First Minister Alex Salmond has urged Scotland's young people to join the country’s renewables revolution and take advantage of the "unparalleled opportunities" for employment being opened up in the sector.

Speaking before a Strathclyde University event to mark the award of honorary degrees to six prominent energy figures, the First Minister said Scotland’s future industrialists would "achieve great, transformational things for energy generation in Scotland" as they build careers around the skilled employment opportunities being attracted to this country.

Mr Salmond cited investments from major energy industry firms in renewables and oil and gas as well as recent developments in new technologies such as carbon capture and storage as exciting examples of the growth in a vibrant energy industry that is driving the reindustrialisation of Scotland.

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The First Minister said one of the major reasons the planet’s leading energy companies were attracted to Scotland was the high quality of its people, with a world-class universities sector and modern apprenticeships already developing the highly-skilled workforce of the future.

But he called on all of Scotland’s young people to consider a career in the industry to help ensure the country can continue to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving, highly-specialised sector and remain at the forefront of world energy development.

The First Minister said, given the country’s energy challenge in the coming decades, it was particularly important to encourage women into the industry so that the entire range of Scotland’s skills is deployed to maintain the renewables and oil and gas success story.

Mr Salmond said: "Scotland’s energy heritage is world-renowned, and our skilled workforce is a major attraction for the leading energy firms that are bringing investment and thousands of jobs to our country.

"We already have a world-class university base, and this is being increasingly complemented by a range of apprenticeships and training that is preparing the industry leaders of the future to achieve great, transformational things for energy generation in Scotland.

"The skilled workers of tomorrow will be absolutely key to the success of the major investments now being located in Scotland by some of the biggest energy industry players."

(GK)