The National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA) hosted Scotland's Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work Gillian Martin in Aberdeen to discuss the success of NESA's Just Transition Fund (JTF) project for the north-east and Moray.
A collaboration between the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and the North East of Scotland College, supported by key regional partners including Energy Transition Zone Ltd and Skills Development Scotland, NESA is on track to support over 700 individuals access fully funded places on energy transition focused courses during 2023/24.
Nearly half of the courses have been newly developed and have been designed to align with industry’s energy transition requirements.
NESA is also helping to better communicate energy jobs and career pathways. With support from the Scottish Funding Council’s Regional Pathfinder initiative, NESA will be launching a pilot web-based energy career pathways tool later this month. The tool will allow individuals to visualise their own route into an energy career and highlight the different pathways and training available.
NESA was established in Aberdeen in July 2021 to prepare the workforce for the energy transition and to provide access to new skills and capabilities required for delivering the net zero agenda.
Just Transition Minister Gillian Martin said: “The Scottish Government has provided £1million towards NESA’s pilot energy skills programme, supporting hundreds of people access free training courses to transition to new careers in renewables. It was great to see how successful this pilot has been.
"Sustainable low carbon jobs are a vital part of our future and we will support workers in the north-east of Scotland as part of our transition to net-zero, which will have a positive impact on our climate and deliver a fair, green and growing economy.”
Professor Paul de Leeuw, Chair of the NESA Board, said: “NESA has made huge strides in energy skills development since its beginnings in 2021. We have been absolutely delighted with the funding from the Just Transition Fund and to see the huge uptake from over 700 professionals for transition training during 2023/24 on over 37 energy course and programmes.
"We are now looking forward to building on this positive momentum and funding to play our part in setting the future energy workforce up for success throughout 2024/25 and beyond.”
Professor John Underhill, the University of Aberdeen's Interdisciplinary Director for Energy Transition, said: "The University is delighted to be an integral partner in NESA and contribute to the programs that have been supported by the Scottish Government through the Just Transition Fund award.
"NESA is a key part of our commitment to skills and training to help people and communities face the energy transition.”
