Inverness will welcome investors, government representatives and business leaders this week for a major conference focused on turning the Highlands’ growing economic opportunities into investment and long term growth.
The Scottish Cities Alliance Autumn Investor Event will include a headline conference at Inverness Town House on Thursday, 1 October, alongside site visits, strategic discussions and meetings with potential investors.
The two day programme will bring together representatives from the public and private sectors as Inverness and the wider Highlands seek to capitalise on major developments in renewable energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, tourism and innovation.
Housing, transport, connectivity and the workforce required to support that growth will also form a significant part of the discussions.
The conference, titled Inverness and Highland: Realising the Opportunity, will be facilitated by Highland Council with support from Scottish Cities Alliance partners.
Highland Council Leader and Scottish Cities Alliance Chair Councillor Raymond Bremner will open the programme.
He said:
“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.”
Representatives from the Scottish and UK Governments are expected to participate alongside Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish National Investment Bank, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, High Life Highland and major investors and developers.
The programme will examine investment opportunities arising from energy, advanced manufacturing, innovation, tourism and the Green Freeport, alongside the practical requirements needed to turn those opportunities into sustained economic activity.
Two panel sessions will look at how Inverness and the Highlands can attract investment while ensuring that economic growth produces lasting benefits for the communities where development takes place.
Housing delivery, strategic infrastructure, skills, community wealth building, environmental sustainability and collaboration between the public and private sectors will all be on the agenda.
The Scottish Cities Alliance brings together Scotland’s seven cities and the Scottish Government with the aim of attracting investment and stimulating economic growth.
For the Highlands, the gathering comes at a significant point as billions of pounds of proposed and committed investment increase the pressure to ensure housing, infrastructure and skills keep pace with economic development.
The challenge being put before investors, governments and Highland organisations in Inverness this week is therefore not simply how to attract investment, but how to turn that investment into jobs, homes, infrastructure and lasting benefits for the people who live here.
