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Starting in Renewables

‘How do I get into working in the renewable energy sector?’ is often a question we are asked from individuals at various stages of their careers.

We have pulled together some useful resources for those looking to begin a career or find work within the sector:

Scotland’s universities and colleges offer a fantastic range of courses and apprenticeships at various levels (Undergraduate / Postgraduate / Master's). These can be completed across various timeframes, from fast-track to full or part-time study.

  •  A full list of universities in Scotland and the courses on offer is available at www.scotland.org/study/scottish-universities. Use the ‘course search’ function to filter your search.
  • ESP Colleges and Universities Map also provides a list of courses and apprenticeships from the energy, engineering and construction sectors, on offer at varying levels across a network of colleges and universities in Scotland.
  • Conversion courses are intensive postgraduate programmes which allow individuals to pursue a career that their undergraduate degree or professional career has not prepared them for. The timeframes for these vary depending on whether you choose fast-track, full or part-time study. A list of available engineering conversion courses is available on the Prospects site. Use the filter function to refine your search.

My World of Work is a career information and advice website by Skills Development Scotland which offers a wide range of advice: from the skills you need, current jobs available and guidance on next steps if you are planning a career change.

  • Information on career options within the Energy Sector is available here. 
  • The new Green Jobs Workforce Academy, delivered by Skills Development Scotland, will help people take a greener approach to their careers, from accessing training and learning new skills, to finding a new green job.

Prospects is the UK's biggest graduate careers website and works in close partnership with higher and further education professional bodies and government to deliver unique services that benefit the sector as a whole. They offer a range of careers advice, from applying for university to jobs and work experience.

The Offshore Wind Careers website, by the Offshore Wind Industry Council, provides information on the opportunities that are available in the offshore wind sector across the UK. The interactive map highlights just some of the great employment, educational and community benefits of offshore wind.

RenewableUK has included a careers section on its website offering a range of information on available courses, job vacancies and skills required to get into the industry across the UK. 

  • The Career Mapping tool provides information on industry roles, job duties, and required/desired qualifications, training, experience, and soft skills needed for different roles across the industry.
  • The ‘Guide to Your Career in Offshore Wind’ explains the types of careers available in that sector.

The Green Internship Scheme is a project in the  Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan, led by Zero Waste Scotland with support from Skills Development Scotland and City of Glasgow College. The scheme involves a Net-Zero Pathway course which is CPD certified and takes roughly 6-8 hours to complete. The online training includes three modules: What is Net Zero, What is the Circular Economy and Developing a Net-Zero Plan.