Great British Energy opens its doors in Aberdeen as it promises a lasting legacy for generations of energy workers
- Great British Energy welcomes guests to newly opened Aberdeen headquarters
- £750k funding announced for skills, training and employability work in the north-east
Great British Energy has announced a partnership focussed on supporting the next generation of energy workers in the North East of Scotland, backed by £750,000.
Great British Energy has today confirmed it will work with a range of local partners, focussed on training, skills and employability in the Aberdeen area. This aims to get people, including young people and NEETs, into energy and related sectors, while tackling barriers faced by those from disadvantaged communities.
The publicly owned energy company will host a reception later today at its recently opened headquarters at Marischal Square bringing together industry leaders, partners and stakeholders who have supported Great British Energy since its inception.
Great British Energy has established its headquarters in Aberdeen because the city has the people and expertise that have powered the nation for generations - nowhere is better placed to deliver the UK's energy future.
The company is committed to bringing tangible benefits to Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland, including creating employment through its headquarters, wider projects and partnerships with groups across the city like working with the local research base to foster and support regional knowledge and technical expertise.
Supporting the next generation of the energy workforce is central to what Great British Energy is working to achieve.
Great British Energy has also confirmed it will aim for five percent of its own workforce to be in entry-level and early-career pathways, offering opportunities for young people in Aberdeen and the wider region to build careers at the forefront of the energy transition.
As a publicly owned company, Great British Energy can invest for the long term, reinvesting returns back into the country's energy transition, ensuring the benefits of Britain's energy future are shared with the communities that help deliver it.
Dan McGrail, CEO of Great British Energy, said:
'We are working to build a lasting legacy in Aberdeen, creating jobs, backing young people into careers in renewable energy, and being an active member of the community here for years to come.
'This city has powered the UK for generations, and we're here because Britain's energy future lies in working alongside the people and communities who know this industry best.
'I look forward to working with our regional partners to open up opportunities for people across the North East to access careers in the energy industry.
'I am proud that Great British Energy will welcome young people into our team and support them as they develop rewarding careers in the sector. Together, we are helping to build a secure energy future for the UK while creating the skilled workforce needed to deliver it.'
Juergen Maier, Chair of Great British Energy, said:
'As a publicly owned company, Great British Energy exists to deliver lasting value for the people of Britain and having Aberdeen as our home reflects that mission.
'It puts us at the heart of a community with decades of energy expertise, and it means the benefits of our work, new jobs, new skills and new opportunities for young people, are felt right here where they matter most. This is a long-term commitment and today marks just the start of that journey.'
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said:
'For more than half a century Aberdeen has been at the heart of Britain’s energy system - the skills and expertise here is why this city will remain the energy powerhouse of the future.
'As publicly-owned Great British Energy opens its doors to the city, we are backing young people to be part of this next chapter, alongside skilled oil and gas workers.
'It’s an important step-up in support and training for the thousands of good energy jobs opening up in Scotland and across the country.'
Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander said:
'This is great news for Aberdeen, great news for Scotland, and great news for the United Kingdom. Aberdeen is our energy capital and has helped power our country for decades. Now the granite City is also providing a home to our publicly owned energy company, Great British Energy, that serves the whole of the United Kingdom.
'Great British Energy is not only creating jobs right now, but also looking to the future, and is investing in skills that will be needed by the workforce in an ever changing energy sector.'
Maggie McGinlay, Chief Executive of ETZ Ltd, said:
'This £750,000 commitment is a welcome investment in the North East of Scotland's future energy workforce, creating clearer routes into careers and helping ensure businesses can access the skills they need to grow.
“The region is Europe’s Capital of Energy Excellence, with decades of energy expertise behind it. Great British Energy’s decision to locate its headquarters in Aberdeen reflects that strength, and this partnership will help more people across the region build careers in the industry.'
Dr Heather May Morgan, Vice-Principal Regional Engagement & Innovation of University of Aberdeen, said:
'The energy transition represents one of the most significant economic and societal transformations of our time, and it is vital that the benefits are felt by communities across the North-east. This partnership recognises that no single organisation can address the challenge alone.
'By bringing together research capabilities, education providers, industry and regional partners, we can apply expertise and evidence to create better pathways into employment, help people transfer their skills into new sectors and ensure that local talent is at the heart of the transition. The University of Aberdeen is proud to actively contribute to this shared effort. Together, we can support a skilled, adaptable workforce that will help drive a successful and inclusive energy transition for the region.'
Neil Cowie, Principal and Chief Executive of NESCol, said:
'In a region undergoing one of the most significant industrial transitions anywhere in the UK, ensuring that young people can access emerging opportunities is both an economic and social imperative. This MOU helps to strengthen a partnership already built on solid foundations. Our role at NESCol, and that of our two regional universities, is not simply to provide training, but to bridge the gap between aspiration and employment through employer engagement, industry-connected learning, apprenticeships and clear progression pathways.
'Education providers cannot do this alone. Employers and industry partners also have a vital role to play through placements, apprenticeships and accessible entry-level opportunities that give young people the chance to take that critical first step into employment. The willingness to invest in emerging talent is essential if the benefits of the energy transition are to be shared by the next generation and the MOU is a symbol of that commitment.'
Donella Beaton, Vice Principal Partnerships at Robert Gordon University (RGU) said:
'RGU has a long and proud connection with the energy sector and today marks an important milestone as we continue to grow and strengthen these relationships alongside Great British Energy.
'Great British Energy’s decision to be headquartered in Aberdeen demonstrates their clear intent to being at the centre of developments in the North East of Scotland, and underscores the pivotal role the region will play in securing the nation’s long-term energy future. We now look forward to working collaboratively with Great British Energy and other partners to help ensure that the people who have contributed to the UK’s energy success are supported to continue doing so in the years ahead.'
Source: GB Energy
