New training centre will focus on renewable energy skills

Published Date: 20 May 2009
By John Ross

SCOTLAND's first training centre for the installation of micro-renewables is to be set up.
Inverness College, which is part of the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), will work in partnership with Community Energy Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.The new centre will be funded through CARES, the Scottish Government's Communities and Renewable Energy Scheme, delivered by Community Energy Scotland.It will work with local businesses on a range of issues relating to the small-scale renewable energy and low carbon market. This could include the installation of micro-renewables, the design and construction of sustainable buildings or the development, testing and manufacture of renewables kit.The college, which has a demonstration wood chip boiler heating its campus at the Scottish School of Forestry, will also be offering a BSc in sustainable construction from September 2009.Angus Macleod, head of the forestry school, said: "Inverness College has been at the forefront of micro-renewables installation training in Scotland for some years."The establishment of the centre will allow us to build on this position."The range of courses available for tradesmen and professionals will ensure that businesses in the Highlands and beyond are able to develop their skills and capitalise on the opportunities presented by renewable energy."Colin Grant, HIE's senior development manager, said it is vital that businesses and individuals in the Highlands and Islands who want to learn new renewables skills, to allow them to work in this fast growing industry, can do so locally."