Highlands and Islands Enterprise invested more than £14.9 million across the Inner Moray Firth during 2025/26, backing businesses, communities and major projects from manufacturing and innovation to renewable energy.
The investment is forecast to support 86 jobs across the area, while helping create infrastructure intended to attract major manufacturing activity in the years ahead.
Businesses receiving support for production and automation projects included WoodblocX, Middleton Rosefarm, Easter Ross Potatoes, John M Munro Ltd and ScotLive Shellfish, with the investment aimed at increasing efficiency, expanding capacity and strengthening their prospects for growth and exports.
Innovation was another significant part of HIE’s activity during the year, with 98 organisations supported to develop new products and services or introduce new systems.
Projects ranged from fish farm harvesting technology and digital health innovation to research, commercialisation and technology adoption, with HIE reporting that its support contributed to the launch of 47 new products, processes or services.
The transition towards net zero also accounted for a significant part of the investment, including support for the Ardersier Energy Transition Facility and Port of Inverness.
Another 23 businesses and social enterprises were supported to improve energy efficiency or introduce renewable technology at their premises, while 21 organisations received help to develop or implement net zero action plans.
Those supported included Drum Hotel, Russwood Ltd, Proterra Energy, Highland Campervans and J Scott and Partners, with the latter enabling the Shore Restaurant in Balintore to incorporate green technologies from the outset.
Investment also reached community led developments and the social economy, with 33 local community projects receiving support during the year.
Among them were Strathpeffer Residents Association’s Bikezone Pump Track and improvements to the Green Trail being taken forward by Laggan Forest Trust.
HIE also continued the development of Inverness Campus, securing planning consent for its second and final phase while attracting further businesses to the site.
That includes a new multimillion pound headquarters for Global Energy Group as part of activity connected to the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.
HIE Area Manager for the Inner Moray Firth Audrey MacIver said:
“The scale and diversity of investment supported during 2025/26 reflects both the ambition of businesses and communities across the Inner Moray Firth and the significant opportunities emerging across the region.
“We have supported projects that are helping businesses innovate, improve productivity, and increase capacity, whilst also investing in community assets, cultural organisations, and social enterprise that make an important contribution to the wellbeing and resilience of our communities.
“The investments also demonstrate the growing role in Scotland’s energy transition, with major investments linked to offshore wind, low carbon infrastructure and business decarbonisation.
“Together the projects are helping to build a more productive, innovative, inclusive and sustainable economy today and for the future.
“We look forward to working with our partners to stimulate further economic growth by capitalising on the area’s many strengths.”
The figures cover the 12 months from April 2025 to March 2026 and remain forecast outturn figures, with Audit Scotland due to review them before their inclusion in HIE’s annual report and accounts.
Those accounts are expected to be laid before the Scottish Parliament by the end of October, but the emerging picture already shows almost £15 million reaching businesses, communities and infrastructure across one of the Highlands’ most economically important areas.
