Scotland’s largest Energy Transition Skills Hub has officially opened in Aberdeen, aiming to support 1000 people into jobs focused on renewables within its first five years.
The £10m facility features a welding academy, advanced manufacturing zone and digital training suites, and forms the anchor project of the city’s Skills Campus within the Energy Transition Zone.
First Minister John Swinney (pictured) said the hub will be “transformational in building on [Aberdeen’s] proud reputation and positions the city and wider region as the go-to location for people seeking to develop energy skills of the future.”
ETZ Ltd delivered the project, which has now been handed over to North East Scotland College (NESCol). Training is already underway for 42 welding students and 27 engineering students this academic year, alongside new energy technician and wind turbine operations and maintenance courses.
The hub has been backed by the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund (£4.5m), Shell UK (£1.8m), NESCol (£500k), ECITB (£400k), and SSEN (£150k).
ETZ Ltd chairman Sir Ian Wood said: “Equipping this and future generations with the skills necessary so they can forge long and successful careers in the transition to a low carbon economy is of the upmost importance and that is why today’s opening is such an important occasion.”
Shell UK senior vice president Simon Roddy added that the hub will act as an anchor for its UK Skills Transition Programme, part of a wider plan to support 15,000 people into energy transition jobs by 2035.
NESCol principal Neil Cowie said the hub will also support upskilling and reskilling: “With the full-time offer now embedded, we are already turning our attention to the offer tailored to employers and those wishing to take advantage of part-time learning opportunities.”