The University of Aberdeen is part of a partnership announced today by Great British Energy focused on supporting the next generation of energy workers in the North-east of Scotland.
Backed by £750,000 funding, Great British Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Aberdeen, North East Scotland College (NesCoL), Robert Gordon University (RGU) and the Energy Transition Zone Ltd (ETZ) ahead of it opening its Aberdeen headquarters.
The partnership will support young people, including those currently not in education or training (NEETs), into energy or energy adjacent sectors. It will also include working with the National Energy Skills Accelerator and partners to support those transitioning into energy and energy adjacent sectors and leveraging the regional research base, while tackling barriers faced by those from disadvantaged communities.
The publicly-owned energy company was today bringing together industry leaders, partners and stakeholders who have supported Great British Energy since its inception.
Great British Energy has established its headquarters in Aberdeen because the city has the people and expertise that have powered the nation for generations - nowhere is better placed to deliver the UK's energy future.
The company is committed to bringing tangible benefits to Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland, including creating employment through its headquarters, wider projects and partnerships with groups across the city like working with the local research base to foster and support regional knowledge and technical expertise.
Supporting the next generation of the energy workforce is central to what Great British Energy is working to achieve.
Great British Energy has also confirmed it will aim for five percent of its own workforce to be in entry-level and early-career pathways, offering opportunities for young people in Aberdeen and the wider region to build careers at the forefront of the energy transition.
As a publicly owned company, Great British Energy can invest for the long term, reinvesting returns back into the country's energy transition, ensuring the benefits of Britain's energy future are shared with the communities that help deliver it.
Dan McGrail, CEO of Great British Energy, said:
“We are working to build a lasting legacy in Aberdeen, creating jobs, backing young people into careers in renewable energy, and being an active member of the community here for years to come.
“This city has powered the UK for generations, and we're here because Britain's energy future lies in working alongside the people and communities who know this industry best.
“I look forward to working with our regional partners to open up opportunities for people across the North East to access careers in the energy industry.
“I am proud that Great British Energy will welcome young people into our team and support them as they develop rewarding careers in the sector. Together, we are helping to build a secure energy future for the UK while creating the skilled workforce needed to deliver it.”
Juergen Maier, Chair of Great British Energy, said:
"As a publicly owned company, Great British Energy exists to deliver lasting value for the people of Britain and having Aberdeen as our home reflects that mission.
“It puts us at the heart of a community with decades of energy expertise, and it means the benefits of our work, new jobs, new skills and new opportunities for young people, are felt right here where they matter most. This is a long-term commitment and today marks just the start of that journey."
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said:
“For more than half a century Aberdeen has been at the heart of Britain’s energy system - the skills and expertise here is why this city will remain the energy powerhouse of the future.
“As publicly-owned Great British Energy opens its doors to the city, we are backing young people to be part of this next chapter, alongside skilled oil and gas workers.
“It’s an important step-up in support and training for the thousands of good energy jobs opening up in Scotland and across the country.”
Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander said:
"This is great news for Aberdeen, great news for Scotland, and great news for the United Kingdom. Aberdeen is our energy capital and has helped power our country for decades. Now the granite City is also providing a home to our publicly owned energy company, Great British Energy, that serves the whole of the United Kingdom.
"Great British Energy is not only creating jobs right now, but also looking to the future, and is investing in skills that will be needed by the workforce in an ever changing energy sector.”
Dr Heather May Morgan, Vice-Principal Regional Engagement & Innovation of University of Aberdeen, said:
"The energy transition represents one of the most significant economic and societal transformations of our time, and it is vital that the benefits are felt by communities across the North-east. This partnership recognises that no single organisation can address the challenge alone.
“By bringing together research capabilities, education providers, industry and regional partners, we can apply expertise and evidence to create better pathways into employment, help people transfer their skills into new sectors and ensure that local talent is at the heart of the transition. The University of Aberdeen is proud to actively contribute to this shared effort. Together, we can support a skilled, adaptable workforce that will help drive a successful and inclusive energy transition for the region."
Maggie McGinlay, Chief Executive of ETZ Ltd, said:
“This £750,000 commitment is a welcome investment in the North East of Scotland's future energy workforce, creating clearer routes into careers and helping ensure businesses can access the skills they need to grow.
“The region is Europe’s Capital of Energy Excellence, with decades of energy expertise behind it. Great British Energy’s decision to locate its headquarters in Aberdeen reflects that strength, and this partnership will help more people across the region build careers in the industry.”
Neil Cowie, Principal and Chief Executive of NESCol, said:
“In a region undergoing one of the most significant industrial transitions anywhere in the UK, ensuring that young people can access emerging opportunities is both an economic and social imperative. This MOU helps to strengthen a partnership already built on solid foundations. Our role at NESCol, and that of our two regional universities, is not simply to provide training, but to bridge the gap between aspiration and employment through employer engagement, industry-connected learning, apprenticeships and clear progression pathways.
“Education providers cannot do this alone. Employers and industry partners also have a vital role to play through placements, apprenticeships and accessible entry-level opportunities that give young people the chance to take that critical first step into employment. The willingness to invest in emerging talent is essential if the benefits of the energy transition are to be shared by the next generation and the MOU is a symbol of that commitment.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
For media enquiries, please contact gbepressoffice@gbe.gov.uk.
Backed by £750,000 funding, Great British Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with North East Scotland College (NesCoL), Robert Gordon University (RGU), the University of Aberdeen and the Energy Transition Zone Ltd (ETZ). The partnership is focused on supporting young people, including those currently not in education or training (NEETs), into energy or energy adjacent sectors. It will also include working with the National Energy Skills Accelerator and partners to support those transitioning into energy and energy adjacent sectors, and leveraging the regional research base.
Great British Energy will work within this partnership and with other local partners to deliver the scheme.
Great British Energy has set clear, measurable objectives across local energy, onshore energy, offshore energy and supply chains. By 2030 we aim to achieve:
At least 15 GW of clean energy generation and storage assets – enough to power the equivalent of almost 10 million homes
£15 billion of mobilised private finance over time, driven by GBE’s investments and long-term partnerships
Support to over 1,000 local and community energy projects, expanding public participation and local control in the energy system
More than 10,000 jobs, directly supported through GBE-backed and funded projects, including in areas historically dependent on oil & gas
An income-generating portfolio, with income reinvested into more capacity and more opportunity