Major Jobs Boost For The North Of Scotland As Community-led Changes To £20bn Electricity Upgrades Announced

22nd October 2024

In November 2023 SSEN announced a huge investment of £20billion in projects.

SSEN Transmission to recruit 400 new roles across the north of Scotland in the next 12 months as £20bn clean energy infrastructure programme gathers pace.

Recruitment drive comes as SSEN Transmission unveils major changes to planned upgrades, in response to community and stakeholder feedback.

Following recent UK Government Community Benefit announcement, communities across the north of Scotland in line for over £100m of community benefit funding and money off bills for those located closest to new infrastructure.

SSEN Transmission also sets out ambitious plans to contribute to the development of 200 properties across the north of Scotland, which following completion of the projects, will support local housing requirements.

SSEN Transmission will recruit 400 new employees across the north of Scotland in the next 12 months and is setting out ambitious plans to contribute to the development of 200 properties across the north of Scotland as a legacy of its Pathway to 2030 £20bn investment programme that will deliver an electricity grid that unlocks Scotland's potential to be a clean energy powerhouse,

The investment programme consists of new overhead lines, substations, convertor stations and subsea links and is part of a major upgrade of the electricity transmission system across Great Britain. These works are required to meet UK and Scottish Government energy security and climate change targets, with the need for these investments independently assessed by the Electricity System Operator, and approved by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem.

The recruitment drive, which will create long-term, skilled, green employment opportunities across the north of Scotland, comes as SSEN Transmission announces major changes to its upgrade plans following extensive early consultation with local communities and stakeholders.

Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, said:
"This is one of the biggest investment programmes in the north of Scotland for almost a century. Our £20bn programme will help unlock cleaner, more secure energy for homes and businesses for generations to come.

"The north of Scotland can be a clean energy powerhouse and is set to play a leading role in delivering UK and Scottish Government energy security and net zero targets, but the benefits go way beyond energy.

"Our investments will enable thousands of skilled, green jobs across the region, placing multi-million-pound contracts with local supply chain partners and investing in community funds - creating billions of economic value for Scotland.

"The benefits are compelling, but as with any major infrastructure programme, we need to ensure that we effectively consult and act on the views of local communities. This is exactly what we are doing, and in outlining a range of significant alterations to our plans today - directly in response to community feedback - we have shown that we will act on the views of our stakeholders wherever possible.

“We now look forward to ongoing constructive engagement with local communities and wider stakeholders to help further inform the development of this critical national infrastructure in a way that balances the needs of all stakeholders, alongside delivering a lasting and positive legacy, unlocking the north of Scotland's energy and economic potential.