UHI North, West and Hebrides highlighted as ‘key player’ in transition to net zero during commission visit

A Scottish Government commission tasked with guiding the country’s journey to net zero paid a visit to the UHI North, West and Hebrides campus this week, meeting with college leaders to discuss the future of green skills.

Members of the Just Transition Commission were welcomed to Thurso for presentations on how the college is supporting communities, businesses and industries to adapt for a low-carbon economy.

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The visit offered a chance for commission delegates to explore the college’s role in delivering training and qualifications in key areas such as energy, carbon management, peatlands, engineering, construction and the built environment, environmental science and sustainability – all aimed at helping the region meet the targets set for 2045.

The Just Transition Commission - an independent advisory board that provides scrutiny and advice on how to deliver a just transition to a low carbon economy in Scotland – heard presentations from Professor Stuart Gibb, director of Research and Knowledge Exchange at UHI North, West and Hebrides, and Dr Stephanie Strother, Energy Knowledge Exchange Coordinator, on UHI’s world leading research supporting the renewable industry sector.

Projects have ranged from drone mapping of seabirds and surface currents to reduce the cost and risk of offshore environmental surveys to exploring the potential impact of windfarms on marine ecosystems.

Peter Faccenda, Focus North programme manager, highlighted the growing economic potential of peatland restoration in the region, emphasizing its dual role in driving both environmental and economic benefits.

He noted that this positions the north Highlands as a key player in delivering a just transition in Scotland, presenting a unique opportunity to reshape the region’s economy.

Thurso based curriculum managers Liam Sutherland and Adrian Mackay also highlighted the full range of engineering learning pathways delivered by the college, which is supporting the green energy sector with skills in electrical engineering, fabrication and welding, engineering systems, renewable energy and hydrogen.

This includes working with 40 employers to deliver Engineering Modern Apprenticeships to around 150 apprentices across the North Highlands, Orkney Islands, and Outer Hebrides, as well as upskilling and reskilling for SMEs serving the green energy sector's supply chain.

The commission’s visit was hosted in the college’s Energy Technology and Engineering Centre (ETEC), the largest and most advanced engineering training facility in the north of Scotland, where commissioners met apprentices directly.

Lydia Rohmer, principal and chief executive of UHI North, West and Hebrides, welcomed the commission to Thurso.

She said: “We were delighted the Just Transition Commission chose to come to UHI North, West and Hebrides for this event.

“Across our rural and island communities, the opportunities for economic growth, high value job creation and innovation in future facing sustainable technologies and green energy are hugely significant.

“We are at the centre of unlocking these opportunities through our full range of tertiary learning pathways and world-leading research and knowledge transfer partnerships.

“It was wonderful to be able to share our work with the commission and hear insights into wider efforts to create lasting benefits through Just Transition for our communities.”

Professor Dave Reay, Just Transition Commission co-chair, said: “The Commission's visit to the UHI North, West and Hebrides really brought home to us just how strategically critical these centres of learning are in supporting Scotland's transition to a low carbon economy.

“We've been clear the funding squeeze on colleges needs to be reversed so we have the necessary training and skills to support infrastructure development and the deployment of emerging technologies.

“It was brilliant to hear from committed, resourceful and imaginative educators in Thurso, as well as young people who are seizing the opportunities of the green transition with both hands.”

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