Scotland’s largest Energy Transition Skills Hub was officially opened in Aberdeen by First Minister John Swinney. The £10 million facility, built on the site of a derelict former dairy, is set to play a pivotal role in equipping the region’s workforce with the expertise needed for the shift to low-carbon energy.

The new Hub, located within the city’s Energy Transition Zone, is the flagship project of the Skills Campus and is expected to support 1,000 people into jobs focused on energy transition during its first five years of operation.

The opening marks the formal handover of the facility from ETZ Ltd, which led the delivery of the project, to North East Scotland College (NESCol). The college confirmed the Hub is already being put to use, with 42 welding students and 27 engineering students enrolled this academic year.

To widen access, the Hub blends full-time study with part-time, evening, and weekend courses, offering opportunities for upskilling and reskilling, particularly for local communities. The facility also houses a state-of-the-art welding academy, an advanced manufacturing zone, and future technology digital training suites.

High demand for skills in offshore wind

NESCol has already introduced new courses designed to meet the growing demand for energy transition skills, including an Energy Technician programme and a brand-new Wind Turbine Operations & Maintenance course, which together have enrolled 32 students this year. With 75% of Scotland’s 45.5 GW of installed and planned offshore wind projects located within 100 nautical miles of Aberdeen, the city is uniquely positioned to benefit.

Public-private backing

The project has been supported by a significant blend of public and private investment. ETZ Ltd secured £4.5 million from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund, alongside contributions from Shell UK (£1.8m), NESCol (£500k), engineering skills body ECITB (£400k), and SSEN (£150k). Continued backing from both the Scottish and UK Governments has underpinned delivery.

First Minister John Swinney, who officially opened the Hub, praised its role in shaping the future energy workforce.

“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 Energy Transition Skills Hub will be transformational in building on Aberdeen’s proud reputation as a hub of energy excellence and positions the region as the go-to location for people seeking to develop energy skills of the future”, he said.

ETZ Ltd Chair, Ian Wood, highlighted the importance of the opening as a milestone in North East Scotland’s ambition to remain a global leader in energy.

“Equipping this and future generations with the skills necessary to forge long and successful careers in the transition to a low carbon economy is of the utmost importance. Today also represents a shining example of how the public and private sectors can work together to deliver impactful outcomes at pace”, he said.