The National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA) announces the launch of their North East Regional Pathfinder project, funded by the Scottish Funding Council, to create an Energy Transition Skills Interactive Pathway Tool.

Skills demands are developing as a result of energy transition, creating a complex landscape for people looking to join, transfer to, or progress within the energy industry. This pilot will develop an interactive pathway tool enabling individuals to identify qualifications needed for specific jobs in the low-carbon energy sector by streamlining and outlining available options to undertake these qualifications in the region.

By communicating clear routes by which students can follow a rewarding career in the renewable energy sector, the interactive pathway tool aims to promote opportunities for employees to reskill and upskill, as well as for people to enter the sector. The clarification of the varied options to gain qualifications with each of the regional providers will help learners build up a portfolio of qualifications and receive recognition of their chosen skills pathway. In addition to enhancing understanding of and routes to qualifications for individuals, the pilot will also help inform careers advisors and employers of available provision and pathways.

Prof John Underhill, NESA Chair and University of Aberdeen’s Director of Energy Transition, said:
“NESA seeks to inspire people to take up careers in the renewable energy sector. The Interactive Pathfinder Tool NESA is developing will map out clear educational pathways for individuals wishing to pursue careers in the renewables sector to aid the energy transition. NESA is thrilled to have received the Scottish Funding Council’s support through the Pathfinder initiative, which further emphasises the importance of our work.”

James Dunphy, SFC Director for Access, Learning and Outcomes said:
“We are delighted to be supporting NESA in the development of the Interactive Pathfinder Tool. As we strive to achieve the transition to net zero, colleges and universities will play a vital role in the reskilling and upskilling of today’s workforce and the workforce of the future.”

NESA is a collaborative initiative between world-renowned institutions Robert Gordon University, the University of Aberdeen and North East Scotland College and is supported by key partners Skills Development Scotland and Energy Transition Zone Ltd. Supporting the changing needs of energy sector employers and the workforce as they respond to energy transition opportunities, NESA aims to accelerate the up-, re- and new-skilling of both the existing and future workforce.

The Scottish Funding Council is Scotland’s tertiary education and research authority. The council’s purpose is to sustain a world-leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation that enables students to flourish, changes lives for the better, and supports social, economic and environmental wellbeing and prosperity.

The Pathfinder initiatives are designed to align skills and training requirements with societal and employer needs, enhance coherence and sustainability across provision, simplify pathways and improve outcomes for learners. This work is a key action of the Scottish Government’s Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET).

Energy Industry Directory: National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA)