The Workforce North Action Plan for The Highland Council area brings together a range of local and national partners with key employers to drive co-investment and collaboration.

With the Highlands and Islands expected to see investment of up to £100 billion over the next 15 years driven by the generation and transmission of renewable energy, the region needs to attract and retain new skills and grow the working age population so communities and businesses can benefit.

Deputy First Minster Kate Forbes is today visiting SSEN Transmission’s base in Inverness where she’ll meet members of Workforce North Employer Working Group and apprentices working for the firm.

The event marks the agreement of an action plan between public and private sector partners for The Highland Council local authority area. It is hoped this can be a template for other parts of the Highlands and Islands.

Ms Forbes said: “The Highlands and Islands are poised to benefit from over £100 billion in investment over the next 15 years, presenting a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the regional economy.

“The challenge is of course to capitalise on this enormous opportunity, to secure thousands of top-quality jobs and ensure communities across the region benefit for decades to come.

“The Workforce North Action Plan embodies what we need to rise to this challenge: a joined-up approach, true collaboration across organisations and between the public and private sectors, and a clear plan for how, together, we can create the conditions for new talent to grow, return, and settle.”

Partners involved in the Workforce North initiative include national skills agency Skills Development Scotland (SDS), The Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the University of Highlands and Islands, the Scottish Funding Council and Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.

Frank Mitchell, chair of SDS, said: “Workforce North is a shared mission to ensure the Highlands and Islands region has the workforce it needs to realise the benefits of a generational £100bn investment over the next decade.

“No one business or public body can address the scale of the challenge and opportunity before us. Workforce North will see indigenous business, inward investors and the public sector to work together to co-invest in growing the regional workforce.

“This launch demonstrates the commitment that exists from key players in the regional economy to ensure that the people and businesses of the Highlands and Islands will benefit as much as possible from this once-in-a-generation investment.”

Priorities for action in the Highlands include:

• A joint campaign to enable schools and communities to understand the scale of the local opportunity,
• Improving access to fair work opportunities and increasing experiential career learning opportunities,
• Expanding provision of apprenticeships, including Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships,
• Development of short, sharp opportunities for those seeking a new role,
• Encouraging people who have moved away to return home and to attract new people to the area.

Sandy Mactaggart, director of Offshore Delivery at SSEN Transmission, said: “We’re delighted to host the launch of Workforce North here in Inverness - right at the heart of a region that stands to play a vital role in Scotland’s energy future.

“And as someone who grew up in the Highlands but had to move away to pursue my career in engineering, I’m particularly pleased to be involved. At SSEN Transmission, our £22bn+ investment plan in new electricity transmission infrastructure is truly transformational, not only in delivering the infrastructure needed to enable energy security and clean power, but in creating lasting opportunities for people, businesses and communities across the north of Scotland.

“By working closely with partners across the public and private sectors, we’re committed to ensuring that the skills, jobs and long-term benefits from this investment are realised here in the Highlands, leaving a positive legacy for generations to come.”

Leader of the Highland Council, councillor Raymond Bremner, commented: “The Highland Council is committed to playing a pivotal role in shaping a strategic approach to workforce development that meets the challenges and opportunities presented by energy developments across the Highlands.

“The planned Green Freeport and other major energy initiatives offer transformative prospects for Highland communities. However, these developments also bring an urgent need to build a skilled and resilient future workforce.

“The Highland Council is uniquely positioned to lead on supply-side solutions, particularly in workforce skills development and housing, which are essential to unlocking these opportunities. The launch of the Workforce North Strategic Plan marks a significant milestone, bringing together national and local government, alongside key partners, and the private sector.

“Through these collaborative efforts, we will create meaningful pathways for young people and deliver tailored support packages to help them thrive in employment. Together, we can ensure that Highland people are at the heart of the region’s energy future.”

Convener of The Highland Council, cllr Bill Lobban, concluded: “The Highland Council, working alongside our partners is committed to supporting growth of the Highland economy. To achieve this, we must invest in our future workforce by developing skills and creating meaningful opportunities for growth from an early age.

“By working collaboratively with our partners, we can strengthen the delivery of these ambitions and make the most of the significant investment across the region in the coming years. This approach will help build a resilient and thriving workforce, encourage people to live and prosper in the Highlands, and secure the long-term prosperity of our region.”