The Scottish Government has confirmed that three projects will share a total of £1,679,143 to support the further development of offshore wind skills across the country. More than £1 million of this funding will go to the University of the Highlands and Islands, underscoring the importance of coastal and island communities in the renewables transition.

The remaining grants will support the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board and North East Scotland College, helping to expand engineering construction programmes and specialist training courses linked to offshore wind. The awards are expected to attract private investment of a similar value, leveraging additional funding into the green energy supply chain.

Focus on jobs and local economic benefits

Ministers say the projects are designed to help more people gain the skills needed to secure “good jobs” in the offshore wind sector and to ensure that communities share in the wider economic benefits of Scotland’s renewable energy potential. Industry reports suggest offshore wind could support up to 49,000 jobs in Scotland, making it a central pillar of both energy and economic strategy.

Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said the government is “doing everything within our power” to seize this opportunity, arguing that investment in skills is critical if businesses are to access the workforce they need to grow. He also linked the initiative to a just transition, with renewables framed as a route to long‑term, high‑quality employment in regions historically reliant on fossil fuel industries.

The grants are the first awards from the Offshore Wind Skills Programme (OWSP), a Scottish Government scheme established in 2026 with a budget of £3.85 million. The programme is intended to support the development of a dedicated offshore wind workforce that can meet rising demand from major projects in Scottish waters.

Under this first round, the University of the Highlands and Islands receives £1,171,139, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board £372,842, and North East Scotland College £135,162. Further bids will be considered by the OWSP Board throughout 2026 and 2027, suggesting a rolling pipeline of skills and training initiatives over the next two years.

Scottish–Irish offshore wind internships

The funding announcement was made ahead of Mr Gethins’ visit to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, where he met participants in the Scottish–Irish Offshore Wind Internship Pilot. The pilot will fund 20 paid, 12‑week summer internships in Scotland – 10 for Scottish students and 10 for Irish students – giving early‑career talent hands‑on experience in the sector.

Backed by £100,000 each from the Scottish and Irish governments, plus a further £20,000 from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, the scheme is billed as a model of cross‑border collaboration on green skills. Offshore wind has been identified as a priority area for cooperation under the Bilateral Cooperation Framework 2030, the only such formal agreement Scotland has with another nation.

Clare Lavelle, Project Director, Buchan Offshore Wind said: 
“We welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement of £1.7 million in funding to support skills development in offshore wind.

“Scotland has the resources and expertise to become a global leader in floating offshore wind, and continued investment in people will be critical for turning that potential into long-term economic growth.

“Located 75km north-east of Fraserburgh and connecting to the electricity grid at Peterhead, our transformative floating offshore wind farm is projected to support 2,900 Scottish jobs during construction, deliver more than £900m to the Scottish economy and more than £2bn in lifetime economic value.  ​

“This targeted support from government to build a better workforce today will play a vital role in helping us to deliver Scotland’s floating offshore wind future.”

Both the OWSP and the internship pilot build on Scotland’s Offshore Wind Skills Priorities and Action Plan, published in November 2025, which set out how government and industry should respond to the sector’s rapid growth. The new awards are positioned as a practical step towards delivering on those recommendations, by bringing together businesses, colleges and training bodies in a “smart, co‑ordinated” approach.

Mr Gethins also used the announcement to reiterate the Scottish Government’s constitutional stance, arguing that “the full benefits” of offshore wind can only be realised with independence and direct control over Scotland’s energy resources. While that debate continues, the latest round of skills funding underlines the administration’s intent to anchor the renewables transition in domestic jobs, regional investment and international partnerships.

KeyFacts Energy: Wind Energy