Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport

Reframing regional ambition for national impact

Strategic storytelling and stakeholder engagement to share a bold new economic vision

Sector

Energy

Location

Expertise

What we delivered

Strategic communication
PR and media relations
Content creation
Website redevelopment
Stakeholder engagement

ICFGF had seized a monumental opportunity in winning green freeport status for the Highlands. This was a transformative moment that could impact generations of future Highlanders through tangible economic and social capital. But the story needed to reach further - and hit harder. The ask? Build trust, cut through the noise and show communities and investors alike what the Green Freeport would really deliver.

We positioned ICFGF not just as a place, but as a force - a strategic hub for energy transition, industrial innovation and inclusive growth. Our approach joined the dots between policy, people and possibility. Our aim was to ground the bold ambition in human success and outcomes, showing how the impact of the Green Freeport would be felt across the Highlands and beyond.

Executing a multi-channel strategy for impact and growth

PR and media relations: Proactively delivering a regular drumbeat of external news releases and long-form editorial content while building relationships with key media influencers
Content creation: Written collateral and creative assets covering social, digital, marketing brochures and community newsletters
Political influence: Support with 1:1 briefings and site visits for MPs and MSPs, along with high-ranking civil servants, to educate and build cross-party support
Website redevelopment: Creating a new website that provided a strong platform to tell the Green Freeport story and attract global investment
Building relationships: Acting as a unifying body for communication and marketing leads with ICFGF’s key partners, creating a forum for collaboration
Redefining the mission: Working with the leadership team to define the Green Freeport’s mission, vision and values as the initiative scaled up

Project highlights

Reframing skills for future prosperity

A multi-platform campaign made “green jobs” tangible – from apprenticeships to senior roles – and repositioned the Highlands as a destination, not a departure point. The wider media relations campaign exposed the ICFGF story to an audience in excess of 3.8 million.

Positioning for investment

A new website telling a compelling investor story delivered ahead of ICFGF’s attendance at a major international trade event for the renewables sector.

“Aspect’s work made our impact real, helping to demonstrate why we are nationally relevant, politically resonant and strategically sharp. They’ve been more than a comms partner - they’ve helped shape the story we’re telling.”

Calum MacPherson
CEO, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport

Positioning ICFGF for government backing and investor confidence

Over six months, we helped amplify ICFGF’s story into a relatable, regional movement that was trusted by policymakers, profiled in media and visible in the local area. With the UK and Scottish governments awarding ICFGF’s full business case, we have created a solid foundation that supports investor growth and enables community integration.