This event is designed to bring clarity to the evolving funding landscape in the UK, with a focus on influencing future opportunities and aligning projects with new funding streams. Participants will gain insights into government plans, explore innovative approaches to funding and investment, and understand the key factors that drive successful public-private partnerships. The event will also broaden its scope to include global investment perspectives, exploring how Scottish projects can scale up to attract international funding.

Key Themes Covered Include

• Strategies for aligning revenue and capital projects with previous EU structural fund ambitions.

• Understanding transitions from Shared Prosperity Fund to National Renewal Fund and implications for local and regional development.

• The arrival of commercial capital as a government approach through state investment banks

• Future of the Levelling Up agenda and its funding focus.

• Positioning regions to benefit from upcoming funding opportunities.

• Success factors in public-private partnerships, including long-term planning, private sector engagement, and collaboration.

• Global investment opportunities: How to make Scottish projects attractive to international investors.

Who should attend?

The event would be highly relevant for a diverse audience across Scotland’s economic development and investment communities. Attendees will benefit from understanding the new funding landscape, leveraging insights into government strategies, and exploring how Scotland can position itself globally to attract investment. Key groups who should attend include:

• Local and national government officers and policy makers

• Representatives of city region deals and other regional growth initiatives.

• Funding and investment specialists

• Private sector stakeholders including companies involved in infrastructure projects, green energy, digital transformation, or other sectors with high funding needs; and leaders from businesses looking to form or expand public-private partnerships.

• Nonprofits and Social Enterprises

• Higher Education and Research Institutions focused on innovation, collaboration, and knowledge transfer.

• Global Investment Community – international investors and organisations interested in Scottish growth opportunities; and Scottish projects aiming to scale internationally or attract global funding.

• Consultants and industry experts.

Agenda

Part 1 – Welcome and Introduction

14:00 Event Chair: EDAS Board Member, David McIntosh, Scottish Government, Directorate for International Trade & Investment (10 mins)

• Opening Remarks

• Event Objectives

• Evolving Funding Landscape

Part 2 – Alternative Thinking

Insights into the Future Funding Landscape

14:10    Jane Thompson, Head of Glasgow City Region PMO (10 mins)

14:20    Graham Watson, Head of Public and Government Partnerships, Scottish National Investment Bank (10 mins)

• Local government funding; EU opportunities; the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to a National Renewal Fund; anticipating the future of the former Levelling Up agenda and how it may evolve; strategies for aligning revenue and capital projects with previous structural fund ambitions.

• Arrival of alternatives in Scotland – Scottish National Investment Bank, UK. Infrastructure Bank, British Business Bank, GB Energy and the National Wealth Fund.

• The move away from a grant funding model to a commercial finance and equity model.

• The focus of these institutions on net zero, place and other priorities.

Innovative Approaches to Funding and Investment

14:30    Kerry Alexander, Director – Infrastructure Finance and Programmes, Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) (15 mins)

• Discussion on creative funding models and new approaches that can be leveraged in the evolving economic environment. This session will address how regions can position themselves to benefit from upcoming opportunities, including:

• Exploring alternative funding mechanisms such as public-private partnerships.

• Case studies on local efficiency, innovation, and flexibility in partnerships driving successful outcomes.

•  Insights into long-term planning and the critical success factors for engaging private sector support.

• Touching on PPP, NPD, MIM, HubCo models, Growth Accelerator, Learning Estates Investment Programme

• Discussing the gap that exists in readying projects for investment – including great examples in heat and EV charging, in particular where SFT has helped support projects to become deliverable and ready for investment.

14:45    COMFORT BREAK (5 minutes)

Part 3 – Global Investment – Scaling Up for International Success

14:50    Simon Parsons, Senior Manager, Scottish Development International (15 Mins)

• Broadening focus out to include global investment opportunities.

• Insights into how Scottish projects can be scaled up to attract international investment. Including:

• Lessons from the work of the Investor Panel supported by the ISDU.

• Strategies for making Scottish investment propositions attractive to global investors.

• Exploring how international investment complements domestic funding efforts to drive long-term development.

• Highlighting great examples in offshore wind– notably Sumitomo Electric Industries which continues to show Scotland’s strengths in inward investment.  And Ardersier port where Scottish and UK Investment Banks have supported international investors Haventus to invest £400m in the new port redevelopment.  With reference to ScotWind and INTOG which have attracted global investors.

Part 4 – Q&A and Open Discussion: Facilitated by David McIntosh (20 mins)

15:05    Open forum for participants to engage with speakers and explore ideas for influencing the future funding landscape.  Discussions might span alignment with emerging funding streams, fostering public-private partnerships, and scaling up to attract global investment.

Part 5 – Closing Remarks and Next Steps: David McIntosh (5 mins)

15:25    Summary of the key takeaways from the event, including practical advice for participants on actionable steps to influence and navigate the future funding landscape. (15:30 close)

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