Visit Stornoway’s new Future Energy Lab and engineering training facilities

UHI North, West and Hebrides is giving prospective students the opportunity to tour its new Future Energy Lab and engineering training facilities ahead of the official opening of the Outer Hebrides Campus Redevelopment Project later this year.

Work is nearing completion on the lab, workshops, and study spaces at the Technology and Innovation Centre, which will support a skills and talent pipeline for jobs in the engineering and energy sector in the Outer Hebrides.

Prospective students, parents and employers are invited to tour the centre at the Stornoway campus, meet staff, and find out more about careers and courses starting this September.

There will also be an opportunity to try virtual welding simulators, which are being used by companies like Mercedes and BMW to train the next generation of engineers and welders.

Visits on 26 June between 2pm and 4pm are drop in and no booking is required. Find out more here - Engineering Tours, Stornoway

The Technology and Innovation Centre at the campus now includes:

• A Future Energy Lab, which will support the delivery of training, skills and qualifications in energy transition, including hydrogen and renewables.
• Engineering workshops and study spaces.
• A Newton Room, which will provide STEM learning experience to primary and secondary pupils.

UHI North, West and Hebrides is working closely with employers in the Outer Hebrides to support the training and skills needs in the engineering and renewable energy sector. A significant number of jobs will be created in the islands linked to the Just Transition, on and offshore wind development, and key strategic investments like the Deep Water Terminal in Stornoway and the Arnish Fabrication Yard.

Roddy Ferguson, Head of the Engineering Department in Stornoway, said: “There are so many jobs and incredible career opportunities for prospective students interested in engineering and energy, particularly in the Outer Hebrides, which is leading the way in renewables. We’re incredibly excited to open the doors to our Technology and Innovation Centre and give prospective students a tour ahead of the official opening later in the summer. The facilities are fantastic and will be available to prospective students coming to study with us in September.”

Lydia Rohmer, Principal and Chief Executive of UHI North, West and Hebrides, said: “This investment in our Stornoway campus and high-quality learning and teaching in engineering and energy highlights our commitment to our island communities, creating opportunities for people to live, study and secure high-quality jobs on the islands. It will also significantly enhance the facilities and resources available to staff and students, enable further development of our STEM based curriculum, and strengthen our links with employers and schools.”

The Outer Hebrides Campus Redevelopment Project also includes a new student hub, where students can socialise and collaborate, and mobile STEM facilities and equipment, which will enhance the college’s outreach work throughout the Outer Hebrides.

It is one of several projects under the Islands Growth Deal, a ten-year package of investment that will seek to drive economic growth and the creation of sustainable jobs across Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides.