Fit for Offshore Renewables

PIM has been selected as one of 20 businesses to form the second North East Scotland cohort on the Fit For Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme funded by the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ).

The 12-18 month programme is governed by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) and follows a range of regional F4OR programmes, rolled out across the country since 2018.

The companies selected come from a wide range of sectors which include services such as consultancy, engineering, health and safety, and asset inspection.

£250,000 has been awarded by ETZ Ltd to fund the programme. The not-for-profit company has a clear ambition to reposition the North East of Scotland as a global leader in energy transition and delivery of net-zero targets and is part of the Scottish Government’s £14.3 million North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund (NEERSF).

The F4OR cohort announcement comes in the wake of the ScotWind leasing round results that presents a once in a generation opportunity to drive economic and supply chain growth and job creation within the offshore wind sector.

North East Scotland has a strong heritage of offshore operations from its world-leading role in the global oil and gas sector and is well placed to take advantage of the vast opportunity ahead with offshore wind.

As a result, preparing companies to be in the best possible position to bid for work within the sector off the back of ScotWind is a key component of the North East Scotland F4OR programme. In the first NE Scotland cohort, cross-sector pull was significant, with 93% of successful applicants not considering offshore wind as their primary market. Since taking part in the programme, several F4OR beneficiary companies in the region have secured contracts in the sector, including in the burgeoning floating wind market.

F4OR looks to bring to the fore highly experienced companies in the region with the skills, expertise and ambition to support the energy transition.