Scotland launches offshore wind skills programme for STEM professionals

STEM Returners has been awarded £115,000 from the Scottish Government’s £3.85 million Offshore Wind Skills Programme. In partnership with the Global Underwater Hub (GUH), the initiative will launch the Offshore Wind STEM Returners & Skills Transition Programme.

The programme is designed for STEM professionals returning to the workforce after a career break, as well as individuals seeking to transfer skills from sectors such as oil and gas, maritime, defence, and subsea into the offshore wind industry. It will offer 20 employer-embedded placements tied to live vacancies within Scotland’s offshore wind and supply chain sectors. Participants will receive assistance with recruitment, assessment, onboarding, and in-placement mentoring.

Natalie Desty, Director of STEM Returners, stated that the programme aims to recover valuable STEM capability and address immediate skills gaps to support a fair and inclusive energy transition. The initiative follows research indicating that barriers such as bias regarding recent experience, gender, age, and race make returning to STEM fields increasingly difficult.