SSEN Transmission has today reaffirmed its commitment to the energy workers of the future through 600 ‘earn as you learn’ roles between now and 2030, marking a significant investment in the next generation of talent powering the north of Scotland’s transmission network.
The announcement was made at a special event at SSE’s Training Centre in Perth attended by the First Minister for Scotland, John Swinney, who welcomed SSEN Transmission’s bold commitment.
The First Minister praised the initiative as a vital step in supporting Scotland’s green energy ambitions and ensuring access to high-quality, future-focused employment opportunities in Scotland.
As part of its ongoing major recruitment drive, where the company has grown from around 400 people in 2019 to 2,500 and rising today, SSEN Transmission is committed to have 5% of its workforce in ‘earn as you learn’ roles at any time. This commitment is opening doors for young people across a range of disciplines, from aspiring engineers, environmental specialists and planners, to join the rapidly growing electricity transmission sector.
The roles will support early careers through ramped up recruitment for trainee programmes, summer placements, graduate schemes and apprenticeships, offering a wide range of opportunities for young people to gain hands-on experience and build meaningful careers in infrastructure powering a sustainable future.
The commitment will also create new opportunities for reskilling of SSE’s existing workforce and earn as your learn roles from other sectors, including oil and gas, supporting the organisation’s Just Transition strategy.
These positions will be based across SSEN Transmission’s network area in the north of Scotland, including Wick, Elgin, Shetland and Aberdeenshire – regions at the heart of Scotland and the UK’s renewable energy revolution.
The company is delivering an ambitious Pathway to 2030 programme – a major programme of electricity transmission projects that are part of the business’s plans to invest at least £22bn in the coming years.
This investment will see the construction of new substations, subsea and underground cables and overhead lines across the north of Scotland. The programme will unlock Scotland’s homegrown, clean power potential, and deliver the infrastructure needed to meet national energy security and clean power targets, all while bringing jobs and local benefits to the community.
First Minister John Swinney said:
“This investment from SSEN Transmission is great news for Scotland’s workforce, renewables industries, economy, and our green, clean future.
“The Scottish Government’s Green Industrial Strategy is all about making sure everyone benefits from the global transition to net zero. Apprenticeships play a critical role in all of this this, providing current and future workforces with in-demand, lifelong skills.
“Since 2023-24, we have invested over £185 million annually in high-quality apprenticeships – to meet the needs of employers, workforces, young people, and the Scottish economy.
“We will continue to work with employers like SSEN to shape provision and drive innovation – creating good, green jobs to help us all capitalise on Scotland’s vast renewables potential.”
Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, said:
“We’re proud to be investing in the workforce of today and tomorrow that will help deliver a cleaner, more secure energy system.
“We’re building on the record-number of graduates who joined our team earlier this year and looking ahead to 2030 we’re set to unlock 600 additional ‘earn as you learn’ roles across our teams, underlining our commitment to empowering the green energy workforce of tomorrow.
“It’s fantastic to have the First Minister for Scotland, John Swinney, with us today to help make this announcement. His support highlights the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for people across the country in Scotland’s green energy future.
“These earn as you learn roles are not just jobs, they’re pathways to purpose-driven, sustainable careers that will shape the energy landscape for generations to come. We can’t wait to welcome them to SSEN Transmission.”
Frank Mitchell, Chair of Skills Development Scotland (SDS) said:
“SSEN Transmission’s investment in infrastructure is also an investment in people, building a workforce that will bring lasting benefits to the north of Scotland’s economy.
“For this reason, SDS is proud to be working with SSEN Transmission and a range of partners on the Workforce North Mission, which aims to ensure investment of this nature benefits the people and businesses of the Highlands and Islands region – today and into the future.”