Scotland has a strong story to tell international investors, and the evidence backs that up.

EY’s latest attractiveness research shows Scotland continuing to perform strongly as a destination for foreign direct investment, securing 108 projects in 2025 and retaining its position as the UK’s leading FDI destination outside London. One-third of businesses planning UK investment are now targeting Scotland.

The wider business backdrop makes that opportunity particularly interesting. The latest Azets Barometer Q3 2026, based on research with more than 1,400 business leaders across the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, found that 90% are optimistic about the economic outlook over the next 12 months. It also shows businesses actively preparing for change, with 80% having altered how they plan, make decisions and operate, and 81% expecting their use of automation and AI to increase.

For Scotland, that creates an opportunity. We are not simply competing to attract investment. We are competing for ambitious businesses thinking about where and how they grow next. Scotland needs to make sure it is part of that conversation.

Since launching the Azets Scotland Desk earlier this year, one of the things that has struck me most is just how many people and organisations genuinely want to see Scotland succeed.

At the heart of Scotland’s international investment activity is Scottish Development International (SDI), Scotland’s trade and inward investment agency, working with companies from around the world looking to invest or do business here. Around that sits a much wider ecosystem involving Scotland’s enterprise agencies, regional investment teams, Chambers of Commerce, international business networks, professional advisers, universities and the private sector. 

Through the Scotland Desk, we have been focused on building relationships across this community. 

The willingness to collaborate, share knowledge and make introductions is truly impressive. There are so many people working towards the same objective: seeing Scotland succeed. Our discussions have explored how Azets can contribute both to supporting Scottish businesses with their own growth ambitions and to the inward investment market. 

And you only need to scratch the surface to be struck by just how strong Scotland’s proposition is.

We have strengths across an extraordinary range of sectors, from advanced manufacturing and renewable energy to financial services, life sciences, technology and space. These aren’t simply sectors we talk about. There are active communities working hard to attract investment, build international connections and showcase what Scotland can do.

You can see that in the events taking place across the country. Glasgow Tech Week 2026 attracted more than 3,000 people across over 40 events, spanning AI, health tech, space and advanced manufacturing. FinTech Scotland Festival 2026 has brought together businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers, with several events reaching capacity. At the same time, we are seeing dedicated activity around renewables, advanced manufacturing and pharmaceutical technology.

Space is perhaps one of the most exciting examples. Space Scotland is working to build Scotland’s international profile and connections across a sector spanning satellite manufacturing, launch capability, data, research and other parts of the space value chain.

What strikes me isn’t just the breadth of activity. It’s the energy behind it and the number of people showing up.

But attracting an international business is only the start. Once a company chooses Scotland, the questions become practical very quickly. How should it structure its UK operations? How does it employ people? What are its tax and reporting obligations? Who can help with premises, recruitment, funding or local connections?

For an overseas investor, the boundaries between the organisations that can help are largely irrelevant. They simply want to know: who can help me get this done?

That is increasingly how I see the role of the Scotland Desk. We are not trying to create another inward investment network. Scotland already has one. Our role is to be a useful part of it, helping international businesses navigate the practicalities of establishing here while connecting them with the right people elsewhere in that ecosystem.

Scotland has the credentials to attract international investment. It also has something equally valuable: a network of public bodies, Chambers, business organisations, professional advisers and individuals who are genuinely invested in its success.

Our collective opportunity is to make all of that feel joined up to the investor, making Scotland not only an attractive place to invest, but an easy place to establish, connect and grow.

If we can do that collectively, Scotland’s proposition becomes stronger. And our people, our business community and our economy will all reap the benefits.