UHI secures major investment for new Offshore Wind Skills Hub
The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) has secured more than £1.17 million from the Scottish Government’s Offshore Wind Skills Programme to establish a new Offshore Wind Skills Hub. The new initiative will serve communities across the Highlands and Islands, Argyll, Perthshire and Moray.
The funding represents almost 70% of the £1.68 million awarded through the first round of the programme and will support a coordinated, industry-led approach to developing the skilled workforce needed for Scotland’s rapidly growing offshore wind sector.
The announcement was made on Monday 22 June by Energy Minister Stephen Gethins as part of a package of awards designed to help realise Scotland’s renewable energy potential and support the development of the workforce required to meet future industry demand.
The Offshore Wind Skills Hub is supported by a range of employer organisations and partners including Scottish Engineering, CECA Scotland, Highland Renewables, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, Prosper, North Highland Chamber of Commerce, regional Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) groups across the Highlands and Islands, Argyll, Moray and Tayside, as well as Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.
Working with seven UHI academic partners and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), the hub will improve access to training and career opportunities in offshore wind, support businesses to recruit and develop the skilled workforce they need, and deliver a coordinated programme of curriculum development aligned to ScotWind, Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) and Green Freeport opportunities.
Through employer incentives, flexible training funding, learner support and bursaries, the programme will help remove barriers to participation and create clear pathways into offshore wind careers. It will focus on key occupations in engineering, electrical, fabrication, maritime and infrastructure disciplines essential to offshore wind development.
Vicki Nairn, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UHI, said:
“This significant investment recognises the vital role that UHI and our partners play in developing the workforce needed to support Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
“Our regions are at the heart of Scotland’s offshore wind ambitions. Through the Offshore Wind Skills Hub, we will work closely with industry partners to ensure that people and communities can access the skills, training and opportunities required to benefit from the sector’s growth.
“By bringing together employers, industry organisations and our academic partners, we can create a sustainable pipeline of talent that supports economic development, helps businesses grow and enables more people to access high-quality jobs linked to the energy transition.”
The Offshore Wind Skills Hub will support new entrants to the sector, individuals transitioning from related industries, and existing workers seeking to upskill. The initiative will also invest in new training provision and regional capacity, ensuring the Highlands and Islands is well positioned to capture the economic opportunities associated with offshore wind development and the transition to net zero.
Stephen Sheridan, UHI Director of Economic Development and Advancement, said:
“This funding allows UHI and our partners to deliver a coordinated regional response to one of Scotland’s most urgent workforce challenges. The Offshore Wind Skills Hub will create new training pathways, support employers to recruit and develop talent, and ensure that the economic benefits of offshore wind are felt across our communities.
“We look forward to working closely with industry, the Scottish Government and regional partners to deliver the skilled workforce needed to support Scotland’s clean energy transition.”
The Scottish Government’s Offshore Wind Skills Programme was established in 2026 with £3.85 million allocated to support the development of the skilled workforce needed to support growth in the sector.