Buchan Offshore Wind to Support Future Workforce in Local Schools

Powering Futures, the social enterprise which brings together the employers of today and the employees of tomorrow, working towards the shared goals of prosperity and sustainability, has today announced a new partnership for local schools with Buchan Offshore Wind, the developers of the proposed 1GW offshore wind farm 75 km off the Aberdeenshire coast.

The investment by Buchan Offshore Wind will enable pupils at Peterhead Academy and Fraserburgh Academy to access the Powering Futures Schools Programme. They will engage in hands-on learning as they collaborate to find a solution to a sustainability challenge that has been set by industry, developing their skills in innovation, problem solving, networking and sustainability. Industry partners are uniquely embedded in the delivery of the curriculum programme which is designed to systematically create a pipeline of talent to businesses involved in delivering the transition to net zero.

Buchan Offshore Wind is a partnership between BayWa r.e., a global renewable energy business; Elicio, an experienced Belgian offshore wind developer, owner and operator; and BW Ideol, a proven floating technology leader and international floating wind project co-developer. It is developing the NE8 ScotWind site, and working to accelerate the development of floating wind to bring significant levels of employment to Scotland through its commitment to local manufacturing of the wind turbines’ concrete foundations.

Commenting, David Reid, co-founder of Powering Futures, said:

“The Powering Futures Schools Programme is empowering tomorrow’s business leaders to solve real-time sustainability challenges and work towards future economic prosperity. The investment by Buchan Offshore Wind is a direct investment in the futures of the young people at Fraserburgh Academy and Peterhead Academy, as we travel on this journey towards a cleaner, greener future.”

Clare Lavelle, Project Director of Buchan Offshore Wind, said:

“As a project we’re committed to supporting initiatives that give local school students opportunities to develop skills and capabilities which support and enhance their learning and prepare them for the world of work.

 “We are conscious of the huge growth in the workforce required to deliver Scotland’s renewable ambitions and Powering Futures is a great way to give students a sense of the range of  opportunities which will be available to them in this fast-growing sector when they finish school, further or higher education.

 “We look forward to working with the staff team and students at Fraserburgh Academy and Peterhead Academy on this exciting programme.”

Gerry McCluskey, Head Teacher of Peterhead Academy, said:

“Peterhead Academy are thrilled to be delivering the new Powering Futures SCQF Level 6 course alongside learning partners Buchan Offshore Wind this session. We have incorporated this programme into our senior phase wider achievement curriculum, allowing the young people who choose this option the opportunity to develop the critical meta-skills employers are looking for through content with real-world links to an organisation who are playing a key role in our local economy. This programme will enable our lead member of staff, Mrs Milne (Principal Teacher Technology), to work alongside Buchan Offshore Wind colleagues to provide high quality contextualised learning experiences, through which our young people can apply their learning to the world of work. We believe the style of learning the Powering Futures programme provides will motivate our young people across all of their senior phase courses, as they develop and understanding of the relevance of their learning and how it applies in the workplace.”

Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, said:

"I am delighted to see such a forward-thinking initiative take root in our local schools. This partnership between Buchan Offshore Wind and Powering Futures is not just about preparing our young people for the jobs of tomorrow—it's about addressing the socio-economic challenges we face today. By investing in the education and skills of students at Peterhead Academy and Fraserburgh Academy, we are giving them the tools they need to secure meaningful employment in a rapidly changing world. This is about ensuring that every young person, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed and contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future, creating real pathways to success for our next generation."

Powering Futures was set up in 2020 to empower the young and future workforce with the skills, critical thinking, and enthusiasm to help their organisation transition to net zero. Bringing together schools and businesses, Powering Futures tasks teams of S5 and S6 pupils with solving a sustainability problem set by industry, and supports them in coming up with creative solutions through teamwork and climate skills.  At the end of the process, participants will earn a SCQF Level 6 qualification.