GWO BTT: The big industry problem that nobody's talking about
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Work in oil and gas in Scotland? The SDS Transition Training Fund can pay for a week of hands-on Electrical or Hydraulic Upskilling with us, and here's who can apply, how it works and which course to start on.
If you've worked in oil and gas, moving into wind isn't starting again. You already know your way round a control panel, a hydraulic power unit and a safe isolation. The step up is learning how those systems work on a turbine.
The Skills Development Scotland Oil & Gas Transition Training Fund can pay for you to learn that. Wind Training Solutions is an approved training provider on the fund, so if you're eligible, your week with us can be paid for by SDS rather than out of your own pocket.
What the fund is
The Oil & Gas Transition Training Fund is run by Skills Development Scotland on behalf of the Scottish and UK Governments. It pays for people who work in oil and gas to retrain for clean energy jobs, including onshore and offshore wind.
It's applicant-led. You apply to SDS, and you choose the training provider and the course yourself. If SDS approves your application, they pay the provider. The fund covers up to £4,000 per person, including VAT.
Which WTS courses it covers
The fund pays for a full week on either of these courses. Each one runs Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, at Energy Central Learning Hub in Blyth, Northumberland. The groups are small and you're on industrial rigs from the first morning. Everything you learn is built on principles, so it applies whichever make of turbine you end up working on.
| Course | What you'll be doing | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Upskilling | Building and testing 24VDC and three-phase motor control circuits, isolation and prove dead, and reading turbine wiring diagrams and ladder logic to find faults | £3,000 |
| Hydraulic Upskilling | Reading hydraulic schematics, setting flow and pressure control valves, working with proportional valves, and building and fault-finding circuits made from real turbine components | £3,000 |
These are the two we'd start anyone new to wind on. The next section explains why.
Which course is right for you
If you're coming from oil and gas and haven't worked in wind yet, start with Electrical Upskilling or Hydraulic Upskilling. They give you the broadest start on how a turbine works.
- Electrical Upskilling is for electricians and instrument technicians, or anyone who'll be working on the electrical side of a turbine.
- Hydraulic Upskilling is for mechanical and hydraulic technicians.
- Troubleshooter Upskilling is for technicians who already have electrical and hydraulic experience on turbines and are ready to move into troubleshooting. If you're new to wind, do Electrical or Hydraulic Upskilling first.
- ESP-Aligned Electrical Upskilling is built for technicians who already work on Siemens Gamesa turbines and need evidence for their Electrically Skilled Person sign-off. It's a narrower course, so we wouldn't recommend it as your first step into wind.
If you're not sure, contact us before you apply. We'll ask about your background and point you to the right week. We'd rather do that than put you on the wrong course.
How to apply
- Check you're eligible. The FAQs below have the main conditions. SDS have the full rules.
- Choose your course and a week. Message us and we'll find a week that fits round your rotation.
- Apply to SDS. Name Wind Training Solutions as your training provider, along with the course you want.
- Wait for approval. If SDS approve your application, they send us a purchase order and we confirm your place. We can't start you on a course until that purchase order has arrived.
- Do the week. At the end you'll get a WTS certificate of completion, and we deal with SDS for payment.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply?
You need to live in Scotland, have the right to work in the UK, and work in oil and gas now or have done in the last 24 months. Contractors and people in the wider oil and gas supply chain count. If you were funded under last year's pilot, you can't apply again.
I live in Scotland and the course is in Blyth. Is that allowed?
Yes. The fund covers training anywhere in the UK.
How much does the fund pay?
Up to £4,000 per person, including VAT. That covers a full week on Electrical Upskilling or Hydraulic Upskilling.
Can I do more than one course?
Yes. An approved package can include more than one course. The fund pays up to £4,000 in total, and if your package costs more than that, you can pay the difference yourself.
Does it cover Troubleshooting Training?
Troubleshooting Training comes to £4,200 including VAT. The fund would pay £4,000 and you'd pay the other £200 yourself. It's built for technicians who already have turbine experience, though, so it isn't where we'd start someone new to wind.
Will it pay for a refresher or recertification?
No. The fund pays for new skills, not for renewing ones you already hold.
When does training have to be done by?
All training has to be finished by 31 March 2027. Our groups are small and courses fill up, so apply early.
I'm on rotation and the first week that fits is a while away. Is that a problem?
SDS ask for training to be booked within 14 days of approval and started within a month where possible. They've told us that isn't a hard cut-off. What matters is that you have confirmed dates and the training is finished by 31 March 2027. If your rotation changes after you're approved, tell your SDS adviser your new dates.
What do I get at the end?
A WTS certificate of completion. It sets out what you were assessed against and confirms you passed the end-of-course assessment.
Do I need experience before I come?
Before you book, we'll ask a few questions about your background and what you've worked on, so you end up on the course that fits. If another course would suit you better, we'll tell you.
Talk to us before you apply
Contact us with what you do now and where you want to end up, and we'll tell you which course fits and which weeks you can make.
