WORKERS impacted by the pandemic and the oil and gas downturn are to be backed for training and enterprise projects across a number of areas, including entrepreneurship, tourism and energy transition.
Over £14 million will be invested to support North East-based workers, providing opportunities for 3,000.
It also includes a climate emergency training programme to help businesses transition towards net zero, and a scheme to support employers develop business plans to ensure long-term sustainable jobs.
Jamie Hepburn, Scottish minister for youth employment and training, said: “We know that the North East is facing particular challenges as result of the double impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the downturn in oil and gas.
“This targeted £14.3m investment will aid economic recovery in the region and support businesses to make the transition to net zero."
READ MORE: Green energy deal could create hundreds of North Ayrshire jobs
He added: "These 29 training projects will also provide opportunities for workers to upskill and re-skill, enabling them to capitalise on careers in growing sectors.
"Our funding will also support those entering the workforce and aid business growth and innovation.
“We have worked closely with local partners including universities, local authorities and business organisations to develop these proposals and to ensure this funding meets the economic needs of the region.”
Jennifer Craw, Opportunity North East (ONE) chief executive, said: "This new funding addresses specific challenges in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and builds on the action, investment and partnerships that are driving recovery and diversification."
Jenny Laing, Aberdeen City Council leader, said: “Actions around energy transition are key to the future economic health and prosperity of the North-east – supporting skills and business growth to ensure our residents are ready and able to access new jobs and opportunities."
She added: “Aberdeen’s credentials are second to none in the deployment of ground-breaking technology, as demonstrated by Hydrogen Aberdeen, the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, and our commitment to reaching net zero."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel