Businesses invited to help shape recovery response following Cairngorms wildfire

30th July 2026

As the emergency response to the wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park continues, attention is now turning to economic recovery and supporting the businesses and people whose livelihoods have been impacted.

The Highland Council through Business Gateway Highland is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Government, the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the Cairngorms Business Partnership as part of a multi-agency business recovery group.

The group has been established to understand the economic impact and plan how best to support affected businesses in the short and longer term.

To support these efforts, the Cairngorms Business Partnership has issued a survey to businesses within the exclusion zone and is helping to coordinate the gathering of detailed feedback from those affected by closures. The survey will help partners understand:

The scale of the impact on business
What support might be needed in the short and longer-term
Longer-term recovery and business resilience considerations.
The Cairngorms Business Partnership is also hosting a series of member meetings, providing opportunities for businesses to ask questions, share experiences and identify the support they need.

Discussions are also taking place with businesses in the wider area who have been indirectly affected by the closures.

Information gathered through the survey and engagement activity will help partners build a clearer picture of the economic impact of the wildfire and inform recovery planning, support measures and future interventions.

Councillor Bill Lobban, Convener of The Highland Council, said: "The wildfire has had a significant impact on businesses across the Cairngorms area and is putting local jobs at risk. We need to see a return to normal as soon as possible, when it is safe to do so, including looking at a phased reopening. By working closely with our partners and listening directly to those affected, we can better understand the challenges businesses are facing and ensure that support is targeted where it is needed most."

Businesses can also continue to get advice and support from the Highland Council’s Business Gateway service.

Business Gateway Highland: https://www.bgateway.com/local-offices/highland
Telephone 01463 713 889.
Email Highland@bgateway.com (use email subject header ‘Cairngorm business recovery group’).

For the latest information on the emergency response, please continue to follow updates from Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

 

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