infrastructure
Air
- Wick John O’Groats Airport provides six flights a week to Aberdeen
- Critical enabler for key sectors, including energy, engineering, marine and public services
- Supports local employment and supply chain services
- Underpins growing tourism sector
- Lifeline connectivity for health and leisure travel
Ports
- Wick Harbour – offshore wind maintenance base, supporting energy, marine, fisheries and tourism
- Scrabster Harbour – deep-water port with scale for major offshore projects
- Gills Bay – regular cruise ship departures to Orkney
- Strong track record supporting complex, high value industrial projects
- Supply chain hubs
Roads
- Main A9 trunk road provides main arterial route linking North Highland to Inverness, central belt and beyond
- Investment in Berriedale Braes realignment provides improved access for HGVs and enhanced safety for all
- Wider road network supports efficient movement of goods, workforce and equipment to support key sectors
- Ongoing investment to boost resilience
Rail
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Far North Line connects North Highlands with Inverness and the national rail network
- Low carbon alternative to road travel
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.Efficient cargo operation essential for transport of heavy goods
- Picturesque route supporting far north tourism
Education
- UHI North, West and Hebrides providing education up to PhD level
- Globally leading Engineering, Technology and Energy Centre and Environmental Research Institute
- Multimillion pound education and community campus in Wick
- Thurso to benefit from £100m investment in new school campus
Housing
- Wide range of housing available, from historic townhouses to efficient new builds
- Prices among some of the most affordable in the UK, helping young people get onto the property ladder
- Significant housing developments in the pipeline via Murphy’s to support inward migration
our ports: gateways to the north
As a coastal region, our harbours have shaped life in the north for centuries. Today, they continue to support fishing, oil and gas, and tourism – while playing a pivotal role in the low-carbon economy.
Wick Harbour has undergone a multi-million-pound redevelopment to become the operations and maintenance base for SSE’s Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm. The investment has created permanent, skilled local jobs and brought a collection of distinctive listed waterfront buildings back into productive use.
To the north-west, Scrabster Harbour provides a strategic gateway to the Pentland Firth. Its deep-water port offers an ideal base for marine and energy operations, alongside regular ferry connections to Orkney.
Watch the video to discover how our strategic ports are supporting both today’s industries and the future of the low-carbon economy.
future skills
Through close collaboration, the Focus North partnership is delivering transformational opportunities for the next generation.
Highland Council is progressing a £10 million redevelopment of Thurso’s learning estate, creating a connected corridor of opportunity that supports young people from early education through to employment.
UHI North, West and Hebrides continues to deliver world-class education and research up to PhD level, with particular strengths in engineering, nuclear, and environmental science – disciplines that are central to the region’s economic future.
Meanwhile, the North Highland Chamber of Commerce administers a broad portfolio of apprenticeships and graduate placements, leveraging significant investment from NRS Dounreay and regional developers to create clear, funded pathways into skilled employment.
Interested?
Get In Touch
Partners
Address
The Dome
UHI NWH Campus
Ormlie Road, Thurso
Caithness, KW14 7EE
Phone
01463 383 286