SSE, in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands, is to launch a new engineering degree later this year.

The two organisations came together in 2012 to respond to the growing need for more engineers in the energy sector. The result of the partnership is the new BEng Power Engineering Systems degree. This will be delivered to students in the Highlands and Islands from Inverness College UHI.

The degree will include training in a range of power system technologies, such as renewable generation and high voltage transmission and distribution systems.

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The energy provider will sponsor a total of six places, three of which will be through SHE Transmission which will provide a bursary and salaried summer placement in the company. In addition, David Gardner, SSE's Director of Transmission, said that where possible, two of those students will be from the Caithness/Sutherland and Great Glen areas, enabling them to continue to live and work in the area.

Billy Andrews, programme leader based at Inverness College UHI, said: "As well as meeting the needs of local employers in the Highland and Islands, this qualification should be of interest to power network providers across the world.

"As an example, the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade was undertaken in some of the most hostile conditions possible and we can take students to learn in what is a real living laboratory."

Gary I Campbell, the university's key account director, added: "We've been working with SSE and our engineering staff across the university to respond to this anomaly and develop our new degree which will deliver qualified staff to SSE where they need it and also attract new students into our area."

(JP/IT)