Edinburgh College and Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) setting out how they will work together in partnership to deliver STEM initiatives for students and help them develop skills needed to work in roles vital for the future of the offshore wind sector.
With more than 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind in the Scottish pipeline, thousands of new workers will be required to bring them to reality.
This MOU aims to provide a platform to raise awareness of the opportunities and equip students with some of the necessary skills to help build out the projects and support Scotland’s target of net zero emissions by 2045.
Edinburgh College, with its more than 27,000 students, will implement a broad range of initiatives to help to spark interest in STEM, build skills capability, and support students to select promising career paths.
Edinburgh College’s Head of School Ron Eldridge said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the College and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Inch Cape to deliver training in wind technologies.
“The learning will support development of the future workforce and introduce people to green alternatives in meeting net zero.”
The initiatives will be funded and supported by the 1.1GW Inch Cape, one of Scotland’s largest current infrastructure projects. Inch Cape is sited 15 kilometres from the Angus coast and the power it generates will be transported via 85-kilometre-long export cables to a new substation being built in East Lothian at the site of the former Cockenzie Power Plant.
Inch Cape’s Stakeholder and Communications Manager Sue Vincent said: “For the offshore wind sector to see continued success, a local skilled workforce will be vital to support projects throughout each phase of their lifetime.
“This partnership with Edinburgh College includes direct investment in creating education materials and resources that will build skills identified as vital to the future success of the sector.”
The education initiatives will be delivered to young people and also those returning to education or transitioning from other industry sectors.
They will include: a full-time further education curriculum unit for Level 5 Engineering students using Inch Cape as a case study; a new All Energy Apprenticeship in Wind with virtual welding kits to be used as part of the practical learning elements, and delivery of an interactive immersive package that engages younger students mostly in their last year of primary school.
Partnership signing between Inch Cape and Edinburgh College. From left: Inch Cape’s Stakeholder & Communications Manager, Sue Vincent and OFTO and Supply Chain Manager, George Cobb with Edinburgh College’s Ron Eldridge, Head of School and Scott Warden, Assistant Principal.
Featured image caption:
Inch Cape and Edinburgh College have entered into a partnership agreement setting out how they will work together to deliver STEM initiatives for students and help them develop skills for offshore wind careers. The agreement includes delivery of the All Energy Apprenticeship in Wind with purchase of virtual welding kits to be used for practical learning. From left in front of two virtual welding kits are: Inch Cape’s George Cobb (OFTO and Supply Chain), Sue Vincent (Stakeholder and Communications) with Edinburgh College’s Scott Warden (Assistant Principal) and Ron Eldridge (Head of School).
