People and Skills
The PowerHouse: building the skills to shape the future
At the heart of the Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport lies The PowerHouse - the driving force behind the region’s skills and innovation strategy.
More than just a network, The PowerHouse is a catalyst for collaboration, bringing together businesses, academia and training providers to ensure that the Highlands is ready to meet the workforce needs of tomorrow.
Confidence for investors
The Highlands is primed with a future-ready workforce — skilled, trained and aligned with emerging opportunities in the energy sector. Investors can move forward with confidence.
Creating the future
The PowerHouse isn’t just planning for the future — it’s creating it. From STEM learning to reskilling professionals, it’s shaping a workforce built for the renewable revolution.
Right skills at the right time
Whether you’re just starting out or shifting careers, The PowerHouse ensures local people are equipped to seize transformative net zero opportunities.
Driving energy innovation
By uniting educators, industry and communities, The PowerHouse is fast-tracking game-changing tech like floating wind and green hydrogen in the Highlands.
Empowering a skilled workforce for green growth
At Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, we’re building a talent pipeline that matches the scale of the region’s green growth ambitions. With over 10,000 new jobs forecast, our 10-Point Plan for Skills ensures that investors have access to the skilled, adaptable workforce they need - now and in the future.
Our approach includes:
- Tailored skills pipelines: developed with partners like Skills Development Scotland, the Department for Work and Pensions, and the University of the Highlands & Islands
- Sector-specific pathways: into employment, from pre-employment support to commercial training and higher education collaborations
- “Grow Your Own” strategy: boosting local apprenticeship and graduate recruitment, with bursaries to support diversity and inclusion
- Employer-led STEM engagement: outreach in schools and colleges to inspire the next generation of green industry talent
- Targeted talent attraction efforts: to bring experienced professionals into the region’s expanding clean energy and innovation sectors
