A HUGE new £150 million SSEN training facility is set to be built just outside an Aberdeenshire town.
Thainstone Business Park near Inverurie has been chosen for the site, which will employ roughly 10 people.
Once operational, the training school would support hundreds of trainees each year, helping meet the growing demand for skilled workers by providing hands-on experience across a range of operational scenarios.
It comes amid a rapid expansion for the energy giant with several large infrastructure projects underway in the region.
It has been claimed that the construction of the facility will be completed in the 2030s and will cover the size of 13 football pitches.
First Minister John Swinney has previously welcomed the proposals.
Dave McKay, network director at SSEN Transmission told The P&J: “Confirming Thainstone as the home of our new training centre is a significant milestone for SSEN Transmission and a major investment in the people and skills that will be essential to delivering the energy transition.
“Aberdeenshire has a proud engineering heritage and a highly skilled workforce, making Thainstone an ideal location for this new facility. As well as supporting hundreds of trainees each year, the centre will bring wider benefits to local businesses and communities while helping ensure we have the talent and expertise required to maintain and develop the network for decades to come.”
Grant Rogerson, chief executive of ANM Group Ltd, added: “We are delighted that SSEN Transmission has chosen Thainstone as the preferred location for this important new training facility, which represents a significant endorsement of both the location and the opportunities that exist here for future investment and growth.
“SSEN Transmission’s plans for this facility are a welcome step forward in our long-term vision for Thainstone.
“The development aligns with our ambitions and has the potential to create long-term, wider economic value for the area.”
Aberdeenshire Council co-leaders Stewart Adams and Anne Stirling also said: “We warmly welcome investment in this new SSEN Transmission training facility, which represents a significant vote of confidence in the north-east of Scotland.
“This facility will play an important role in training the workforce of tomorrow, ensuring that our region remains at the heart of the UK’s energy transition.
“By delivering high-quality, industry-led skills development locally, it will create new and lasting employment opportunities while enabling people and businesses to thrive as the energy sector evolves.”
