Scotland’s largest Energy Transition Skills Hub, boasting a state-of-the-art welding academy, advanced manufacturing zone and future technology digital training suites, was officially opened in Aberdeen yesterday by First Minister John Swinney MSP.
The brand new £10million facility, on the site of a dilapidated former dairy, is the transformational anchor project of the Skills Campus in the city’s Energy Transition Zone and will support 1,000 people into jobs with a focus on energy transition in the first five years of its operation.
The event marks the official handover of the Hub from ETZ Ltd, who have led the project’s delivery, to North East Scotland College (NESCol) with the latter confirming the new facility is already providing training for 42 welding students and 27 engineering students this academic year.
To encourage increased uptake in courses, particularly from local communities, the Hub is providing accessible training, blending provision for full-time students with opportunities for upskilling and reskilling through part-time, evening and weekend courses.
The high demand for energy transition skills across the region is evidenced by NESCol’s Energy Technician and brand-new Wind Turbine Operations & Maintenance courses, which enrolled 32 students this year alone. This provides the skills required to forge careers in a sector the region is ideally placed to benefit from, given the vast majority of Scotland’s 45.5 GW total installed and planned offshore wind projects sit within 100 nautical miles of Aberdeen.
Through its leadership and private-public sector partnership model, ETZ Ltd secured significant backing toward the project from the Scottish Government Just Transition Fund (£4.5m), Shell UK (£1.8m), NESCol (£500k), market leading engineering skills body ECITB (£400k), transmission networks provider SSEN (£150k) with the remainder being funded through the ongoing support for ETZ Ltd from the Scottish and UK Governments.
First Minister John Swinney was joined by ETZ Ltd Chair, Sir Ian Wood, Shell UK Senior Vice President - Upstream, Simon Roddy, and NESCol Principal, Neil Cowie, as they toured the new Hub.
First Minister of Scotland, Rt Hon John Swinney MSP, said: “Ensuring a pipeline of expertise and talent will be key to unlocking Scotland’s energy transition and securing the highly skilled workforce of the future.
“The Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund has been central to the development of the Energy Transition Skills Hub, a magnificent facility that will support our existing workforce alongside fostering the skills of the next generation of industry leaders.
“Aberdeen is recognised around the world as a hub of energy excellence, and it is the expertise and knowledge of its workforce that has underpinned its success. The Energy Transition Skills Hub will be transformational in building on that 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 Chairman, Sir Ian Wood, said: “The opening of the Energy Transition Skills Hub marks a significant milestone in our ambition to ensure North East Scotland remains a global leader in energy excellence, with a world-class supply chain, pioneering low carbon projects, and a thriving economy.
“The greatest asset any industry must have to succeed is its people and this region is blessed with a highly skilled workforce that has pioneered innovative energy solutions for over fifty years. 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.
“Today also represents yet another shining example of how the public and private sectors can work together to deliver impactful outcomes at pace. We are hugely grateful to NESCol, Shell UK, ECITB and SSEN for their unwavering support and to the Scottish and UK Governments for their continued and significant backing.
“It is very fitting to have the First Minister open this wonderful facility and for him to see first-hand the progress ETZ Ltd is making in delivering an energy ecosystem within the Energy Transition Zone that is second to none and in transforming this region to one of the most attractive locations in Europe for investment in low carbon technologies.”
Senior Vice President - Upstream, Shell UK, Simon Roddy, said: “The Energy Transition Skills Hub in Aberdeen is part of our UK Skills Transition Programme to support 15,000 people into jobs, with a focus on the energy transition by 2035. Together with our hubs in Pembrokeshire and Fife, this facility will support around 5,000 learners across the UK. Today’s launch in Aberdeen marks a major milestone for the North East of Scotland and demonstrates the power of collaboration between industry, education, and government in building a skilled future energy workforce.
“As the Skills Hub moves into delivery, we’re proud to use it as an anchor point for programmes like Shell Girls in Energy. Since the programme began it has supported over 1,800 young women to engage in STEM subjects and to consider a career in the global energy sector through weekly lessons, workshops and industry visits. This year, 20 classes across the North East are beginning their studies, and for the first time, our Lochside Academy cohort, which neighbours the Skills Hub will attend their sessions on-site, marking an exciting new chapter in the programme’s evolution. By building meaningful pathways from school to college to industry, we’re helping to inspire and equip the next generation of energy professionals.”
Principal and Chief Executive of NESCol, Neil Cowie, said: “The launch event marks the successful completion of the project’s design, build and commissioning phase. It also formally marks the beginning of the next stage, as delivery ramps up and the Hub truly comes to life.
“The first students are already settled into life at the Hub and the response has been hugely positive. There is no doubt they are inspired by the fantastic surroundings, and their experience of training is being enhanced by the cutting-edge equipment they have access to.
“When we set about drawing the blueprint for the Energy Transition Skills Hub, one of the primary aims was to create an environment that would inspire the next generation to embrace opportunities in an evolving energy industry.
“The Hub is not only about new entrants to the sector. Upskilling and reskilling are other important facets and, 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.”