New facility creates substation fitter apprenticeships for five Siemens Energy trainees.
Training provider 3t officially launched its new Power Academy in Aberdeen on 21 September 2026. Developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, the facility is Scotland’s first independent training provider-led centre dedicated to specialist power-sector training. The inaugural cohort of five Siemens Energy apprentices began their training at the centre on the same day, marking the launch of a new apprenticeship pathway for substation fitting in Scotland.
Scotland’s Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy, Stephen Gethins, visited 3t’s Aberdeen training centre to mark the launch. He met the inaugural apprentices and took part in a Q&A session focused on the importance of developing a skilled, homegrown workforce to support Scotland’s energy future.
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, stated that the academy represents a significant investment in specialist equipment and infrastructure, including a dedicated substation facility at 3t’s Aberdeen site. This environment gives apprentices access to practical, industry-standard training, expanding a model already delivering growth from power and utilities customers at 3t’s Manchester training centre.
Mr Purves 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 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. Darren Davidson, Vice President Siemens Energy UK and Ireland, commented that these are the first Siemens Energy Grid Technology apprentices in Scotland. He added that across the UK, Siemens Energy has 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.
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“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.”
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. 3t stated its commitment to working closely with government and industry partners to strengthen apprenticeship pathways in Scotland.
