18th May 2026
The Highland Council is showcasing the region’s ambitious Invest Highland programme at a national event this week at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) 2026 in Leeds.
The Leader of the Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner, alongside Council Officers and Calum MacPherson of Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport will attend this year’s UKREiiF which exists to connect people, places, and businesses to accelerate investment, foster development, and drive sustainable regeneration across the UK.
Attending alongside partners from the Scottish Cities Alliance, the Council is highlighting the Highlands as one of the UK and Europe’s most exciting destinations for sustainable investment, innovation and inclusive economic growth.
For Highland Council and the Scottish Cities Alliance, UKREiiF is a major event in the calendar with city authorities coming together to present a coordinated pitch under the Team Scotland banner. The aims are to attract national and international investment, promote the region's green economy, and foster partnerships to drive sustainable and place based growth. It is a vital platform for showcasing opportunities in renewable energy, infrastructure, housing, and the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport to the potential investors and UK and Scottish Government’s.
Council Leader, Councillor Raymond Bremner, who also serves as Chair of the Scottish Cities Alliance, is leading the Highland delegation at the UK’s leading investment and regeneration event, where more than 275 councils, representing various public sector entities from cities and regions across the UK will come together to unlock opportunities across the country.
At the heart of the Council’s presence is the Invest Highland prospectus, which sets out a compelling vision for the region as a globally competitive location for investment. The prospectus promotes a pipeline of opportunities across key sectors including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, tourism and data innovation.
As part of the Scotland Pavilion, which the Highland Council is co-hosting with national and regional partners, the Invest Highland programme will demonstrate the scale of opportunity across the region. This includes over £40 billion in planned renewable energy investment, the transformative Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, and major infrastructure developments that are positioning the Highlands at the forefront of the energy transition and green growth.
Councillor Bremner said: “UKREiiF provides an important platform for the Highlands to connect with investors and decision-makers from across the UK and beyond.
“Through Invest Highland, we are clearly setting out the scale of opportunity our region offers - from world-leading renewable energy projects to innovation in key growth sectors.
“The Highlands is playing a vital role in the transition to a net zero economy, and we are ambitious about delivering sustainable growth that benefits our communities. We are here to build partnerships that will help us realise that potential.”
During the three-day forum, the Council is engaging directly with investors, developers and strategic partners to promote Highland opportunities and strengthen relationships that can drive inward investment and long-term economic growth.
On Tuesday morning (19 May) Cllr Bremner will support a panel of speakers from the Scottish Cities Alliance in a networking session on Investing in Scotland’s Housing.
Participation in UKREiiF also reflects the Council’s commitment to working collaboratively through the Scottish Cities Alliance to promote Scotland as a world-class investment location, while ensuring the unique strengths of the Highlands are clearly showcased.
With significant investment already underway and a strong pipeline of future opportunities, the Council’s presence at UKREiiF 2026 underlines its determination to deliver a resilient, inclusive and prosperous future for Highland communities.