Building on a Significant Announcement

Just over a year ago, in Invergordon, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Inverness and the Cromarty Firth as the location of one of two new Scottish Green Freeports.

It was a fantastic decision for the Highlands by the UK and Scottish governments, which will lead to the creation of thousands of new jobs and attract billions of pounds of fresh investment.

It provides a catalyst to help realise the area’s potential to become the largest European hub for the development of the offshore wind industry and associated renewable energy technologies.

Vitally, the initiative presents a huge opportunity to address the challenge of working age depopulation in the Highlands and to accelerate economic growth and innovation, as well as growing and decarbonising the offshore energy industry in the UK.

As we continue to work towards the establishment of the Green Freeport in the Highlands, it is worth reflecting on the enormous amount of effort and co-operation behind the success of the Inverness and Cromarty firth bid.

More than two years before the bidding process opened, in an unprecedented move in the area, a consortium of organisations from the private and public sectors and academia in the area was formed, under the banner of Opportunity Cromarty Firth, to pursue the opportunities a free trade zone could bring. Among its members were the ports of Cromarty Firth, Nigg and Inverness, The Highland Council and UHI (the University of the Highlands and Islands).

The Consortium continued to attract more members, including major international offshore wind developers, and was responsible for submitting a compelling case when the bidding process opened in June 2022.

The Consortium’s growth has not stopped and it now comprises more than 30 regional, national and international businesses, public sector organisations and academic bodies. Among more recent, welcome additions have been Port of Ardersier owners, Haventus, and ambitious Inverness-based company Aurora Energy Services.

Much has been achieved over the past year, including the submission of our outline business case to the UK and Scottish Governments in September. We have also opened an office in Inverness and appointed a number of service suppliers and staff.

The months ahead will continue to be busy and complex as we work with the Scottish and UK governments towards establishing the Green Freeport.

Although the major benefits it promises to deliver will not start to become a reality for a number of years, the impact on the area of Green Freeport status are clearly being seen.

Jobs have already been created by companies such as Aurora Energy Services, Haventus and Sumitomo, and a proposal has been announced by Associated British Ports to develop additional infrastructure to support the offshore wind industry.

The fresh interest in our area from the international energy industry is also clear from the number of inquiries and fact-finding visits we and Consortium members have had from companies around the world.

Last year’s announcement by the Prime Minister offered the opportunity of a different, better economic future for the Highlands and these are exciting times for the area as we work together to achieve that.

Calum MacPherson – CEO