Investment in Stirling’s Economy
Sustainable, inclusive growth is a priority for Stirling, and it is being pursued by growing businesses securing significant investment to scale. Stirling Council is working in partnership with business to develop sectors and forge meaningful partnerships to drive growth.
Stirling has a strong entrepreneurial culture, with more businesses per capita than the national average and higher start-up and survival rates. Stirling’s economy is boosted by leading education providers in the University of Stirling and Forth Valley College, dedicated incubators and collaborative business networks, including the Chamber of Commerce and city centre Business Improvement District.
Stirling Council’s integrated Economic Development, Planning and Climate Change Service also works closely with a network of regional and national partners to ensure Stirling-based businesses are supported to start, scale and innovate. Stirling-based businesses have a strong track record of successful engagement with national enterprise agencies, including securing funding for growth. In fact, in 2024, the Scottish Government’s Economy Secretary announced Scottish Enterprise’s record results on a visit to Stirling, highlighting our place at the forefront of Scotland’s innovation economy.
Stirling’s Economic Strategy
Stirling’s Economic Strategy 2022 set out a bold vision to create one of the most vibrant, sustainable and inclusive economies in the UK. Stirling Council is working with partners to realise this – supporting businesses, growing sectors, creating opportunities and attracting new investment.
Strategic interventions
Stirling is underdoing significant growth, with EY forecasting Stirling to have Scotland’s fastest-growing economy and Stirling Council prioritising interventions to support growth sectors.
For example, using City Region Deal funds, a 34-acre former military site at Forthside beside the city centre was transferred to the council in 2024. The council then secured up to £19 million from the UK Government to prime it for development, and it is now earmarked to include one of Scotland’s largest film and high-end TV studios – with an operator due to be appointed imminently.
Stirling Studios will strengthen Stirling’s position as a leader in creative industries, creating an ecosystem where production companies can benefit from the UK’s film incentives and Stirling’s talent, supply chains, location and costs.
Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal
The UK and Scottish Governments committed to invest £90 million through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, with regional partners (Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils, the University of Stirling and Forth Valley College) pledging up to £124 million.
The Deal has four strategic objectives:
- Inclusive economic growth
- Creating higher value jobs
- Sharing prosperity
- Inclusive skills ecosystem
With seven key areas of investment:
- Innovation – £77 million
- Digital – £6.5 million
- Culture, Heritage & Tourism – £26 million
- Transport, Connectivity & Low Carbon – £26 million
- Infrastructure – £5 million
- Skills and Inclusion – £2 million
- Capital Fund for Clackmannanshire
Key projects include:
Scotland’s International Environment Centre: led by the University of Stirling, the Centre will focus on innovation across Forth Valley to deliver a net zero regional economy and transformational change in sustainable business practices.
National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub (NATIH): building on the University of Stirling‘s reputation as the top-rated aquaculture research and training department in the UK, experts will conduct commercially relevant research in partnership with industry at new state-of-the-art lab facilities.
Forthside: transfer of 34-acre former Ministry of Defence site at Forthside to Stirling Council to enable new economic opportunities.
Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling: two new cycling, walking and wheeling corridors of more than 6.5 km to connect communities, businesses and higher education institutes across the city. Opened in April 2025 by the Scottish Government’s Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, the £11 million project was funded by the Scottish Government through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme (£8.4m), via the City Region Deal (£2.5m) and by Stirling Council (£325,000). Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils have funding for additional Active Travel routes.
Digital Hubs: rural hubs will provide high quality workspace so growing businesses can stay local; while Stirling Hub will deliver Phase 2 of our Digital District, with new space earmarked for creative tech businesses at Forthside.
City Park Stirling: creating Scotland’s leading outdoors events venue beside Stirling Castle, with a 30,000 capacity. More than £750,000 is being invested through the Deal to make the site suitable for large-scale music events, concerts and festivals, with the aim of attracting at least 500,000 additional visitors over the next 15 year – adding to Stirling’s considerable visitor and tourism offer.
Regional Energy Masterplan: implementing an ambitious Regional Energy Masterplan (REM), which focuses on energy efficiency, heat management and renewable generation – with subsequent sequestration of residual emissions to reach net zero. The REM is based on robust data and evidence, with a long-term vision to 2045 broken down into shorter terms – Phase 1 covers 2023-2028.
