Training boost for engineers of future
Hundreds of budding Scottish wind turbine engineers of the future - including many in Forth Valley - are set to benefit from a donation worth over £200,000.
ScottishPower Renewables has donated second-hand wind turbine components to colleges training students for jobs in the country’s green energy sector, including Forth Valley College.
The link-up will see potential future employees get real hands-on vocational training – ensuring they have the skills employers need when they qualify.
FVC is one of seven colleges across Scotland - which form the Wind and Marine Training Network - which will receive equipment under the link-up, benefiting more than 500 students. The innovative deal has been brokered by the Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) - a collaboration of Scotland’s colleges. It is an expansion of a pilot wind turbine technician training programme which was launched in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway in 2013.
ESP aims to ensure the right skills are being delivered to guarantee Scotland the trained and competent workforce required by the energy sector in the future.
ESP director Jim Brown said:“This equipment donated by ScottishPower Renewables greatly enhances the training programmes for wind turbine technicians and other students in our member colleges.
“This deal will ensure colleges are able to train students on real wind turbine systems and ensure they have the skills employers need. This is a great example of colleges and industry working in partnership.”
ScottishPower Renewables operations director Lee Callaghan said:“The renewable energy industry in Scotland continues to go from strength to strength, encouraging billions of pounds of investment and creating highly skilled, long-term employment opportunities. The industry continually needs qualified technicians who can help to maintain wind turbines. We are delighted to be expanding our support and working closely with the colleges who are encouraging the next generation of workers into the industry in Scotland.”
FVC associate principal (business development) Colette Filippi said:“We are very grateful to ScottishPower Renewables for their donation. It will support and enrich learning for engineering students attending the college. Having industry standard equipment on the premises really enhances students’opportunity to learn first-hand about latest technology and developments.”