Deputy First Minister meets apprentices as Inverness office hosts launch of Highland jobs action plan

(Image: Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes with Chair of Skills Development Scotland, Frank Mitchell, SSEN Transmission Director of Offshore Deliver, Sandy Mactaggart and Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner with SSEN Apprentices. Image courtesy of Skills Development Scotland)

The plan brings together a range of local and national partners with key employers to deliver jobs and maximise opportunities for people in the Highlands, as the region plays a vital role in Scotland’s energy future. 

During her visit Ms Forbes spoke with the apprentices who are helping deliver new clean energy infrastructure as part of our £22bn+ investment that is helping deliver Scotland and the UK’s clean energy and energy security ambitions, while driving jobs and economic growth locally and nationally.  Hailing from across the Highlands and Islands, the apprentices are among the 2,500+ employees now working for SSEN Transmission – a more than five-fold increase in employee headcount in just five years, with further recruitment ongoing.Monday’s launch event included representation from several organisations involved in the Workforce North initiative, including national skills agency Skills Development Scotland, The Highland Council, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.  

Sandy Mactaggart, Director of Offshore Delivery at SSEN Transmission, was among the delegates. He said: 

“We’re delighted to host the launch of Workforce North here in Inverness - right at the heart of a region that stands to play a vital role in Scotland’s energy future. And as someone who grew up in the Highlands, but had to move away to pursue my career in engineering, I’m particularly pleased to be involved. At SSEN Transmission, our £22bn+ investment plan in new electricity transmission infrastructure is truly transformational, not only in delivering the infrastructure needed to enable energy security and clean power, but in creating lasting opportunities for people, businesses and communities across the north of Scotland. By working closely with partners across the public and private sectors, we’re committed to ensuring that the skills, jobs and long-term benefits from this investment are realised here in the Highlands, leaving a positive legacy for generations to come. Launching the Workforce North Action Plan, Ms Forbes said: “The Highlands and Islands are poised to benefit from over £100 billion in investment over the next 15 years, presenting a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the regional economy. The challenge is of course to capitalise on this enormous opportunity, to secure thousands of top-quality jobs and ensure communities across the region benefit for decades to come. The Workforce North Action Plan embodies what we need to rise to this challenge: a joined-up approach, true collaboration across organisations and between the public and private sectors, and a clear plan for how, together, we can create the conditions for new talent to grow, return, and settle.” 

For more information on the Workforce North Action Plan, visit Action plan targets growth of Highlands and Islands workforce - Skills Development Scotland