Three initiatives will share almost £1.7 million to deliver training that supports the expansion of Scotland's offshore wind industry, the Scottish Government has announced. The grants are expected to leverage private investment of a similar scale.

Funding will establish a regional skills hub for the Highlands and Islands, expand engineering construction training, and support courses at North East Scotland College, helping more people gain the skills needed for high-quality jobs and to secure wider economic benefits from renewables.

Energy Minister Stephen Gethins confirmed the awards ahead of a visit to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland to meet participants in the Scottish–Irish Offshore Wind Internship Pilot alongside representatives of the Government of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.

Mr Gethins said: "I am determined to make the most of Scotland's remarkable energy potential, with industry reports estimating offshore wind could support up to 49,000 jobs in Scotland. That is why it is at the centre of both our energy and economic ambitions."

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"The Scottish Government is doing everything within our power to help seize this exciting opportunity, and that starts by focusing on skills to ensure communities benefit directly from employment opportunities and businesses have the skilled workforce they need to grow. Supporting these three projects with almost £1.7 million is central to that, and there will be more to come.

"By bringing businesses together with education and skills providers, the Offshore Wind Skills Programme is the kind of smart, co-ordinated approach we need to shape the future of our renewables sector. Working with partners is vital given the scale of both the opportunities and challenges, and the Scottish–Irish Offshore Wind Internship Pilot is an excellent example of the benefits achieved by working together.

"However, the full benefits of our country's offshore wind potential will only be realised when Scotland is an independent nation and our energy resources are in our hands."

The Offshore Wind Skills Programme (OWSP), created in 2026, has a total allocation of £3.85 million to build the workforce required for sector growth. The first round of funding totals £1,679,143: £1,171,139 for the University of the Highlands and Islands; £372,842 for the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board; and £135,162 for North East Scotland College. Further projects will be considered by the OWSP Board during 2026 and 2027.

The Scottish–Irish Offshore Wind Internship Pilot will provide 20 paid 12-week summer placements — 10 for Scottish students and 10 for Irish students — all hosted in Scotland. It is supported by £100,000 from each of the Scottish and Irish governments, plus £20,000 from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, which is running the scheme.

Offshore wind is a priority for collaboration between Ireland and Scotland under the Bilateral Cooperation Framework 2030 — Scotland's only formal agreement of this kind with another nation. Both the OWSP and the internship pilot build on Scotland's Offshore Wind Skills Priorities and Action Plan, published in November 2025.