Member News: Offshore wind supply chain support programme opens exclusively for Scottish businesses

February 17, 2026
Member News: Offshore wind supply chain support programme opens exclusively for Scottish businesses

The first Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) offshore wind supply chain support programme directed at businesses across Scotland has opened for applications.

F4OR Scotland, delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, will be supported with industry funding from Crown Estate Scotland and the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) Ltd. Up to 10 companies will be selected to join the 18-month programme, designed to help companies win business in the offshore wind industry, at home and abroad.

Andrew Macdonald, Director of Business Development at ORE Catapult, said:

“Scottish companies are respected internationally for their consistent engineering excellence and product innovation, and the F4OR programme provides an ideal route for companies with the right combination of key skills, expertise and leadership to succeed in the renewable energy sector.

“We are grateful for the support of our industry partners, ETZ Limited and Crown Estate Scotland. They have helped to develop this opportunity and share our ambitions to support the clean energy transition, grow a robust UK supply chain, accelerate the growth in offshore renewable energy and progress the UK’s net zero ambitions.”

Established in 2019, F4OR is one of the UK’s most successful supply chain mentoring programmes. To date, more than 171 companies have been supported who have experienced an average increase in turnover of 26%, as a result of securing new contracts, and many have become market-leading suppliers in the offshore wind sector.

Gillian Morrison, Deputy Head of Offshore Wind Development, Crown Estate Scotland said:  

“As the manager of Scotland’s seabed, we have a key role in supporting the offshore wind sector and helping to accelerate the transition to clean power, create skilled jobs and contribute to long-term energy security. By partnering with ORE Catapult to deliver the first Scotland-wide F4OR programme, we are equipping companies with the insight, skills and support they need to compete, innovate and thrive in this rapidly developing industry.” 

The award-winning programme is looking for companies that want to break into the offshore wind sector, scale up an existing presence in the industry, or make the transition to renewables from the likes of the oil and gas sector.

F4OR offers a rigorous evaluation process, including project management capabilities and financial stability, environmental sustainability practices, health and safety standards, as well as relevance to the offshore renewable energy market.

Freda Miller, Energy Supply Chain Programme Manager, ETZ Ltd said:

“ETZ Ltd is delighted to be a funding partner of the first Scotland-wide F4OR programme, which will enable greater collaboration between companies across the country. This initiative strengthens the northeast supply chain by enhancing capability and competitiveness to secure opportunities in the offshore renewables sector, reinforcing the region’s position as a catalyst for energy innovation.”

Balmoral Comtec, based in Aberdeen, completed the F4OR programme and achieved ‘Granted’ status, signifying that the company is ready to win work in the renewables sector.

Ian Milne, Head of Sales and Business Development – Renewables, at Balmoral Comtec added:

“Fit 4 Offshore Renewables provided Balmoral Comtec with practical guidance for transferring expertise from the traditional energy sector to renewables. As one of the first companies to complete the programme and receive granted status, it delivered strategic thinking with senior management involvement and would benefit any organisation looking to position itself for future opportunities.”https://ore.catapult.org.uk/programmes/f4or

For more information on the F4OR programme and to submit an Expression of Interest, please click here by Friday 6 March.

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AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

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AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables
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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce
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The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy
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Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall
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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise