Scottish Cities economic development efforts received a major boost after record numbers of people attended UKREiiF this year. With over 12,000 attendees, including more than 1,500 investors, 750 occupiers, and 500 developers, the event showcased an impressive turnout. The Scottish Cities Alliance’s presence was led by Cllr John Alexander, Chair of the Alliance and Leader of Dundee City Council, along with Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council; Cllr Raymond Bremner, Leader of Highland Council; Cllr Ian Yuill, Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council and Cllr Miranda Radley, Vice Deputy, Aberdeen City Council. Joining them were senior officers representing the Scottish cities, officials from the Scottish Government, and key stakeholders including Scottish Development International (SDI) and the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB).
Cllr John Alexander, Chair, Scottish Cities Alliance, and Leader, Dundee City Council :-
UKREiiF offered an unparalleled platform to highlight the vast array of opportunities across Scotland. The Scottish Cities Alliance has led a delegation to UKREiiF since its inception, but this year marked our most significant delegation to date. The dynamic conversations and palpable energy throughout the conference reinforced the immense potential throughout Scotland. The events underscored Scotland’s robust investment potential, emphasising sustainable growth and economic transformation. We look forward to building on our presence next year, for an even bigger and better Team Scotland approach.
Day 1 Tuesday 21st May
Opening Session at the Invest Glasgow Stand
The Alliance’s programme commenced with a session at the Invest Glasgow Exhibition Stand (B20) in New Dock Hall. Featuring speeches by, Cllr Susan Aitken, Cllr John Alexander, and Cllr Raymond Bremner, who each underscored the vast opportunities across Scotland’s cities in innovation, life sciences, and the net-zero energy transition, and helped build the excitement and momentum for a packed programme, highlighting Scottish Cities’ and their offering’s.
Spotlight on Scotland’s Green Freeports and Investment Zones
A key highlight was the session on Green Freeports and Investment Zones, held at the SCAPE Public Sector Stage. Cllr John Alexander opened the proceedings, emphasising the collaborative efforts between Scotland’s eight city local authorities and the Scottish Government in fostering economic growth and attracting investment.
Ibrahim Mohamed, Associate Director, Connected Places Catapult, facilitated the panel discussion, and provided useful insights on the two programmes and how they differ from that south of the border, as having an even stronger emphasis on supporting transition to net zero and fair work.
The expert panel, featuring Dame Susan Rice, Chair, Forth Green Freeport; Rosa Rotko, Energy Transformation Specialist, Mott MacDonald; Alisdair McIntosh, Programme Director of Green Freeports and Investment Zones, Scottish Government; and Cllr Raymond Bremner, Leader, Highland Council, discussed how these initiatives, supported by approximately £370 million in seed funding, are set to create high-quality jobs and catalyse the transition to sustainable energy. They highlighted the alignment of these programmes with Scotland’s net-zero goals and economic strategies, leveraging Scotland’s expertise in renewable energy, fostering innovation, and ensuring inclusive economic regeneration across the regions. The session concluded with a call to private sector investors to engage with these strategic opportunities, promising support and a conducive environment for investment.
Networking and Drinks Reception
Later in the day, the Phoenix Group hosted a networking and drinks reception at the Hotot Suite in the Royal Armouries building. Cllr John Alexander; Connar McBain, Head of Group Public Affairs, Phoenix Group; and Greg Clark, Chair, Connected Places Catapult set the stage for robust discussions about investment opportunities and the specific challenges associated with investing in Scotland.
Day 2 Wednesday 22nd May
SSE’s Private Roundtable Discussion
Cllr John Alexander was pleased to attend SSE’s private roundtable discussion on ‘How Mayors and Local Leaders can accelerate progress on net zero: lessons learn from around the world’, alongside Andy Burnham, Mayor, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Richard Parker, Mayor, West Midlands Combined Authority and many others.
UK Infrastructure Bank Networking Lunch
On the second day, UKIB hosted a networking lunch, bringing together representatives from Key Cities, and the Scottish Cites Alliance, alongside the private sector.
Lorna Pimlott, Managing Director, UKIB, Cllr John Alexander, Leader, Dundee City Council, Chair, Scottish Cities Alliance, and Tom Stannard, Chief Executive of Salford Council, each gave a small introduction and set the tone for a session which focused on sharing knowledge and expertise across local authorities, but also for discussion between the private sector, on how we can achieve the necessary connectivity and infrastructure needed to make our cities and regions thrive.
Scotland and Northern Ireland Investor Facilitation
An invite-only session at the Reloaded Gallery provided a platform for direct interactions between local authorities from Scotland and Northern Ireland and potential investors, developers, and occupiers. It aimed to strengthen ties and explore collaborative investment opportunities.
Attracting Investment to the Scottish Cities, in Partnership with Arup
Investing in a just transition to net zero is fundamental to a thriving, wellbeing economy that generates opportunities, positions Scotland in new markets, creates quality jobs, and ensures long-term viability for businesses. Arup’s facilitated discussion delved into the practical tools and delivery mechanisms for long-term investment, and built on their event in 2023, exploring themes such as securing long-term investment partnerships, supporting growth of emerging sectors, and targeting development and regeneration.
The panel included, Jillian Hardie, Director and Business Lead Scotland, NI and NE England (Facilitator); Melissa Lockett, Senior Investment Manager, Legal & General; Paul Steen, Head of Business Development North, Vattenfall Heat UK and Tom Bridges, UK Government and Innovation Leader, Leeds Office Leader, Arup.
Post UKREiiF Coverage
We were thrilled to see the discussions at UKREiiF gain traction online, with Cllr Raymond Bremner, Leader of Highland Council, featured in fDi’s article.
Raymond Bremner, the leader of the Highland Council, tells fDi that the amount of power generation coming online in the Highlands puts it in a position to support new infrastructure and attract new industries. Japan’s Sumitomo has committed to invest £350m into a new subsea cable factory at the port of Nigg to serve the area’s burgeoning offshore wind industry.
UKREiiF 2025
The Scottish Cities Alliance’s participation at UKREiiF was a resounding success, highlighting Scotland’s strategic initiatives in green freeports, investment zones, and sustainable economic development. The sessions fostered meaningful connections and set the stage for future investments that align with Scotland’s goals for innovation, fair work, and net-zero transition. The event exemplified Scotland’s commitment to harnessing its unique assets and collaborative spirit to drive economic growth and sustainable development.
We look forward to building on the success of this year’s event, with some exciting announcements ahead!
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