Inverness’s £1.2m renewables training centre officially opened by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes
A £1.2million Inverness centre which has already provided renewables training to more than 1000 people has been officially opened.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who is also a Highland MSP, officially opened Aurora Energy Services' pioneering Renewable Energy Training Centre - the only facility of its kind serving the Scottish Highlands.
As well as delivering training to more than 1000 individuals in its first year of operation, it is already positioning itself to go even further and train more than 2000 workers annually who will be central to the country's renewable energy future.
Ms Forbes, who is also cabinet secretary for the economy and represents the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency, said the 11,000 sq ft centre represents a game-changing investment for the Highlands, eliminating the need for prospective wind sector workers from the region to travel to Aberdeen, the Central Belt or north England for essential safety and technical training qualifications.
She said: “Our transition to a net zero and climate resilient Scotland will put money in people’s pockets, improve health and wellbeing, lead to better public services and protect our planet for future generations.
“Workers are at the heart of Scotland’s just transition and it’s vital we plan for a multi-skilled workforce and enable offshore workers to carry their experience and expertise into different roles as the energy sector evolves.
“This is a great example of how the Scottish Government is supporting the energy sector to achieve this through our Green Freeports. We are also funding the college sector to establish an Offshore Wind Skills Programme. We will continue to work with organisations like Aurora Energy, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and workers across the region to ensure communities thrive.”
The centre's modern facilities include classroom and audio-visual assets, overhead craneage, working-at-height frame and rope access frames, a mock turbine nacelle and a sea survival tank, and has achieved accreditation from the world's leading training bodies: the Global Wind Organisation, Industrial Rope Access Trade Association, and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board - making it the Highland's only triple-badged training facility of its kind.
Aurora is also a member of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport consortium which aims to create over 11,000 jobs located in the Highlands and attract investment in the region of almost £6.5 billion. It will focus on the renewable and low-carbon energy industries - particularly offshore wind and green hydrogen - which will help to drive the transition to net zero.
Doug Duguid, chief executive officer of Aurora Energy Services, said: "Establishing the training centre has provided a bridge between Scotland's proud oil and gas energy heritage and our renewable energy future.
“We're the only renewable company in the region which both operates highly qualified teams inspecting and repairing turbines while also running our own training centre, bringing real-world industry experience directly into the classroom.
"Wind energy project operators and developers are struggling to recruit staff with the prerequisite competency levels, and that's even before many of the recent successful ScotWind bids for fixed and floating windfarms get up and running.
“If Scotland is serious about meeting net-zero levels by 2045, we have to put in place the workforce to construct, maintain and service the vast wind-related infrastructure, and Aurora's Inverness facility is playing a vital part in that process."
Aurora has also received financial support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), and the Scottish National Investment Bank which provided a £20 million debt facility package to support the company's domestic and international growth strategy.
Brian Robson, senior development manager at HIE’s Inner Moray Firth team, said: “The region’s renewable sector is continuing to thrive, with the green freeport designation set to drive even greater growth. As demand for energy skills rises, Aurora’s new renewable energy training centre will play a crucial role in developing fresh talent and retaining experienced workers.
“Aurora’s remit to develop new expertise and retrain workers with deep industry knowledge, is a vital link in realising the potential before us. We’re pleased to have supported this project and look forward to working with Auora as they shape Scotland’s renewable energy future.”
The Offshore Wind Industry Council forecasts that by 2026, nearly 89,000 jobs will be needed in the UK offshore wind sector - an increase of 56,000 on the current workforce.
Since launching in June 2022, Inverness-headquartered Aurora has rapidly established itself as one of the UK's fastest-growing energy services providers and has bases in Aberdeen, Wick and Huntly, and has plans to increase its UK footprint in strategically important locations.
The company now employs 700 staff in Scotland, Australia, North America and South America, and is forecasting full year 2025 revenue of £85 million as part of a strategy of creating a £250 million turnover business in the next five years.
