Hundreds of protected areas are under pressure from Scotland’s massive deer herd. Most agree deer numbers must be controlled to protect the environment, but are split on what should be done.
Edinburgh University students were “interrogated” by police at their desks over posters featuring Palestinians killed by the Israeli military, prompting dozens to complain.
Unsafe levels of faecal bacteria were recorded at dozens of Scotland’s best beaches this summer. Swimmers and paddlers could be at risk, but officials insist water quality remains high.
A company that sold a major Highland port for an undisclosed sum to a Japanese firm received over £30m of taxpayers’ money – including £10m just a few months ahead of the sale.
Global Energy – a business led by Roy MacGregor, the chairman of Ross County football club – sold the Port of Nigg and its fabrication arm to Mitsui in July.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said it gave Global £10m to support the development of the port in March, but didn’t know at the time if the firm had any plans to sell the port.
The port, in Easter Ross on the Cromarty Firth, is important for the Highland economy and green energy. Decisions about its future will now be made in Japan.
The Ferret’s investigation prompted the grassroots campaign group Scotland Not For Sale to argue that if taxpayers’ money is invested in private companies, the public should have a right to information about the sale price and any profits involved.
We ask for more transparency in this situation and for all companies involved within our two freeports.
Scotland Not For Sale
Global Energy – which has just revamped its branding and changed its name to just Global – did not reply to our requests for a comment.
The Ferret submitted freedom of information requests to Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, and Scottish Enterprise, requesting details of grants given to GEG Group, which operates as Global, and its subsidiaries since 2011.
The responses revealed that Global, a Highland civil engineering firm based in Inverness, received over £30m of public money between 2011 and 2025.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing but sources raised questions over the sale of the port, given the considerable public funding the facility received and its status as a strategic national asset.
The port is being developed as a major hub for the offshore renewable energy sector - made up of zones where tax incentives and lower tariffs are available to companies.
It is part of the new Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport which could, it has been claimed, generate more than 11,000 jobs over the next 25 years.
Grants received by Global include £651,897 from Highland Council’s derelict land fund in 2012 to restore a 2.38 hectare site for development, and £17,600,726 in total from HIE over a 13 year period – which included the £10m grant this year. Scottish Enterprise gave Global £34,000.
Scotland Not For Sale voiced concerns and said the sale to Mitsui “continues to raise alarms”. A spokesperson said: “We question the use of over £30m in public funds since 2012 – coinciding with Mitsui's initial 25.5 per cent stake acquisition – and the timing of a £10m Highlands and Islands Enterprise grant in March 2025 for quayside upgrades, just months before the sale.”
They continued: “The sale price remains undisclosed. But with public money invested in companies, we feel the public have a right to know the final sale price and the profit GEG (Global) made. Will promises to position Nigg as a world class multi-energy facility be upheld? What return in this investment will the people of Scotland get back? Will Scotland benefit? We ask for more transparency in this situation and for all companies involved within our two freeports.”
Highlands and Islands Enterprise told The Ferret it approved £10m for Global, as part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to invest up to £500m over five years to develop ports and offshore wind supply chain.
We believe Mitsui are the correct custodian for a facility that provides so much employment and prosperity for the Highlands.
A spokesperson for the public body said it will continue to “work closely” with Mitsui to “support maximum economic activity and employment” at the site for the benefit of the wider area. “We had no knowledge of GEG’s sale plans in March 2025. As with all our investments, obligations under the legal agreement continue under the new owner,” they added.
“Under Mitsui’s new ownership, we anticipate a long-term future for the Port of Nigg which is part of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and indeed their investment in the area further strengthens the port's future as an industry hub.”
Global, Mitsui and Port of Nigg did not respond to our requests for comments.
However, announcing the port’s sale in July, Global’s Roy MacGregor said: “Having worked closely with our trusted investor, Mitsui, since 2012, we believe the time is right to let them drive the next stage of development at Nigg - and we believe they are the correct custodian for a facility that provides so much employment and prosperity for the Highlands.”
Makoto Takasugi, Mitsui’s chief operating officer of iron and steel products, said then that the Tokyo-based firm looked forward to “servicing the huge demand for offshore wind power - as we grow our role in energy transformation across Scotland, the UK and Europe."Mitsui first invested in MacGregor’s GEG (Holding) Limited in 2012 - taking a 25.5 per cent stake.
GEG (Holding) Limited - operating as Global - will still operate at the Port of Nigg through its supply chain companies, Global Port Services, Global Crane Services, and Global Wind Projects - as well as supplying labour.
Mitsui and the Port of Nigg did not reply to our requests for a comment.
This story was updated at 11.00 on 21/10/25 to state that Scottish Enterprise gave Global £34,000.
Main image: Adam Fagen/Flickr
Hundreds of protected areas are under pressure from Scotland’s massive deer herd. Most agree deer numbers must be controlled to protect the environment, but are split on what should be done.
Edinburgh University students were “interrogated” by police at their desks over posters featuring Palestinians killed by the Israeli military, prompting dozens to complain.
Unsafe levels of faecal bacteria were recorded at dozens of Scotland’s best beaches this summer. Swimmers and paddlers could be at risk, but officials insist water quality remains high.
Footage of farmed trout suffocating, haemorrhaging, and being beaten with batons in a slaughterhouse has prompted an official complaint to a government regulator.
