- New Aberdeen facility, developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, creates a dedicated pathway for Substation Fitter Apprenticeships.
- Five Siemens Energy apprentices from the Academy’s inaugural cohort as Scotland faces growing demand for technical power skills.
- Significant investment has been made in the specialist infrastructure, supporting workforce development and grid resilience in Scotland, and 3t’s continued expansion into the power sector.
- “Developing the skills we need to power Scotland’s future is essential, and the Power Academy is an important step in creating new opportunities for the next generation of energy workers.” said Stephen Gethins, Scottish Energy Minister.
- “The Power Academy is a major milestone for Scotland’s power workforce, helping develop the skills needed to strengthen the grid and support the energy transition.” said Jamie Purves, Managing Director, UK at 3t Training Services.
Aberdeen, Scotland, 21 September 2026 – 3t, a leading safety-critical training provider for the energy sector has officially launched its new Power Academy in Aberdeen, creating Scotland’s first independent training provider-led facility of its kind dedicated to specialist power-sector training.
Located at 3t’s training centre in Aberdeen, the Academy has been developed in partnership with Siemens Energy to support the development of the technical skills required across Scotland’s electricity infrastructure as it continues to scale.
The first cohort of five apprentices employed by Siemens Energy began their training on 21 September, marking the launch of a new apprenticeship pathway for substation fitting in Scotland.
The five apprentices are working on SSEN Transmission projects as part of the business’s plans to upgrade the electricity network across the north of Scotland.
To mark the launch, Stephen Gethins, Scotland’s Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy, visited 3t’s Aberdeen training centre, where he met the inaugural apprentices and took part in an engaging Q&A session focused on the importance of developing a skilled, homegrown workforce to support Scotland’s energy future.
Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said, “Scotland’s energy transition presents a generational opportunity to create high-skilled jobs across the country, as we build the workforce required to deliver a more secure, and more affordable energy future for Scotland and Europe. That means investing not only in the infrastructure itself, but in the people who will build, maintain and operate it.
“The launch of 3t’s Power Academy is a is a positive example of industry investment in workforce development, alongside the broader investment being made through our Offshore Wind Skills Programme, which is investing in initiatives designed to strengthen skills pathways and increase the supply of talent into key offshore wind occupations. By providing apprentices with access to high-impact, hands-on training, this Academy will help equip the next generation with the skills they need to build successful careers in the power sector.”
Jamie Purves, Managing Director, 3t Training Services UK, said, ”Working alongside our partners, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind training environment that can provide apprentices with the skills and hands-on experience needed to support the future of the UK’s power systems.
“As the first independent training facility in Scotland, the academy will not only fill a critical skills gap, but will also help develop the workforce required to strengthen grid resilience, support infrastructure investment and power the country’s energy transition. And, this is just the first step – we’re already developing a wider range of short courses and upskilling programmes to support the power sector as a whole.”
The Academy represents a significant investment in specialist equipment and infrastructure, including a dedicated substation facility at 3t’s Aberdeen site. The environment gives apprentices access to practical, industry-standard training that would typically be associated with network operators’ own internal training facilities.
It expands a model already delivering strong growth from power and utilities customers at 3t’s Manchester training centre, creating new apprenticeship pathways and strengthening the skills base behind the UK’s electricity infrastructure.
The launch comes as Scotland and the wider UK continue to invest heavily in electricity networks to accommodate growing energy demand, electrification and the transition to a lower-carbon energy system. Developing the workforce required to deliver and maintain this infrastructure is increasingly critical.
Apprenticeships are a vital part of building the skilled, homegrown workforce Scotland needs to support growth of the sector, and 3t is committed to working closely with government and industry partners to strengthen apprenticeship pathways in Scotland, ensuring the pipeline of skills keeps pace with the scale of investment in the country’s energy infrastructure.
Darren Davidson, Vice President Siemens Energy UK and Ireland, commented on Monday’s launch: “These are the first Siemens Energy Grid Technology apprentices in Scotland and we are delighted with our collaboration with 3t as we continue to grow our role in Scotland’s energy transition. Across the UK we have now approached 650 apprentices, of which around 150 are starting their apprenticeship journey this month.”
Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, said, “SSEN Transmission’s investment to upgrade the electricity network across the north of Scotland is one of the largest infrastructure programmes in the region’s history, and its success depends on having the skilled workforce needed to design, build and maintain the grid for decades to come.
“That’s why initiatives such as 3t’s Power Academy are so important. By creating high-quality apprenticeship opportunities and developing specialist skills close to where they’re needed, we can help more people build rewarding careers in the energy sector, while ensuring local communities share in the economic benefits of the transition to a cleaner, more secure energy system.”
“Join the companies that smart energy professionals follow – because when you’re featured on GEN, the industry pays attention.”