A new Offshore Skills Academy in Montrose is set to receive funding from the Tay Cities Industrial Investment Programme, which sits alongside the Tay Cities Region Deal. Following approval of the full business case by the Scottish Government and the Tay Cities Region Joint Committee, the Montrose Port Skills Academy (MPSA) will provide specialist facilities and training programmes for workers seeking to enter or transition into the renewables sector.
The project has been awarded £1.25 million in funding and is intended to help develop the skilled workforce required to support Scotland’s growing offshore wind industry. The new facility will enable Dundee & Angus College to deliver a range of training and skills development programmes focused on the industrial energy transition, with a particular emphasis on offshore wind. Plans for the academy include dedicated training and workshop space to support both formal education and industry-led training across mechanical, electrical and hydraulic disciplines. The facility will also accommodate bespoke training programmes for operations and maintenance teams based at the port.
Over the past two years, Angus Council, Montrose Port Authority and Dundee & Angus College have worked together to develop the project. The college is already delivering specialised Vestas-accredited courses to its first cohort of learners. Vestas has also selected the academy as the base for its apprenticeship programme, which is scheduled to launch in August 2026 through Dundee & Angus College.
