Explore Our Region
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland is a diverse landscape with a unique geography, character and culture. Our area teams work closely with local partners, communities, businesses and social enterprises supporting growth and investment opportunities throughout the region.
Use the map below to explore our region and find out more about what makes each area unique.
Argyll and the Islands
Population 66,309. Home to:
- world-leading marine research, education and industry cluster
- a strong renewables sector including onshore wind and pumped hydro
- world renowned tourism and food and drink sectors
- active communities increasing asset ownership including land, housing, business units and infrastructure
- 26 inhabited islands
- a repopulation pilot area.
Caithness and Sutherland
Population 38,489. Home to:
- Scotland's first geopark, the North West Highlands Geopark
- the UK's first spaceport capable of launching rockets into orbit
- high value skills in nuclear power and decommissioning
- key assets supporting transition to net zero, particularly Wick and Scrabster harbours
- the Flow Country, Scotland's largest terrestrial carbon store with a fifth of the nation's blanket bog
- a repopulation pilot area.
Inner Moray Firth
Population 159,585. Home to:
- Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport
- strong cruise market
- world-famous attractions including Loch Ness and Cairngorms National Park
- growing life sciences and technology sectors
- Inverness Campus with significant innovation assets including the Life Sciences Innovation Centre and Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre
- Inverness Airport Business Park with 200 acres available for development.
Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross
Population 39,968. Home to:
- strong tourism sector and the outdoor capital of the UK
- Ambitious for Fort William 2040 masterplan to develop future growth
- significant R&D investment in aquaculture in Wester Ross
- Kishorn Port development plans
- Coire Glas proposed hydro scheme.
Orkney
Orkney is made up of around 70 islands clustered where the North Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, and fewer than half are inhabited. The islands’ geography positions it at the frontline of Scotland’s renewables industry. The European Marine Energy Centre leads research and development in wave and tidal prototype testing. Wind turbines create energy for island traffic, and plans for island ferries to run on hydrogen power are on the horizon. Orkney’s produce has a global reach including ice cream, shellfish, whisky and beer. Designers, artists and jewellery-makers make handcrafted Scottish, Celtic and Nordic pieces.
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides are a chain of islands off the west coast of Scotland, stretching from the north of Lewis, south to Barra. Each island and each community has its own distinctive character. All are bound together by the Gaelic culture and language which continue to exert a strong influence. Life sciences and renewable energy are growing sectors along with creative industries, food and drink, textiles and tourism.
Shetland
With almost 1700 miles of coastline, the water around the 100 islands of Shetland is the lifeblood of its economy, from a seafood industry worth £300m a year to the leading aquaculture and oil industries. Enquest’s Sullum Voe oil and gas terminal stores oil from the North Sea and East Shetland Basin oilfields. Another key energy sector employer is Total’s Shetland Gas Plant processing plant, with advances in wind and wave energy becoming an important part of the island’s future. The contrasting influence of Scotland and Norway creates a vibrant cultural melting pot. The £12m Mareel Creative Industries Centre in Lerwick is where much of that creative energy is harnessed and spent.