Why it still matters
The current round expands eligibility beyond Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. People anywhere in Scotland who have worked in a role servicing oil and gas within the last two years may be eligible.
Who this affects
Current and recent oil-and-gas workers considering renewables, grid, engineering, advanced manufacturing, life sciences or defence roles.
What to do now
- Check eligibility before paying privately for retraining.
- Speak to an adviser about which qualification is actually requested by employers in the target role.
- Apply early: the earlier pilot was oversubscribed and funding is not unlimited.
What support is available?
The Scottish and UK Governments are each contributing £3 million to the 2026–27 Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund. Skills Development Scotland says the programme should support more than 1,000 workers with funded training and careers advice.
The new round is open across Scotland and covers people who have worked in a role servicing the oil and gas industry during the previous two years. The target sectors include sustainable energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and defence.
Our take
Do not start with a course catalogue. Start with the job you want, check real vacancies, then identify the ticket or conversion training employers actually ask for. Funded training is valuable, but the right course matters more than collecting another certificate.
We read the original source, remove the ceremony and explain the practical consequence. This briefing is general information, not legal or professional advice. If the source changes, the official page takes priority.