30th September 2026
Inverness will welcome government representatives, investors, business leaders and economic development partners later this week as it hosts the Scottish Cities Alliance Autumn Investor Event. A two-day programme designed to showcase investment opportunities across Inverness, the Highlands and Scotland's city regions.
The programme combines site visits, strategic discussions with TheCityUK and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and investor engagement and networking opportunities, built around a headline conference, "Inverness and Highland: Realising the Opportunity - How investment, infrastructure and collaboration can drive growth for Scotland", taking place at Inverness Town House on Thursday 1 October.
Facilitated by The Highland Council with support from the Alliance partners, the conference will bring together key figures from across the public and private sectors to discuss how investment, infrastructure and partnership working can unlock sustainable and inclusive growth across the Highlands and contribute to Scotland's economic success.
The programme will be opened by The Highland Council Leader and Chair of the Scottish Cities Alliance, Councillor Raymond Bremner, who will welcome delegates and set out the region's aspirations for sustainable economic growth.
Councillor Bremner said: "I am delighted to welcome delegates from across Scotland and beyond to Inverness for the Scottish Cities Alliance Autumn Investment Conference.
"The Highlands is at the heart of some of the most significant economic opportunities in Scotland. With major investment taking place across renewable energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, tourism and innovation, we have a unique opportunity to deliver sustainable growth that benefits our communities, businesses and future generations.
"This conference provides an important platform to bring together government, investors, industry leaders and public sector partners to focus on how we turn opportunity into delivery. Realising our ambitions will require strong collaboration, strategic investment in infrastructure, the delivery of much-needed housing, and a shared commitment to developing the skills and workforce needed for the future.
"As Chair of the Scottish Cities Alliance, I am particularly pleased that the discussion will focus not only on what this means for Inverness and the Highlands, but on the wider contribution we can make to Scotland's economic success. A successful Highland economy supports a stronger, more competitive and more prosperous Scotland.
"I look forward to leading discussions on the scale of the opportunity before us, the actions needed to unlock sustainable and inclusive growth, and how we can work together across sectors and across Scotland to ensure investment delivers lasting benefits for our communities. This is an opportunity to build momentum, strengthen partnerships and help shape a confident and ambitious future for the Highlands and Scotland."
The conference will feature perspectives from both the Scottish and UK Governments, including Iseabail MacTaggart, Deputy Director (Scotland), Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology, alongside senior representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish National Investment Bank, the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, High Life Highland and major investors and developers.
Discussions will focus on the opportunities emerging from major investments in energy, advanced manufacturing, innovation, tourism and the Green Freeport, as well as the infrastructure, housing, connectivity and workforce development needed to support long-term growth.
Two panel sessions will explore how Inverness and the Highlands can maximise investment opportunities and ensure growth delivers lasting benefits for communities, businesses and future generations. Topics will include strategic infrastructure investment, housing delivery, community wealth building, skills development, place-making, environmental sustainability and public-private sector collaboration.
The session will conclude with a discussion on how partners across government, industry, investors and communities can work together to turn ambition into action and realise the full potential of the Highlands as a driver of Scotland's future prosperity.