Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport reaches historic final milestone to usher in new era of prosperity for the Highlands
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by UK and Scottish governments, Highland Council and ICFGF completes five-year process
- Agreement unlocks £25m of UK Government funding to support local port infrastructure projects
- The Green Freeport will support skills growth and targets delivery of over 11,000 long-term, well-paid jobs for the Highland.
Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) has today (26 September 2025) reached a historic milestone in establishing the Highlands as a major international hub for the offshore wind and renewable energy sector.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) creating a formal framework for co-operation and responsibilities has been signed between ICFGF, the UK and Scottish governments, and the Highland Council.
The official signing of the MoU – the final stage of a five-year planning process that will enable significant economic regeneration of the region – was attended by Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, and Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes. Councillor Raymond Bremner, Leader of the Highland Council, signed on behalf of the local authority, which will act as the accountable body responsible for overseeing the appropriate use of public funds and proper governance.
The agreement unlocks £25m in funding from the UK Government which ICFGF will use to support delivery of significant infrastructure projects at its partner ports. These developments will help strengthen their world-class facilities for the offshore energy sector.
ICFGF represents a transformational, once in a generation opportunity for the Highlands and will be critical to delivering the UK’s clean energy ambitions. Over the next 25 years, it is poised to create more than 11,000 long-term jobs and a workforce equipped with future-ready skills. It will attract over £6.5b of investment to build a legacy for future generations.
The signing of the MoU took place at Aurora Energy Services’ recently opened £1.2m training facility in Inverness. Aurora, which is headquartered in one of ICFGF’s designated tax sites, has seen significant expansion across the UK and internationally because of the fast-growing renewables sector. The new centre will train more than 2,000 workers for the sector every year and will become a valuable part of the supply chain needed to deliver ICFGF’s ambition.
Although the MoU completes the final stage of the set-up phase, ICFGF has already started to deliver and was an instrumental lever used to attract Sumitomo Electric Ltd (UK) to Port of Nigg. Its £350m subsea cable manufacturing facility will create more than 150 highly skilled local jobs when it opens next year.
The local and wider supply chain is seeing the benefit of the Green Freeport as construction work ramps up at key sites to develop facilities for future opportunities in offshore renewables. Ardersier Energy Transition Facility, which secured a £100m joint credit facility to create nationally significant infrastructure for industrial-scale deployment of fixed and floating offshore wind, has placed contracts with more than 110 local firms as part of the development.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "This is a pivotal moment in the UK Government’s mission to boost economic growth in all parts of the UK. The Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport will transform the economy of the Highlands, as well as playing a key role in our clean energy future. Supported by £25m of UK Government investment, and a range of UK Government tax incentives, this important collaboration between governments and local partners will deliver thousands of high-quality jobs and attract billions in investment.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “With its focus on the renewable and low-carbon energy industries, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport aims to bring up to 11,300 jobs to the Highlands aligning with the Scottish Government’s flagship Fair Work First policy.
“This signing marks an exciting milestone as we enter the delivery phase which will bring more business to the region, following on from significant investments we’ve already seen including the Sumitomo subsea cable plant at Nigg and the Haventus energy transition facility at Ardersier.
“It is fitting that during Scotland’s National Innovation Week we are opening the door for more companies to innovate in green industries, bringing further regeneration to the Highlands and taking steps to achieving Scotland’s net zero ambitions.”
Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities Miatta Fahnbulleh MP said: “This Green Freeport is demonstrating the pivotal role Scottish communities are playing in building Britain's clean energy future. Today’s milestone will help them go even further. Creating thousands of jobs and bringing in billions in investment, it's exactly the kind of success story we want to see right across the country.”
Calum MacPherson, Chief Executive of ICFGF, said: “This is truly a historic moment for the Green Freeport. Today’s milestone has been possible because of the shared ambition of many organisations to deliver positive change for the economic prosperity of the Highlands, for our young people and future generations, and for the health of our planet. Their tenacity has brought us here today, and their determination will keep us moving forward at pace.
