Highland Council is highlighting the region’s ambitious Invest Highland programme at the latest UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), where more than 275 councils, representing various public sector groups across the UK, have come together in a bid to unlock opportunities across the country.

Council leader Cllr Raymond Bremner, council officers and Calum MacPherson of Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport are attending 2026’s event in Leeds, which exists to “connect people, places, and businesses to accelerate investment, foster development, and drive sustainable regeneration across the UK”.

Attending alongside partners from the Scottish Cities Alliance, the council said it is seeking to highlight the Highlands as one of the UK and Europe’s “most exciting destinations” for sustainable investment, innovation and inclusive economic growth.

For Highland Council and the Scottish Cities Alliance, UKREiiF is a major event in the calendar with city authorities coming together to present a coordinated pitch under the Team Scotland banner. They are aiming to attract national and international investment, promote the region’s green economy, and foster partnerships to drive growth.

The council views it as a “vital platform” for showcasing opportunities in renewable energy, infrastructure, housing, and the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport to the potential investors and UK and Scottish Governments.

Cllr Bremner, who also serves as chairman of the Scottish Cities Alliance, is leading the Highland delegation.

At the heart of the council’s presence is the Invest Highland prospectus, which sets out a compelling vision for the region as a globally competitive location for investment. The prospectus promotes a pipeline of opportunities across key sectors including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, tourism and data innovation.

As part of the Scotland Pavilion, which the Highland Council is co-hosting with national and regional partners, the Invest Highland programme is seeking to demonstrate the scale of opportunity across the region. This includes more than £40 billion in planned renewable energy investment, the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, and other major infrastructure developments.

Councillor Bremner said: “UKREiiF provides an important platform for the Highlands to connect with investors and decision-makers from across the UK and beyond.

“Through Invest Highland, we are clearly setting out the scale of opportunity our region offers – from world-leading renewable energy projects to innovation in key growth sectors.

“The Highlands is playing a vital role in the transition to a net zero economy, and we are ambitious about delivering sustainable growth that benefits our communities. We are here to build partnerships that will help us realise that potential.”

During the three-day forum, the Council is engaging directly with investors, developers and strategic partners to promote Highland opportunities and strengthen relationships that can drive inward investment and long-term economic growth.

On Tuesday morning (May 19) Cllr Bremner will support a panel of speakers from the Scottish Cities Alliance in a networking session on Investing in Scotland’s Housing.

The council added that its participation in UKREiiF also reflects its “commitment to working collaboratively” through the Scottish Cities Alliance to promote Scotland as a “world-class investment location, while ensuring the unique strengths of the Highlands are clearly showcased”.

It also said that, with “significant investment already under way and a strong pipeline of future opportunities”, the council’s presence at UKREiiF 2026 will help to “underline its determination to deliver a resilient, inclusive and prosperous future for Highland communities”.