Delivering Skills for the Energy transition
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ORIT and Energy Skills Partnership
As part of its commitment to a Just Transition, ORIT partnered with the Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) to help deliver practical training for careers in clean energy. ESP is a national organisation that connects industry needs with skills development. It creates and runs initiatives that provides people with the knowledge needed to work in the net zero economy. All of ESP’s work is focused on supporting a fair and inclusive shift to a low-carbon future.
This partnership is delivering two targeted initiatives:
- The creation of ‘Futures in Offshore Wind’, a structured online course designed to familiarise new entrants with how the offshore wind sector works, and
- The deployment of virtual reality headsets to support inclusive technical training in offshore wind.
These initiatives aim to improve access to renewable energy careers and technical training, with a focus on workforce readiness and inclusion. While ESP currently operates mainly in Scotland, its accessibility-based structure means that the benefits of these initiatives have the potential to expand across the UK and into Europe.
Initiative 1: Futures in Offshore Wind (Online Course)
Futures in Offshore Wind is a structured online course designed to familiarise new entrants with how the offshore wind sector works, why it matters, and where they might fit in. It offers a clear, accessible starting point for anyone exploring a future in the industry.
Purpose & Delivery
Free, open-access online course introducing the full lifecycle of offshore wind projects and related career pathways. Delivered through a dedicated website platform developed over the past year.
Content & Features
Covers the full lifecycle of offshore wind, including development, consenting, construction, operation, and maintenance. Introduces sector roles, key technical systems, safety procedures, environmental considerations and social acceptability. Delivered through interactive modules with short videos, case studies, detailed technical content, and end-of-module quizzes. Learners receive a certificate of completion.
Audience & Reach
Available to anyone interested in entering the offshore wind sector, across the UK, Europe, and beyond. Not limited to formal learners but designed to be accessible to final year secondary school students, undergraduate and early-career graduate students with an interest in relevant disciplines. Fully online and self-paced, removing barriers related to geography, cost, or schedule. Designed to support broad access and help individuals prepare for offshore wind careers.
“ESP is very grateful for the continued support from ORIT that has allowed us to create and develop widely accessible digital leaning assets supporting a just transition to Net Zero. The free to access online course ; Futures in Offshore Wind has been developed to give learners an insight into offshore wind and the varied career opportunities that exist within the renewables sector, this is complemented with VR software that allows users to explore the internal working of a wind turbine and enhance their understanding and knowledge of the technology used. The support from ORIT has been vital in developing these programs and allowing wider accessibility for many learners” - ESP Scotland
Initiative 2: Virtual Reality Headset Deployment
Virtual reality headsets have been deployed to support inclusive technical training in offshore wind and hydrogen. By offering immersive, equipment-free learning experiences, the initiative enables individuals who face barriers to traditional training environments to access high-quality skills development.
Purpose & Delivery
Provide immersive access to offshore wind and hydrogen environments through untethered VR headsets. Headsets funded by ORIT and immersive training courses developed by ORE Catapult and Animmersion.
Content & Features
Headsets enable access to interactive simulations of turbine inspection, fault diagnosis, offshore safety procedures, and hydrogen refuelling walkthroughs. Scenarios are staged for different skill levels.
Audience & Reach
Designed for learners who cannot access physical training environments due to safety, cost, or location constraints. Shared across participating ESP colleges.
Accessibility & Impact
Enables flexible, travel-free technical learning. Supports inclusive participation for remote or economically disadvantaged learners.
“Learning about wind turbines through VR made me realise how much I want to get involved in renewable energy.” — Student
