By Colin Marr, Chief Executive, Inverness Chamber of Commerce – published in the February 2026 edition of Executive Magazine, page 48. Many Highland-based businesses are due to see significant rises in their rates bill from April 2026. An increasing number of businesses have been in touch with Inverness Chamber of Commerce about the planned increase […]
Comment: Business Rates Reform is Now a Matter of Urgency Read More »
By Colin Marr, Chief Executive, Inverness Chamber of Commerce Earlier this week, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced provisional dates for work on the A96 dualling. She said construction “could” start on the Inshes to Smithton A9/A96 link in 2028/29, and on the Nairn Bypass in 2029/30. Any progress is welcome, but it’s important to put
By Colin Marr, Chief Executive, Inverness Chamber of Commerce This week, Highland Council published the results of the public consultation on the proposed visitor levy (often referred to as a tourist tax), which ran from November 2024 to March 2025. They also released the findings of the independent economic impact assessment that we, along with
Scottish homebuilder, MAKAR, is manufacturing an affordable home prototype that challenges conventional construction. As the Scottish Government faces the challenge of building 15,000 social houses a year, this timber-rich prototype is set to prove that social housing can support local economies through net zero healthy homes. “We have developed a local solution to the nation-wide
Highland Homebuilder Deploys Timber Expertise in Homegrown Solution to Housing Emergency Read More »
Highland and Moray Chambers of Commerce have come together to raise serious concerns over Scottish Government proposals to reduce the national speed limit on single carriageway roads from 60mph to 50mph. In a joint letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, the Chief Executives of Caithness, Cairngorms, Inverness, Moray and West Highland Chambers – collectively
Highland and Moray Chambers Unite to Oppose National 50mph Limit on Single Carriageways Read More »
This week (w/c 28 July) Kishorn Port welcomed Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes MSP, to show her at first hand the rapid progress that is being made on its £42.2million expansion project. Last month, the Deputy First Minister announced investment of up to £24m by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), enabling the business to
Another round of funding of £100,000 has been announced by the Scottish Government and innovation support organisation Interface to encourage businesses outwith Scotland to collaborate/partner with academics, bringing in knowledge, skills and potential jobs. The Scottish Inward Investment Fund awards up to £10,000 for projects focussed on one of nine key investment areas including net
Inward Investment Support Boosted by £100,000 for Business – Academic Collaborations Read More »
Cairngorms Business Partnership, Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Inverness Chamber of Commerce, and West Highland Chamber of Commerce have written today to Ivan McKee, Minister for Public Finance, requesting an amendment to the Visitor Levy (Scotland Act) 2024 (Tourist Tax). They are calling for local authorities to have the option of setting a flat or banded
Chambers Endorse Call from Council Convener for Amendments to Visitor Levy Act Read More »
The four Highland Chambers of Commerce – Cairngorms Business Partnership, Caithness Chamber, Inverness Chamber and Lochaber Chamber of Commerce – share the deep concerns expressed by the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) regarding the introduction of a visitor levy scheme in the Highlands. Collectively we believe that implementing a visitor levy at this time would have
Statement From The Four Highland Chambers of Commerce On The Proposed Visitor Levy Read More »
