Council Leader welcomes partnership agreement signed by SSE and University of the Highlands and Islands.

SSE and the University of Highlands and Islands have signed a ‘partnership agreement’ to collaborate and work together to maximise the benefits to the people of the Highlands and Islands from the low carbon energy revolution in the Highlands and Islands.

Speaking at the University’s Research and Development conference Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE - Scotland’s leading renewable energy generator and developer –set out a range of commitments to support this, including a new apprenticeship programme and a commitment to target local areas around proposed new developments for the recruitment and training of future employees, particularly in Caithness and Sutherland and in the Great Glen.

There is significant investment planned by the energy industry over the next ten years. SSE’s contribution to this could potentially be £5-10bn in the Highlands and Islands alone, across its energy networks, renewable generation and energy services businesses. Both SSE and the University recognise the importance of collaboration to ensure the skills and people are in place to take advantage of this opportunity.

The partnership agreement establishes a new steering group to oversee this collaboration between SSE and the University and to ensure local businesses and communities are also engaged. Key areas for collaboration and opportunity exist both in creating the right training infrastructure and in promoting innovation and research. The partnership will build on the £3m that SSE has already committed to training and skills in the Highlands.

The Highland Council Councillor Leader Drew Hendry welcomed the announcement. He said: “The signing of a partnership agreement between SSE and UHI is great news for the Highlands.  SSE has a significant pipeline of work in the Highlands including renewable energy developments and grid infrastructure upgrades. We are pleased they are supporting the Council’s efforts to create training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people such as those at Inverness College UHI. We also welcome their commitment to increase their use of local businesses in sub-contracting opportunities which will help stimulate economic recovery in the Highlands.”

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