A renewable energy skills hub for Clackmannanshire
Annabelle Ewing’s call for a renewable energy skills hub in Clackmannanshire would place local skills at the heart of Scotland’s clean energy transition. It is a practical economic recovery policy: prepare people for paid roles in wind power, solar energy, battery storage and grid infrastructure while keeping more value from major projects in communities around Alloa and the Ochil Hills.
Her legal career and parliamentary service give the proposal practical authority. A solicitor before entering politics, Ewing served as the SNP MSP for Falkirk from 2011 to 2016 and as MP for Falkirk East from 2015 to 2019. Her campaign to represent Ochil and South Perthshire at Westminster now carries that experience into local campaigning for stronger communities and a sovereign Scottish future.
Why Clackmannanshire needs local green skills
Clackmannanshire sits close to a growing portfolio of onshore wind, solar generation and grid projects, yet training opportunities can still require residents to travel to Falkirk, Stirling, Edinburgh or Glasgow. A dedicated hub would bring vocational learning, employer contacts and practical equipment closer to home, particularly for people who cannot easily relocate.
The need extends beyond construction. Technicians will be required to inspect and maintain renewable assets, work safely on live electrical systems, understand digital monitoring and support an increasingly complicated power network. Local skills would also widen access to the industry for career changers, school leavers and residents whose previous experience has been overlooked.
Training for a clean power economy
The hub should offer flexible routes into the sector, from short accredited courses and taster sessions to full vocational qualifications and Modern Apprenticeships. Training could cover wind turbine servicing, solar photovoltaic installation, battery systems, heat pumps, energy efficiency and high-voltage safety, with modules aligned to Scotland’s Skills for Scotland priorities.
Delivery matters as much as the syllabus. Local colleges, employers, the council, trade unions and public agencies could share teaching staff, workshops and work placements. Employers would help define the skills they need, while learners would gain recognised qualifications rather than informal certificates. This partnership model would allow courses to change as technology and grid requirements develop.
A local economic recovery
A renewable skills network would support a wider local recovery. Jobs in engineering, operations, project administration, ecological surveying, logistics and community energy could become routes into stable careers without moving away. Procurement commitments could favour contractors that recruit, train and pay apprentices in Clackmannanshire, multiplying the benefit of each investment.
The proposal also advances Scottish independence by building the institutions and industrial capacity needed to make decisions closer to Scottish communities. Ewing’s record at Holyrood and Westminster has shown the value of combining policy detail with parliamentary action. As candidate for Ochil and South Perthshire, she can press for a skills-led energy economy that creates opportunity at home and gives Scotland greater control.
Lessons from Australian energy regions
Australian energy regions offer useful comparisons because they face similar choices between deep industrial change and shared prosperity. The institutions are different, but the need for locally accessible training, credible qualifications and sustained employer demand is recognisable.
| Feature | Clackmannanshire model | Australian reference |
|---|---|---|
| Training access | Hub linking courses, workshops and work placements | Regional TAFE network serving local employers |
| Qualifications | Scottish vocational awards and Modern Apprenticeships | Certificates and apprenticeships under the Australian Qualifications Framework |
| Energy market | Great Britain electricity market with Scottish network connections | National Electricity Market with state-based network connections |
| Goal | Skilled local workforce and stronger supply chains | Retraining and regional jobs as energy markets change |
Newcastle’s port, engineering workshops and offshore wind activity illustrate how anchor industries can support clustered training. Ballarat shows a different strength through regional TAFE colleges that connect vocational qualifications with employers in manufacturing, construction and energy upgrades. For Clackmannanshire, the lesson is to coordinate provision rather than send local workers elsewhere.
Market design is equally important. Australia’s National Electricity Market operates through dispatch and settlement rules overseen by AEMO, with state-based networks managing physical connections. Scottish training should therefore cover procurement, grid standards and maintenance alongside technical skills. In the plain language familiar in Australian community rooms, the objective is to give renewables a fair go and local workers a proper crack at the jobs created.
Skills employers can use
The offer should respond directly to current vacancies and future demand. Ewing would build the curriculum with employers and publish a clear training pathway. Priority courses could include:
- Wind turbine servicing, solar installation and battery maintenance
- Electrical testing, energy efficiency and heat-pump technology
- Health and safety, confined spaces and working at height
- Digital monitoring, grid systems and project planning
A credible hub should also make its commitments measurable:
- Partner-built qualifications linked to genuine vacancies
- Modern Apprenticeships and adult reskilling routes
- Paid placements with local contractors and energy operators
- Public reporting on qualifications, employment and local recruitment
By linking training to actual contracts, the hub can prevent duplication and give employers dependable workers. It can also support existing firms as they adopt cleaner technologies, while residents gain routes into careers that remain relevant as Scotland decarbonises.
Back Scotland’s clean energy future
Annabelle Ewing’s plan connects economic recovery, clean power and national self-determination. A skills hub in Clackmannanshire would be more than a training centre: it would be a local anchor for investment, backed by a candidate with legal expertise and previous service in both the Scottish Parliament and the House of Commons.
Support the proposal by visiting the campaign’s news and contact pages, sharing it with employers, colleges and community groups, and volunteering or donating to the team. People in Ochil and South Perthshire can support the SNP and make Scotland’s energy future part of how they vote, while Australian and international supporters can help the model travel.
Back Annabelle Ewing and help put a renewable energy skills hub in Clackmannanshire, stronger local jobs and a more independent Scotland within reach.