Powering Progress Together: Scotland's offshore wind skills priorities and action plan

Priority Actions

In addition to work already underway, industry and public sector partners have committed to delivering the following twelve actions in 2026/27 as agreed by the Short-Life Working Group. These actions are a first step towards addressing the priority skills needs identified and achieving the wider objectives set out above.

1. Level 5 Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship

Who? The Scottish Funding Council (SFC), working with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and others.

What? Will scope and cost the creation of a new Level 5 Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship.

Why? To explore the possibility of opening up new pathways into engineering apprenticeships at entry level. The intended outcome is that more learners, from a wider range of backgrounds, have clear and accessible routes into the significant number of engineering related careers in the offshore wind industry.

When? June 2026

2. ‘Work Ready’ Programmes And The Offshore Wind Sector

Who? Colleges Scotland working with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), industry, Energy Skills Partnership (ESP), local authorities and others.

What? Will increase the number of places on the existing college based ECITB ‘work ready’ programme, and any other similar initiatives developed by relevant sector skills bodies, to better deliver for the offshore wind sector. The programme supports people from under-represented groups, including those not in education, training or employment and people with experience of the justice system, to get a suitable SCQF level 5 engineering qualification and to enter employment.

Why? To ensure that ‘work ready’ individuals get more guaranteed interviews with employers in the offshore wind industry with live and suitable vacancies, while strengthening offshore wind employer links to ‘work ready’ programmes, with the result that offshore wind job opportunities are more accessible to those in society who stand to benefit most.

When? In 2026/27

3. Cross Skilling Programme For Oil And Gas Workers

Who? ECITB working with Colleges Scotland, ESP and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

What? Will increase the number of places on their cross-skilling programme for Wind Turbine Technicians which recognises the existing skills and experience of individuals leaving carbon-intensive industries such as the oil and gas sector, and provides additional training and qualifications to enable them to also work in the wind sector.

Why? To support more experienced and valued oil and gas workers who wish to cross skill and take up employment opportunities in wind, strengthening the wind sector workforce while further supporting a just transition.

When? In 2026/27

4. Scottish Wind Technician Education Centre

Who? Ayrshire College and Energy Innovation (a Norwegian Training, Education, Research and Development Centre).

What? Will establish a strategic partnership to set up a leading hub for Scotland in Global Wind Organisation (GWO) accredited training and wind technician education.

Why? To expand capacity and capability in a priority job role across both offshore and onshore wind to support a pipeline of GWO qualified technicians to meet industry demand.

When? A formal agreement is in development, with initial training modules scheduled for delivery in 2026.

5. Relevant Courses On Offer In Scottish Universities

Who? SFC, working with Universities Scotland.

What? Will review existing provision, including upskilling courses, across Scottish universities which could offer pathways into the identified offshore wind priority roles.

Why? To quantify existing, relevant courses, in the same way as has been done previously in relation to the college sector, in order to have a better understanding of existing provision, so it can be built on to meet projected industry demand.

When? December 2026

6. Central Recruitment Information-Sharing System

Who? SDS, working with industry and others.

What? Will design a model for a potential central recruitment information-sharing system with offshore wind sector employers, learning from the existing Pre Approved Talent Scheme in place for the manufacturing sector.

Why? To ensure that candidates who are unsuccessful in applying for offshore wind apprenticeships, internships or graduate entry roles are signposted to other relevant opportunities, including with SMEs, to prevent talent being lost from the sector.

When? By June 2026

7. Industry Training Programmes And Facilities

Who? The Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) working with Scottish Renewables and offshore wind sector employers.

What? Will undertake an audit of current industry training programmes and facilities.

Why? Industry already plays a valuable role in training and developing their workforce and this action is intended to fill an identified knowledge gap, with the intended outcome being to identify any opportunities for collaboration with others in order to meet increasing demand.

When? March 2026

8. ‘Industry In Residence’ Programme

Who? SOWEC, together with Colleges Scotland, Universities Scotland and others.

What? Will create an ‘Industry in Residence’ programme structure and identify a lead academic partner to undertake a pilot programme which, if impact and benefit is demonstrated, could provide a template programme to be scaled up.

Why? To explore ways in which we can deepen partnership working between industry, colleges and universities to ensure that course content reflects offshore wind industry requirements. The intended outcome is that a scalable, costed model of training provision which is better aligned with industry needs is developed, while staff and students gain greater knowledge and awareness of the sector.

When? December 2026

9. Competency Routes For Priority Occupations

Who? The Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), working with SOWEC and industry partners.

What? Will identify gaps in competency routes for priority occupations and assess where apprenticeship pathways, modular learning, or short-term upskilling solutions could be developed.

Why? To map where skills shortages exist in key offshore wind occupations in order to build an evidence base on priority pathways to competency that can inform the development of future training and apprenticeship solutions.

When? December 2026

10. Diversity And Inclusion

Who? SOWEC, working with organisations with expertise in promoting equality such as Equate Scotland, and industry partners.

What? Will set out in a communication to its members, advice on how best to implement the soon to be published OWIC Diversity & Inclusion best practice guide in a Scottish context.

Why? To identify practical ways in which industry can tackle underrepresentation and attract a broader range of people into the sector that better reflects Scotland’s population to support the sector’s growth.

When? July 2026

11. Internship And Work Based Opportunities

Who? SOWEC, in partnership with offshore wind companies, Universities Scotland and Colleges Scotland.

What? Will undertake work to determine a model for increasing the number of internship and work based opportunities in the offshore wind sector.

Why? To explore ways to expand access to high-quality, practical experience that supports entry into offshore wind careers, helping to build and retain a more diverse and skilled workforce.

When? October 2026

12. Additional Opportunities For Those In Maritime Industries

Who? Energy Skills Partnership, working with Scottish Government.

What? Will undertake an analysis to determine potential demand for targeted training that supports marine users to access additional offshore wind opportunities and, should there be sufficient demand, design provision to meet it.

Why? To support those working in maritime industries who wish to cross skill in order to access additional employment opportunities created by the offshore wind sector, while the sector benefits from an experienced, skilled and adaptable workforce.

When? June 2026