Highland growth and investment opportunities will be showcased to an international audience next week as The Highland Council takes part in Scottish Cities Week in London from 19 to 21 January.
The annual event brings together global investors, city leaders and governments, offering a focused platform to build long term strategic partnerships and promote areas of economic strength across Scotland.
The Highland Council Leader, Councillor Raymond Bremner, will attend the event in his dual role as Council Leader and Chair of the Scottish Cities Alliance.
Scottish Cities Week is regarded as one of the most significant moments in the economic calendar, providing direct access to investors with interests spanning clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and life sciences.
Councillor Bremner said the event was about collaboration and positioning Scotland’s cities as stronger together on the global stage.
“The event is about promoting strategic partnerships that drive growth in sectors where Scotland leads globally, clean energy, digital technologies, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.
“Scotland’s 8 cities are stronger together.
“By working collaboratively, we can deliver inclusive, future-ready growth that benefits communities and beyond.”
The Scottish Cities Alliance is a partnership between the Scottish Government and the country’s eight cities: Aberdeen, Dundee, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling.
For the Highlands, the visit aligns closely with the council’s Invest Highland brand, which is designed to promote the region’s economic potential and attract inward investment.
The Highlands have increasingly drawn international interest, particularly in sectors linked to renewable energy, infrastructure and skills development.
Councillor Bremner said Scottish Cities Week would provide a valuable opportunity to highlight the scale and ambition of what the Highlands can offer.
“The Highland region is really coming into its own and is attracting interest from all over the world.
“We have so much to offer inward investors.
“Taking part in Scottish Cities Week is going to be a great platform for showcasing the world class opportunities which exist throughout our area.
“Attracting new investment to the Highlands is essential to address societal challenges and unlock transformational change.”
The Highland delegation will also use the visit to promote opportunities set out in the Invest Highland Prospectus.
These include accelerating clean energy projects such as offshore wind, green hydrogen, marine energy and grid critical infrastructure.
The prospectus also highlights the Green Freeport as a driver of economic transformation and a magnet for globally significant investment.
Regional infrastructure and skills development will also feature strongly, with a focus on supporting sustainable and inclusive growth across Highland communities.
The council sees Scottish Cities Week as a chance to ensure the Highlands are firmly positioned within Scotland’s wider economic story, while making the case for place based investment that delivers long term benefits for local people.
