Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray: applicant guidance 2026 to 2027

Commercial and Public Sector Projects

Up to £10 million capital funding is available for projects that create jobs, build skills and boost economic opportunities in the North East and Moray. Limited multi-year funding may be available on an exceptional basis — up to £5 million capital per year from 2027 to 2030. As a result, some bids might be beyond £10 million if they are for multiple years.

Please read the ‘General guidance’ section before applying, as it covers eligibility, funding definitions, the application process and grant conditions that apply to all applicants.

Who can apply

In addition to the general eligibility criteria, applications to this stream must be led by a registered business or public sector body. Registered charities should apply through the Community and Social Enterprise stream.

Total public funding (including previous JTF rounds) can contribute a maximum of 75% of project value. At least 25% must come from alternative sources.

What you can apply for

Your project must:

• contribute to the transition to net zero in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray
• help diversify the regional economy away from carbon-intensive industries
• create jobs and economic opportunities as part of the transition to net zero
• demonstrate delivery against the mandatory Just Transition Outcome on Jobs, Skills and Economic Opportunities

You are also welcome to highlight additional just transition outcomes your project will deliver. The four National Just Transition Outcome themes are:

Jobs, skills and economic opportunities (mandatory)

Scotland has a thriving net zero economy, enabling businesses to set up and grow sustainably. People are equipped with the skills and opportunities to access good, green jobs. This delivers a liveable world for people and planet, ensuring a thriving, biodiverse environment and fair work for all.

Communities and place

Communities are empowered to reach net zero in a way that meets their needs, builds on their unique local strengths, and invests in their environment and economy.

People and equity

People enjoy basic rights, freedoms and quality of life, with access to necessities such as heat, food, housing, employment and childcare. Opportunities, wealth and power are spread more equally, with costs falling primarily on those who can bear them.

Environment, biodiversity and adaptation

Our natural and built environments are resilient to the impacts of climate change, biodiversity is restored, and spaces support people to live full and healthy lives through the transition.

Multi-year funding

In exceptional cases, multi-year funding may be available if your business case is strong enough. Up to £5 million capital per year may be available for 2027 to 2028 through to 2029 to 2030. Your application should include a clear explanation of why multi-year funding is needed.

Wider benefits

To increase the impact of the JTF, your application should also show how your project will:

• work towards all 7 Fair Work First criteria:
  • paying the real Living Wage (mandatory)
  • providing effective worker voice channels (mandatory)
  • investing in workforce development
  • avoiding inappropriate zero hours contracts
  • tackling the gender pay gap
  • offering flexible and family-friendly working
  • opposing unfair fire and rehire
• contribute to broader community initiatives, for example promoting workforce and skills development, encouraging climate action or tackling inequality
• align with regional economic strategies, such as the North East Regional Economic Strategy or the Moray Economic Strategy

Measuring progress

Your bid should specify which of the following indicators you will report against.

Innovation and enterprise:

• enterprises supported (financial and non-financial)
• new products or services brought to market (number and value)

• demonstration projects supported

Employment and skills:

• jobs created and safeguarded (full-time, part-time, fixed term or permanent)
• job transitions from oil and gas or high carbon industries to low carbon industries and renewables
• apprenticeships created
• training courses created, delivered or completed
• people completing skills training, with breakdowns by gender, ethnicity, disability status and socioeconomic background
• training hours delivered

Investment:

• value of private investment leveraged
• number of investors

You are also encouraged to develop your own supplementary indicators that reflect your project's specific aims. We would like to see indicators of long-term outcomes — for example, projected jobs that could be created beyond the funding period.

How to apply

Submit a completed application form and business case to JustTransitionFund@gov.scot by 9:00am on Monday 11 May 2026.

Your application form should cover:

• lead organisation details
• project summary and mandatory criteria
• business proposal
• finances
• deliverability
• wider benefits
• project declaration and checklist

Your business case should follow the strategic outline case format (see the Strategic Outline Case — Service Manual for guidance) and include:

• background
• strategic case
• economic case
• commercial case
• financial case
• management case

To avoid repetition, you can cross-reference your business case within the application form using page numbers.

Application timeline

• application window opens: 2 March 2026
• application deadline: 9:00am on 11 May 2026
• applications assessed and shortlisted: 11 to 29 May 2026
• shortlisted applicants notified: week commencing 1 June 2026
• due diligence on shortlisted bids: June 2026
• successful bids announced: before end of June 2026
• post-award governance arrangements: July 2026
• project delivery and monitoring: July 2026 to 31 March 2027 (unless multi-year funding awarded)

All funding will be assessed for compliance with Subsidy Control regulations. We may contact you for additional information or documentation during the process.

Information sessions

We are hosting online information sessions for prospective applicants:

• Thursday 12 March 2026: 1:00pm to 2:00pm
• Wednesday 18 March 2026: 3:30pm to 4:30pm

To register or ask any questions, email JustTransitionFund@gov.scot.

How applications are assessed

Applications are assessed against the following criteria. These arrangements apply to the 2026 to 2027 bidding round only.

Mandatory eligibility criteria — your application must demonstrate all of the following:

• compliance with mandatory Fair Work First criteria
• alternative funding sources covering at least 25% of total project value
• a completed Scottish Enterprise Net Zero Accelerator roadmap, or equivalent recognised net zero plan
• a completed Adaptation Scotland SME resilience checklist
• the project will be delivered in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire or Moray and contributes to a just transition to net zero
• meets the definition of capital fund
• for R&D projects: meets the definition for capitalisation in line with HMT guidance (Annex C)

Business proposal (35%): Your proposal should:

• demonstrate positive impact against the Jobs, Skills and Economic Opportunities Just Transition Outcome
• show how the project supports a resilient, long-term transition to net zero, including workforce and supply chain development
• provide a financial model showing cashflows and a monthly drawdown profile, including all expected revenues and costs
• identify the positive contribution to Scotland's net zero targets and any risk of negative social or environmental impacts, with mitigation approaches
• set out relevant KPIs, including long-term outputs such as projected workforce development

Finances (20%): Your application should set out:

• the percentage of funding requested from the JTF
• evidence of at least 25% of project value from alternative sources
• note that additional weighting is given for lower intervention rates: 5% for a 51–75% intervention rate, and 10% for 50% or below
• how the project will deliver value for money, including through planned procurement
• why JTF funding is needed, demonstrating that the market has not provided sufficient alternative capital and what additional public value will be delivered
• details of all other public and private funding received, including in-kind contributions
• for multi-year bids: a clear explanation of why multi-year funding is needed

Deliverability (30%): You should provide:

• evidence of strong commercial partnerships, governance and accountability
• a delivery plan with a Gantt chart showing project timescales
• details of who will manage the project day-to-day and the long-term governance strategy
• evidence of the project team's skills and relevant experience, plus a list of any skills gaps and how they will be addressed
• a full risk register covering risks to delivery and long-term outcomes

Wider benefits (15%): Your application should show:

• how your organisation is working towards all 7 Fair Work First criteria
• how the project will benefit local communities
• how the project aligns with regional economic strategies and supports existing just transition work in the region

Scoring weightings

These weightings apply to both capital and R&D projects in this stream.