Strategic Investment Fund
Apply for funding for large-scale, strategic initiatives in the north of Scotland
Value: £10 million funding available over the next two years
Fund status:Fund open. Expressions of interests to be submitted by 15 October 2026.
About the Strategic Investment Fund
We want communities connected to our transmission network to share in the benefits of the clean energy transition.
The Strategic Investment Fund has been developed in response to extensive engagement with communities, stakeholders and regional partners across our network area. Through this consultation, we heard a clear desire for investment that goes beyond supporting individual projects and instead tackles some of the most significant social and economic challenges facing communities today.
Designed to complement and enhance our existing regional funding programmes, the Strategic Investment Fund will focus on large-scale, strategic initiatives capable of delivering transformational change across multiple communities. We are seeking bold ideas, strong partnerships and innovative approaches that can create lasting impact, unlock new opportunities and leave a positive legacy for future generations.
This fund represents a significant long-term investment in communities and an opportunity to support projects that can fundamentally change lives, strengthen local resilience and help communities thrive in the transition to a low-carbon future.
What the Strategic Investment Fund supports
Over the next two years, the Strategic Investment Fund will support high-impact projects that address some of the most important challenges facing communities across our network area.
Following consultation with stakeholders and communities, the fund will initially focus on:
Skills and Employability
Within this theme the fund will prioritise projects that:
- Help young people to gain skills or move into employment
- Support apprenticeships and work-based learning
- Develop skills relevant to future industries and emerging employment opportunities
- Have a strong link to qualifications or employment outcomes
- Are focussed on inclusion and supporting people who face barriers to employment
- Address shortages of key skills by focusing on well-evidenced regional priorities
The fund is not looking to support projects that:
- Support beneficiaries of primary school age or younger
Alleviating Fuel Poverty
Within this theme the fund will prioritise projects that:
- Improve the energy efficiency of homes
- Focus on the rural and island communities most affected by fuel poverty
- Focus on developing solutions for those at the highest risk of fuel poverty due to financial hardship
- Explore new approaches linked to research, or deliver demonstration projects capable of wider replication
The fund is not looking to support projects that:
- Fund the direct costs of energy consumption
- Provide traditional advice services
- Are community energy initiatives generating electricity for sale
We are looking for projects that can demonstrate the potential to deliver meaningful and measurable change at a regional scale. Successful applications will go beyond addressing immediate needs and will create sustainable solutions that generate long-term social and economic benefits.
Priority will be given to projects that are:
- Regional – benefiting multiple communities across a wider geographic area
- Strategic – aligned with regional priorities and addressing significant challenges
- Sustainable – attracting additional investment and delivering enduring benefits
- Collaborative – bringing together organisations, sectors and expertise
- Transformational – creating substantial and lasting positive change for communities
We are particularly interested in proposals that are capable of acting as a catalyst for change, testing new approaches, scaling proven solutions, or addressing challenges at a level that would not otherwise be possible through traditional funding programmes.
Who can apply?
Applications are welcome from:
- Legally constituted community groups
- Registered charities
- Non-profit organisations
- Universities and colleges
Applications directly from statutory bodies, such as local authorities, will not be accepted. However, these organisations may participate as project partners where another eligible organisation acts as the lead applicant.
Projects must benefit communities located within the SSEN Transmission network area.
Funding can support both capital and revenue costs.
How much funding is available?
The Strategic Investment Fund is intended to support a small number of exceptional projects with the scale and ambition to deliver transformational outcomes across our network area.
£10 million of funding will be available over the next two years, with £5 million of funding available in each funding round.
Applications are expected to range from £1 million to £5 million, with funding targeted towards initiatives that can demonstrate a compelling vision, strong partnership working and the potential to deliver significant, measurable and lasting impact for communities.
How do I apply?
The Fund has a two-stage process beginning with the submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI). This EOI will be assessed, and the projects that align best with the Fund’s priorities and are ready to deliver transformational impact will be invited to submit a full application.
- The Expression of Interest stage opens on 17 September with submissions required by 15 October at 1:00pm.
- Those invited to submit a full application to the fund will be required to submit their application by 1:00pm on 10 December.
- Decisions on full applications will be made by the independent panel by March 2027 and all applicants notified.
When you are ready, you can complete an Expression of Interest here: Strategic Investment Fund - Expression of Interest – Fill in form
We recommend that you read the guidance prior to filling out your EOI as it contains additional information on what to include in your response.
How are funding decisions made?
Funding decisions are made by an independent panel comprising four independent members and one SSEN Transmission representative.
Chair: Peter Peacock, former Scottish Government Minister and former Convenor of Highland Council
Panel Members:
- Louisa Macdonell (Vice Chair)
- Lucy Conway
- Nicholas Gubbins
- Christianna Logan (SSEN Transmission Representative)