“This is a time to look ahead with optimism, while also reflecting on all that we have already achieved to deliver jobs, investment and supply chain growth. We’re proving that the Highlands can compete - and win - on the international stage.”
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Raymond Bremner, said: “Today is a landmark moment for the Highlands, Scotland, and the UK. The signing of this MoU is a powerful signal of shared ambition and belief in our region’s future.
“Our vision is bold: a globally competitive hub for floating offshore wind, green hydrogen, and advanced manufacturing. But it’s also about our people – ensuring benefits reach communities from Wick to Inverness, and investing in skills, housing, and opportunity.”
The Green Freeport is designed to attract major investment by offering businesses located within its boundaries a package of tax benefits and other incentives. It has three tax sites: Cromarty Firth which includes Port of Nigg, Port of Cromarty Firth and Highland Deephaven; Ardersier which includes the Ardersier Energy Transition Facility; and Inverness which includes Port of Inverness, Aurora Energy Services and Inverness Campus.
Together, these sites form a powerful cluster of assets driving the Highlands’ role in the global renewables supply chain. ICFGF has robust governance measures in place, and landowners have strengthened obligations in place around fair terms of work and environmental protections.
ENDS
About Scotland’s Green Freeports
Scotland’s two Green Freeports are delivered jointly by the UK and Scottish Governments working with local partners. They are Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and Forth Green Freeport.
These are large, zoned areas which include a railway, seaport or airport. Businesses within them can benefit from a package of devolved and reserved tax and other incentives.
They are created to drive growth and bring jobs in sectors which are central to the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy and the Scottish Government’s Green Industrial Strategy.
The Green Freeports have robust governance and oversight structures in place, including extra protections for workers’ rights and reduction of carbon emissions.
Green Freeports incentives include:
- UK Government seed funding investment of £25 million each. The signing of the Inverness and Cromarty MoU will unlock this funding
- UK Government Employer National Insurance Contributions relief; Enhance Capital Allowances and Enhance Structures and Buildings Allowance
- Scottish Government reliefs on Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Non-Domestic Rates.
- Scottish Government non-domestic rates retention, enabling local authorities to retain non-domestic rates generated by the investment in the Green Freeport tax sites, guaranteed for 25 years, to invest in regeneration and infrastructure
- Customs incentives, including streamlined procedures, simplified declarations and duty suspension to save businesses time and money on import/export processes
- Support from government experts on regulation and innovation
There are a further eight Freeports in England and two in Wales. Further information about the Freeport programme can be found in the UK Government’s Programme Report and the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan. Further information on the Green Freeports Programme can be found in the Scottish Government’s Green Freeports page.
About Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport
Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Ltd (ICFGF) is set to revolutionise the Highland economy, generating significant inward investment and stimulating major new manufacturing activity locally and elsewhere in Scotland and the UK.
It will also play a vital role in the country’s transition from fossil fuels to clean, green energy, while creating new long-term and green employment opportunities.
The company is backed by port owners Port of Cromarty Firth, Global Energy Group at Port of Nigg, Port of Inverness, and Haventus (Ardersier Energy Transition Facility), Highland Deephaven, The Highland Council, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Highlands and Islands Enterprise. In total more than 30 regional, national and international businesses, public sector organisations and academic bodies are associated with the initiative.
The creation of the green freeport will maximise local and Scotland-wide benefits from a pipeline of renewable energy projects, placing the Highlands at the heart of the drive towards net zero and developing world-leading capabilities in floating offshore wind and hydrogen production.
Strict protections will ensure the highest standards are followed within the freeport covering planning, the environment and working conditions. A fair work charter has been agreed by all landowners such that the working terms will be more protected within the tax sites than outside them.
The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and was born out of Opportunity Cromarty Firth, the consortium which led the successful bid to become a green freeport.
More information about the green freeport and associate members is available on the ICFGF website.