Inverness-headquartered firm is one of UK’s fastest growing energy services providers
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SINCE its launch just under three years ago, Inverness headquartered Aurora Energy Services (Aurora) has become established as one of the UK’s fastest growing energy services providers – spanning both the renewable energy and traditional oil and gas sectors.
Aurora’s founding directors Doug Duguid and Michael Buchan have a lengthy track record in building successful international energy sector businesses including EnerMech and previously PSL Energy Services.
Aurora is in the vanguard of Scotland’s energy transition to net-zero, leaning in to decades of experience in the oil and gas sector to develop in tandem a range of renewable energy sector services, including training, construction, maintenance and repair and inspection services in the onshore and offshore wind sector.
This commitment to energy transition was underlined when the Scottish National Investment Bank provided £20 million loan funding to assist Aurora in developing a network of regional training hubs and workshop facilities which will support the green energy supply chain.
Aurora Energy Services chief executive, Doug Duguid, said at the time: “We are a Scottish business firmly rooted in the Highlands but with an international footprint, and the Bank’s financial support will be an important factor as we close in on other international acquisitions which are in the pipeline.
“The wind sector is an important part of Aurora’s future expansion plans, but other renewable technologies like Hydrogen, Carbon Capture & Storage and Pumped Hydro are also key, not to mention the grid and substation infrastructure upgrades required to enable the growth in renewable generation and the Bank’s support means we can speed up our strategic expansion in those areas.”
Key to supporting net-zero objectives, Aurora has invested £1.2 million in establishing the Renewable Energy Training Centre in Inverness, which in its first year delivered 1,600 training modules and will annually train 2,000 workers who will be central to Scotland’s net-zero transition.
The 11,000 sq ft Training Centre is the only facility of its kind serving the Scottish Highlands and has been a game-changer for wind sector workers in the Highlands, Western Isles and Orkney, who previously had to travel to Aberdeen, the Central Belt or North England to attain safety and technical training qualifications.
Andy Young and Emma Skinner are two typical energy sector workers who have benefited from having access to Aurora’s RETC facility.
Andy, 25, from Inverness, is an experienced mechanical engineer who has spent eight years working in the offshore oil and gas sector on change-outs, scheduled maintenance, reactive repairs, and pipeline projects, but has attended Aurora’s training academy to prepare for transition.
He said: “There’s a lot of discussion around the future of the North Sea and how exploration could be cut back and I feel the time is right to try something new.
“There is a huge amount of investment being put into new wind projects and renewables technologies, and it seems that sustainable energy sources are going to be the future for engineers like me.
“It’s fantastic having this training expertise on our doorstep here in the Highlands and the Aurora instructors are fountains of knowledge. My plan is to continue to build up my renewables skillset over the coming months as I make a full transition from the oil and gas sector.”
Emma, 24, a rope access technician from Fort William, added: “The Aurora facility is excellent and the trainers are amazing. It’s such a great asset to have in Inverness for those of us living and working in the Highlands, rather than having to travel all the way to Aberdeen or further afield to gain the necessary competency qualifications.”
Renewable energy employers in the region also benefit from a more convenient training location with savings on transport and accommodations costs, while minimising their environmental footprint.
Another important dynamic which marks out Aurora as unique is its position as the only renewable energy training services provider which also provides construction, maintenance, repair and inspection services to the wind sector – therefore introducing real-life lessons and industry experience to the classroom.
Aurora’s training centre, located at 34 Longman Drive in Inverness, is triple badge accredited and offers safety and technical training from global training bodies, including the Global Wind Organisation (GWO), Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).
“We’re the only renewable company in the region which sends out highly qualified teams to inspect and repair turbines, but which also has its own training centre,” explained Andy Elrod, Aurora’s Director of Training.
“We are filling a gap in the training of a new generation of technicians who will construct and maintain the nation’s growing onshore and offshore wind capacity.”
Aurora’s strategic energy transition role in reskilling oil and gas workers plus training new entrants and apprentices was recently recognised when the company was presented with the Contribution to Skills Award in Scottish Renewables’ Green Energy Awards.
Aurora now employs 700 staff in Scotland and international locations through a series of strategic acquisitions, which have laid the foundations for domestic and global growth.
In its first year, Aurora acquired three north of Scotland businesses – Inverness Access Training Services, Huntly’s R&M Engineering and Wick-based Northern Marine Services (NMS).
As part of the Aurora portfolio, the former NMS business has benefited from an £800,000 investment in specialist lifting equipment and a state-of-the-art tracked off-road fleet of vehicles, ideally suited to working in remote sites in the Highlands.
Aurora has also leveraged its geographic advantage to capture a new stream of work in upgrading telecommunications masts for 5G deployment across the north of Scotland and are now approved vendors for some of the biggest telecoms companies in the UK. They have also secured a number of larger engineering, lifting and maintenance workscopes in the offshore wind farm sector.
Future expansion, including securing larger workshop and yard space in Caithness, is on the cards to accommodate upcoming major power grid and substation projects in the region, and manpower is expected to double in the next 18 months.
Aurora’s Operations Director (UK North), David Duguid, said: “This last year has surpassed expectations in terms of securing new business and we are creating training and job opportunities in the Caithness area, while investing in equipment needed to support future growth.
“There is a big push across the north of Scotland to roll out 5G telecoms capability and we have been successful in winning strategic contracts to support this campaign and are now providing a turnkey service to the telecoms sector.
“One of NMS’s strengths was its proximity to large windfarm development projects in the north of Scotland and with Aurora’s wider geographic reach, we have been successful in tendering for larger projects which incorporate engineering, lifting, inspection and maintenance services.
“The third area which could accelerate our growth is in the upgrading of the National Grid and electricity substation infrastructure and we have the expertise to support the major operators involved in this work.”
David Duguid said Aurora is actively recruiting to fill a number of vacancies, including ATV operators, HGV drivers, crane operators, telehandler operators and lifting technicians, and plan to double the size of their full-time site workforce by the end of 2025.
Aurora is determined to create jobs and training opportunities and as part of this vision have hired trainees in Wick and have committed to upskilling existing Caithness-based staff.
Elliot Geddes, 24, from Wick was an NMS employee and now works as a Lifting & Inspection Technician. He said: “The transition to Aurora has been a game changer for Wick base. We’ve seen significant upgrades in the equipment we use and it’s clear the company is committed to improving operations and investing in the latest kit and technology. Personally, it’s opened up so many new opportunities for me to grow professionally and I’m excited to be part of a team that’s forward-thinking and growing quickly.”
Investment in upgrading facilities at the former R&M Huntly operation is also underway, a long-established apprentice scheme continues to provide career opportunities for youngsters, and while the previous business was focused on the oil and gas sector, new opportunities are emerging in renewables and infrastructure projects.
Aurora’s full year 2024 revenues were £68 million and its ambitious business plan envisages creating a £150 million turnover business in the next three years.
To be part of the Aurora success story and to find out more, visit www.auroraenergy.co
Address details:
34 Longman Dr, Inverness IV1 1SU
T: 01463 212777
E: info@auroraenergy.co
W: www.auroraenergy.co
