By Marc Wilson, Board President of Inverness Chamber of Commerce
Supporting our members to connect, grow and be heard has been at the heart of everything we’ve achieved in 2025. It has been a year of strong delivery for Inverness Chamber of Commerce, with increased membership, a thriving events programme and expanded international activity – all underpinned by a clear focus on driving value for businesses across the Highlands.
A key part of that success is our people. Our team has remained largely unchanged over the past year, providing continuity in how we support members day-to-day. We were pleased to welcome Oshaan Weerasekera as our new Membership Executive, while also ensuring strong support across the team during maternity leave periods. I would also like to recognise the continued contribution of colleagues across the organisation whose commitment ensures the Chamber delivers for members every day.
From a governance perspective, it has been a year of both continuity and change. I’m delighted that Ben Hosie has committed to a second term on the Board, while we extend our sincere thanks to Sarah Lilley and Kirstin MacDonald, who stepped down this year. Both brought exceptional legal expertise, sound judgement and thoughtful leadership, and we are a stronger organisation for their contribution. As we look ahead, I’m pleased to welcome Victoria Leslie, Managing Partner of Ledingham Chalmers, and Helen Inkster, Managing Director of Pentland Ferries, to the Board. Alongside them, we are also pleased to co-opt Chris Hawkes and Lindsay McCallum for an initial 12-month period – reflecting the depth of talent within our membership and our commitment to ensuring the right mix of skills around the table. You can read more about these Board appointments on our website here.
The Board has taken a number of important strategic decisions this year that will stand us in good stead for the future. We introduced formal reserves and investment policies, approved an exciting rebrand for the Chamber, and supported the development of a new website for Developing the Young Workforce. We also launched our manifesto for the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections – shaped directly by listening to the priorities and concerns of our members, and reflecting the issues that matter most to businesses across the region.
Events: Bringing Business Together
Over the past year, we have delivered another busy and successful events programme, hosting more than 40 events and welcoming around 2,000 attendees. These events remain a cornerstone of how we connect our business community – creating space for collaboration, conversation and opportunity.
Our flagship events continue to go from strength to strength. Highland Spotlight achieved its highest level of engagement to date, with 70 exhibiting companies and almost 400 participants, creating valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration and profile raising.
The Highland Business Awards also gained national attention in 2025, with the attendance of Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland. It was a fantastic event celebrating the achievements of businesses and individuals across the Highlands, with an engaging keynote from Christianna Logan of SSEN Transmission, who brought clarity and insight to the complex topic of energy infrastructure.
At the Highland Business Dinner, we welcomed Adrian Chiles, whose entertaining and personal keynote helped make it another memorable evening at the Drumossie Hotel. Looking ahead, we are now just weeks away from welcoming Phil Spencer to the 2026 Business Dinner. With his insights into housing – one of the most pressing challenges facing our region – we are looking forward to another thought-provoking and well-attended event.
Alongside these flagship occasions, our regular events programme continues to grow. Series such as Inside Stories and Knowledge Hour are now firmly established, while we have expanded our programme of roundtable dinners and business breakfasts. In 2025, these included sessions with The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Airports and VisitScotland -providing valuable platforms for members to influence decision-making and contribute to the long-term success of our region.
International: Opening Doors to New Markets
Our International team has had a particularly strong year, supporting businesses to explore new markets and navigate the complexities of global trade.
In May 2025, we delivered a successful trade mission to the Netherlands, supporting eight Scottish companies to explore opportunities in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. This visit has already delivered tangible outcomes, including new contracts and renewed international presence for participating businesses.
We have also been working in partnership with Edinburgh and West Highland Chambers of Commerce on a joint trade mission with Canada, focused on building B2B connections in Ontario and Nova Scotia through a hybrid programme of activity.
Closer to home, we partnered with the Scotland Office to deliver a two-day EU Export Masterclass, bringing together public and private sector expertise to support businesses navigating post-Brexit trading conditions. With contributions from the UK Business Centre in Lille and the Port of Dunkirk, companies benefited from practical, one-to-one guidance, and we are now exploring opportunities for a future trade visit to Lille.
We also saw a significant increase in export documentation volumes in 2025 – doubling on the previous year and continuing at pace into 2026. This growth reflects the success of local exporters in securing new international markets, particularly in sectors such as food and drink.
Marketing and Communications: Amplifying the Voice of Business
Our marketing and communications activity has continued to strengthen, with a clear focus on demonstrating value to members and amplifying the voice of Highland business.
The Pulse, our weekly news digest, has grown significantly, with subscriber numbers increasing by 22% and more than 400 member stories shared across 50 editions in 2025. It remains a vital platform for connecting our network and showcasing the breadth of activity across our membership.
Across our digital channels, we have seen strong growth in engagement and reach. LinkedIn audiences increased by 19%, while Instagram and Facebook also saw significant gains – helping us to engage new audiences and broaden our impact.
Ensuring that the voice of Highland business is heard beyond the region remains a priority. Over the past year, we have secured coverage across national media, focusing on key issues such as the Visitor Levy, non-domestic rates and major infrastructure projects. Our Business Insight Survey has played an important role in shaping our advocacy work, directly informing our election manifesto and supporting ongoing dialogue with government.
Developing the Young Workforce: Inspiring the Future
The enthusiasm and commitment shown for Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland in 2025 has been exceptional.
More than 400 employers have engaged with DYW activity, supporting over 20,000 young people across 14 secondary schools. Through curriculum-linked learning and real-world experiences, young people are gaining valuable insights into the world of work and the opportunities available to them.
Highlights from the year include STEAM Ahead during Scottish Careers Week, where over 150 pupils explored robotics and digital innovation; the Engineering Insight Experience delivered in partnership with EDT and UHI Inverness; and the continued success of initiatives such as Hospitality Connect and hands-on training opportunities across key sectors.
DYW has also played an important role in the Workforce North Operational Plan, helping to raise awareness of vocational and apprenticeship pathways. To support this continued growth, we were delighted to launch a brand-new DYW website this year, creating an accessible platform for young people, educators and employers to connect.
Membership: At the Heart of the Chamber
Our membership remains at the heart of everything we do, and 2025 has been a strong year for growth and engagement.
We welcomed 56 new members – an increase of 30% on the previous year – while also seeing a significant reduction in resignations. This reflects both the value of Chamber membership and the strength of our business community.
We have continued to focus on fostering meaningful connections, facilitating more than 260 direct introductions between members. These connections are central to our role – helping businesses to collaborate, share knowledge and unlock new opportunities.
Looking Ahead
In summary, it has been another incredibly busy and positive year for the Chamber at what is an exciting time for our region. Change inevitably brings challenge, but it also brings opportunity -and it is encouraging to see those opportunities beginning to take shape.
Our purpose remains simple: to make our members more successful. As we look ahead, we will continue to focus on delivering high-quality services, strong advocacy and meaningful connections – working together to support a thriving and resilient business community across the Highlands.