SCOTTISH SOLAR EXPERTS CHAMPION APPRENTICESHIPS AMID SECTOR SKILLS SHORTAGE

Scottish solar experts, AES Solar, are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week from the 10th – 16th February, honouring the essential role of apprenticeships in helping to tackle the green skills shortage facing the renewable energy sector.

According to a 2024 report by Climate Exchange1 there are significant skills shortages at every level and across each stage of Scotland’s solar project lifecycle. If skilled workforce shortages are not addressed, the country’s ability to deliver 4 to 6 GW of solar capacity by 2030 could be significant.

As the demand for skilled professionals continues to outpace supply, the Forres-based company is committed to nurturing the next generation of talent in Moray through on-the-job training and long-term career opportunities.

AES Solar first became an apprentice employer in March 2015 to provide more structured training and development opportunities. Since then, the company has engaged in 13 different Modern or Graduate apprenticeships and has developed its programme to achieve a 100 percent apprentice retention rate. 20 percent of its workforce are either in apprenticeships or have recently completed an apprenticeship and the business has achieved an improved gender balance as a result.

One such success story is Dylan Strachan, who joined AES Solar as a Warehouse & Manufacturing Assistant in 2021 before successfully enrolling on a plumbing apprenticeship at the company last year. Dylan credits the programme with providing not only technical expertise, but also the confidence to purse a long-term career in the sector.

Commenting on his experience of studying a Modern Apprenticeship, Dylan Strachan, said:

“When I first joined AES Solar, I knew that I wanted to expand my skillset and jumped at the opportunity of doing a plumbing apprenticeship when it came up. I would recommend an apprenticeship in renewables to school leavers as it sets you up with skills for life in a rewarding sector and you get to experience comprehensive training from industry professionals with decades of expertise. I work closely with our Installation Manager who has over 40 years of experience in plumbing and heating. Over the past four years I have been lucky enough to experience a number of exciting opportunities at work, but the one that stands out the most is entering the 2024 Scottish Plumbing Apprentice of the Year competition as one of only two first-year apprentices taking part amongst participants in their third or fourth year.”

Jamie Di Sotto, Commercial Director at AES Solar, said:

“As we continue to face a skills shortage in the sector, we believe that the solution lies in developing the next generation of talent at our doorstep. We encourage other businesses in the renewable energy industry to consider apprenticeships as a sustainable model for addressing the green skills gap whilst also supporting local talent. It’s evident how much we value our apprentices at AES Solar and the huge breadth of talent and ideas they bring to our organisation, as well as a passion and willingness to learn.”