The University of Aberdeen is hosting a new introductory course, The State of Energy Transition, designed to equip participants with a foundational understanding of the UK’s evolving energy landscape.
Taking place on campus on 7 May, the programme will see senior staff from the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University (RGU), North East Scotland College (NESCol) and high‑profile industry leaders, including Dan McGrail, CEO of Great British Energy, present an up-to-date assessment of energy transition.
Developed as part of the National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA) collaborative partnership, it is targeted towards individuals seeking to enter roles within the energy transition sector as well as those working in non‑technical positions within energy companies such as HR, finance and business support. It will also be of interest to professionals in stakeholder organisations including local authorities and Scottish Enterprise.
NESA is an initiative aiming to accelerate the UK’s energy transition through delivery of industry-informed training, education and upskilling opportunities. It provides access to new and relevant skills that help businesses contribute positively to the green economy. This latest course builds on the hugely successful £1 million Scottish Government Just Transition Fund project award which enabled NESA academic partners - the University of Aberdeen, RGU and NESCol – ably supported by Skills Development Scotland and ETZ Ltd. to develop 15 new courses and offer more than 700 fully funded places to support the re- and up-skilling of workers for energy transition.
The new course reflects the continued commitment of all three institutions to collaborate on high‑impact learning opportunities and highlights the strong support from industry leaders who recognise the collective expertise the region brings to the energy transition agenda.
The programme is hosted by the University’s Interdisciplinary Institute’s Centre for Energy Transition.
Professor John Underhill, Director of the Centre for Energy Transition and Chair of NESA’s Board, said: “The State of Energy Transition course provides an invaluable opportunity for learners from a wide range of backgrounds to gain clarity on how the UK’s energy mix is evolving and what this means for future careers.
“As the industry moves through a period of rapid change, accessible and collaborative training of this kind is essential to keep track of the challenges that exist and the progress being made to address them. NESA’s continued partnership across the University of Aberdeen, RGU and NESCol, combined with the willingness of industry leaders to contribute, demonstrates the region’s unique strength and shared commitment to shaping a fair, sustainable and skilled energy workforce of the future.”
Isla Robb, NESA Co-Host and Offshore Renewables Director at ETZ Ltd, said: “This course demonstrates the NESA partner’s commitment to meeting energy transition skills needs and embodies collaboration in action.
“ETZ Ltd are delighted to support NESA in delivering this high-level training course, giving learners a window into many low-carbon sectors and highlighting the depth and breadth of the fast-evolving energy sector. Creating industry-led, accessible training such as this is the foundation of a just energy transition.”
The one‑day, zero‑credit course will take place on 7 May at the Sir Duncan Rice Library. Registration and further information can be found at https://www.abdn.ac.uk/events/conferences/state-of-energy-transition/