist elsewhere.
But packing my life up and moving to a different city didn’t sit right in my gut, as I knew my heart was in Aberdeen. So I decided to build my dream career in my hometown instead, and at the age of 25, I co-founded Mission10, a digital marketing agency based in Aberdeen city centre.
Some people may think I’m crazy to choose Aberdeen, but I genuinely believe it was the right decision, and here are a few reasons why…
Small city, big opportunities
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate most is how connected Aberdeen feels. People often describe it as a “village,” and in a professional sense, that really works in your favour. There’s a genuine sense of closeness - you can quickly find yourself in a room with the right people, whether that’s potential collaborators, mentors or clients.
Starting a business here felt a little less daunting than it might have in a larger, more saturated city. There’s more space to try things out, to grow organically and to form meaningful relationships. I think that’s part of what’s helped us grow steadily and sustainably over the years.
Discovering and holding on to our city's talent
Throughout my career, I’ve always been fascinated by the depth of talent and drive in Aberdeen. There’s a real sense of resilience, innovation and community. But sometimes, especially in creative industries, it feels like a lot of people look beyond the North East for opportunities, and sadly end up moving away.
We wanted to play a part in changing that. From the start, our goal was to build a marketing agency that would offer exciting, fulfilling roles in Aberdeen - one with a culture people would genuinely want to be part of.
Over the years, we’ve hired so many brilliant graduates, and many have told us they probably would have moved away if they hadn’t joined Mission10 - and that means so much to me. It reminds me that building a business here isn’t just about growth or hitting milestones, it’s about nurturing local talent and showing people that you don’t have to leave to build a career you’re proud of.
Shaping the culture we always craved
Some people would maybe prefer to live in a city that’s already got it all figured out, but I think there’s something really special and exciting about being part of a city that’s a “work in progress”. It means you have the opportunity to shape it and create something that you and your peers truly want.
There’s been a shift in Aberdeen in recent years. So many people across different industries are coming together to build communities, raise standards and shout about the amazing work happening here.
In the creative sector in particular, it’s energising to see groups forming, meet-ups happening and people joining forces to champion creativity in the North-east. And anyone can be part of this change, which is the most exciting part.
The lifestyle that makes it all work
Being your own boss naturally brings more flexibility into your life - but doing it in Aberdeen has allowed me to design a life that really works for me.
I’m definitely a country girl at heart, and as I sit writing this, I’m looking out my living room window at beautiful sand dunes and the sun setting over the rolling Aberdeenshire countryside. I feel so content. I love that I can live in such a peaceful, scenic part of Scotland, yet can get into my office in the city centre in less than 30 minutes. I love this about Aberdeen.
There’s something about being close to the sea and surrounded by nature that brings a real sense of calm. Running a business can be intense - but having the balance between city and country life really helps me, especially when things feel really hectic.
We operate a hybrid working model at Mission10, and for me personally, this gives me the best of both worlds. On office days, I love going for city walks at lunch, usually around Union Terrace Gardens, or heading out for meetings at local coffee shops, such as Mount or Aberdeen Art Gallery. On home days, I love going out for peaceful lunch time walks down to the beach or across the golf course with my dog Stanley.
Most importantly, I feel very fortunate that I am building a business I love while still being surrounded by my family and friends. To me, this is the biggest benefit of choosing to stay in Aberdeen, especially now that we’ve started a family. This enables me to craft the perfect balance between both parts of my life.
Aberdeen has played a huge part in my journey. It’s where I grew up, where I studied and where I chose to stay and take a risk. It’s where I’ve built something that now supports an incredible team of people doing work they’re proud of, and I know there’s still so much more to come.
This city has creativity, community and drive, but most importantly? Opportunity. It's there for anyone who’s willing to see it.
About Steph and Mission10
Steph graduated from RGU with a BA (Hons) Communications with PR. Mission10 is a digital marketing agency based in Aberdeen. With a team of 18 specialists across content marketing, digital advertising, SEO, website optimisation, graphic design and HubSpot, they help ambitious companies attract and convert their ideal customers by delivering highly targeted marketing strategies.
