Four Highland businesses that are playing a significant role in the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) supply chain have been selected to join the UK cohort of a globally recognised international enterprise development programme.
The companies will join Shell LiveWire – a fully funded programme designed to help small and medium enterprises to accelerate growth, build resilience and compete in the rapidly evolving clean energy market.
The four Highland businesses – Serimax, ILM Highland, Ri-Cruden and Helica (Scotland) Ltd – represent sectors including engineering, recycling, renewables and construction consultancy. They are already playing distinct roles within the region’s developing supply chain, shaped by the energy transition and major infrastructure investment driven by the Green Freeport.
Shell UK partners with business support service Elevator to deliver the programme, drawing on its extensive experience in enterprise support and economic development. Participants benefit from tailored one-to-one coaching, specialist master classes, strategic planning support, and pitch development.
ICFGF represents a transformative opportunity for the Highlands to become an internationally recognised hub for the offshore wind and renewables industries. The initiative is poised to attract over £3bn of inward investment and deliver more than 10,000 long-term, well-paid jobs.
Alison Wilson, Investment and Development Manager at ICFGF, said, “The Green Freeport sees the Highland companies’ inclusion as another sign of the region’s growing capability, confidence and emerging leadership in clean energy development as the energy transition accelerates. It is hoped that a cohort formed exclusively of ICFGF supply chain businesses can be created in future. We are delighted to see strong Highland representation in this latest Shell LiveWire cohort. These businesses demonstrate the innovation, expertise and long-term commitment that define the region’s industrial future.
The Green Freeport aims to help local enterprises grow, compete and benefit from the opportunities emerging through the energy transition. The participation of Highland SMEs in international initiatives like Shell LiveWire underscore the growing importance of the Highlands in delivering the UK’s net zero ambitions. As the Green Freeport continues to attract investment and new long-term industrial activity, it remains focused on ensuing the benefits are shared across the local business community and the wider Highland economy.”
Andrew Burnett, Deputy CEO at Elevator UK, said, “Shell LiveWire provides innovative businesses with the support they need to grow, scale and compete in the markets of tomorrow. By combining practical tools with strategic mentoring, we’re empowering ambitious companies to achieve their full potential.”
Further information about supply chain opportunities linked to the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport can be found at: https://greenfreeport.scot/grow/supply-chain
Headline Picture: David Goodwin, Helica (front row, first left); Martin MacLeod, ILM Highland (middle row, third left); Ewan MacGregor, Helica (middle row, third right); Callum Cruden, Ri-Cruden (back row, fourth right); and Murdo MacAngus, Serimax (back row, second right).