Great British Energy (GB Energy), the publicly owned company created to steer parts of Britain’s transition to low-carbon power, has formally opened its headquarters in Marischal Square, Aberdeen, and pledged £750,000 towards local training and employability initiatives.
Investment aimed at local workforce and young people
The firm said the funding will support a partnership focused on training, skills and employability in the Aberdeen area, with particular emphasis on helping young people and those not in employment, education or training (NEETs) to access opportunities in energy and related sectors. The company also confirmed an internal target that 5% of its workforce will be in entry-level or early-career pathways to create routes into the industry for local residents.
The reception to mark the opening, held at the new headquarters, brought together industry figures, partners and stakeholders who have been involved with the business since its inception. GB Energy said the pledge is intended to tackle barriers experienced by people from disadvantaged communities and to help develop the skilled labour the UK will need as projects move from planning into construction and operation.
“We are working to build a lasting legacy in Aberdeen, creating jobs, backing young people into careers in renewable energy, and being an active member of the community here for years to come.”
The comment was attributed to Dan McGrail, chief executive of Great British Energy, who stressed the company’s aim to collaborate with regional partners to improve access to energy careers across the North East. The Energy Secretary also underlined Aberdeen’s continued strategic role in the nation’s energy system.
What the pledge means locally
Aberdeen has long been a centre of energy expertise, owing to generations of oil and gas activity and a growing renewables and research base. The arrival of GB Energy’s headquarters will add another institutional presence in the city centre and signal further public-sector activity in the sector locally.
- Training and employability: The £750,000 partnership will fund local skills initiatives and outreach aimed at young people and disadvantaged groups.
- Entry-level opportunities: GB Energy will target 5% of its workforce for entry-level and early-career roles to help local recruitment.
- Community focus: The company says it will work with regional partners and local research institutions to support knowledge and technical expertise in the North-East.
Officials described the investment as a long-term commitment: as a publicly owned company GB Energy is structured to reinvest returns into the UK’s energy transition, rather than distribute profits to private shareholders. That model, the company says, enables longer‑term regional commitments.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Marischal Square, Aberdeen |
| Training pledge | £750,000 for local skills and employability |
| Workforce target | 5% in entry-level and early-career pathways |
Local implications and next steps
For Aberdeen the announcement arrives at a time when the city seeks to translate decades of oil and gas experience into renewable energy and low-carbon projects. The stated focus on entry-level roles and targeted support for NEETs could broaden access to energy careers that have traditionally required specialist training or industry contacts.
How the pledge is turned into concrete programmes will depend on the partnerships GB Energy forges with local colleges, training providers and community organisations. The company said it will work with regional partners to open up opportunities but did not release an implementation timetable or the names of specific partner organisations at the opening reception.
City leaders and industry stakeholders will now be watching to see how quickly recruitment and training initiatives are deployed and whether the company’s local workforce targets translate into measurable increases in early-career employment for people from Aberdeen and the surrounding North‑East communities.
The opening at Marischal Square underlines Aberdeen’s continuing centrality to the UK’s energy future, as organisations reposition resources and skills to meet the demands of the energy transition.
