Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport

The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport has secured a major step forward with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the UK Government, Scottish Government, Highland Council and the Freeport partnership. The agreement provides a formal framework for collaboration and unlocks £25 million of UK Government capital funding to accelerate development.

The Green Freeport is set to position the Highlands as an international hub for offshore wind and renewable energy, with forecasts indicating more than £6.5 billion in inward investment over the next 25 years. The programme is expected to generate over 11,000 long-term jobs and provide a skilled workforce aligned to the needs of the clean energy and maritime industries.

Construction and infrastructure opportunities will be extensive as the Freeport develops port facilities, logistics hubs, manufacturing capacity and training centres to support offshore wind deployment and wider renewable energy projects. The development will also be supported by UK Government tax incentives, which are designed to stimulate both private sector investment and supply chain engagement.

The announcement was marked at Aurora Energy Services’ new £1.2 million training facility in Inverness, which is expected to train more than 2,000 workers annually for the renewables sector. This centre will become a critical element of the wider supply chain, ensuring the availability of skilled personnel to support construction and operational activities across the Freeport.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander described the agreement as a pivotal moment for both the Highlands economy and the UK’s clean energy future, emphasising that the collaboration between governments and local partners would underpin sustainable regional growth.

For the construction sector, the Green Freeport presents a pipeline of opportunities linked not only to infrastructure delivery but also to ongoing support facilities for renewable energy. Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers across civil engineering, marine construction, manufacturing and training provision will be integral to meeting the Freeport’s ambitions. With development activity set to increase rapidly following this funding unlock, supply chain businesses are well-placed to align early and position for participation in one of the UK’s most significant clean energy projects.

Image: Leader of The Highland Council, Raymond Bremner, signs the Memorandum of Understanding flanked by Sinclair Browne, ICFGF Board member and CEO of Port of Inverness, Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes

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