16 September 2026
Aberdeen Townhouse
The Taskforce reviewed progress across Great British Energy’s work in Aberdeen and the wider North East, including regional skills and social value, recruitment, investment activity and floating offshore wind.
The discussion highlighted:
- the importance of coordinating the region’s existing skills, education and industry partnerships;
- continued progress in building Great British Energy’s presence and recruitment activity in Aberdeen;
- opportunities for the Taskforce to support Great British Energy’s investment activity and regional communications; and
- the strategic importance of floating offshore wind to the North East, including the need to maintain confidence in the sector and strengthen collaboration across regions.
Attendees
- Iain Anderson – Aberdeen Energy Taskforce
- Donella Beaton – Robert Gordon University
- Bob Keiller – Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce / Our Union Street
- Juergen Maier – Great British Energy
- Dan McGrail – Great British Energy
- Maggie McGinlay – ETZ
- Nicola McLeod – D2Zero
- Michael Love – OPITO
- Nick Dalgarno – Piper Sandler
- Myrtle Dawes – Net Zero Technology Centre
- Bob Ruddiman – Burness Paull
- Steve Gray – Ventex
- Alison Stuart – Nescan
Delegates
- Laure Mora – OEUK
- Bethan Vasey – Scottish Enterprise
- Apologies
- Reuben Aitken – Scottish Enterprise
- Jeff Corray – D2Zero / Piper Sandler
- Roy MacGregor – Global Energy Group
- Neil McCulloch – Adura
- Allan Pirie – Ashtead Technology
- Graeme Sword – Aberdeen Energy Taskforce
- David Whitehouse – OEUK
Invited Participants
- Neil Cowie – NESCOL
- Heather Morgan – University of Aberdeen
- Ekaterina Pavlovskaia – University of Aberdeen
- Martha Selwyn – Great British Energy
- Gillian Thomson – Great British Energy
Secretariat
- Megan-Rose Duffy – Great British Energy
Welcome from the Chairs
JM reflected on the 1 year anniversary of the Taskforce, noting that momentum in GBE’s delivery has picked up and reflecting optimism for the future of the city.
GBE collaborative regional skills and social value partnership
The Taskforce received an update on the development of a regional skills and social value partnership, building on existing collaboration between industry, education and training providers across the North East.
Discussion focused on the importance of GBE establishing itself in the already strong regional skills system and ensuring that workforce considerations are integrated into wider investment and supply chain activity. Members highlighted the role of apprenticeships, work placements, graduate opportunities, upskilling and reskilling in supporting the transition and creating pathways into the energy sector. Members also noted the region's existing concentration of energy expertise, education providers and industrial capability and discussed how these strengths could be better connected through a coordinated regional approach.
The Taskforce also discussed the importance of promoting positive opportunities within the sector to attract future talent and recognised the contribution of colleges, universities and training providers in supporting the region's long-term competitiveness.
Members agreed that developing and retaining the skilled workforce needed for the energy transition will be critical to maintaining Aberdeen and the North East's position as a leading energy region.
Contributors asked that Taskforce members continue to engage with the partnership and consider opportunities for their own organisations to create opportunities.
Action – Members to consider what opportunities their organisations could offer (work experience, placements) to support the partnership.
GBE recruitment update
Members received an update on Great British Energy's recruitment activity and organisational growth in Aberdeen.
Discussion focused on the continued attraction of talent to the region and the importance of building capability in key delivery and operational roles. Members welcomed progress to date and discussed the role that regional partners can play in strengthening awareness of opportunities and supporting workforce development across the sector.
CEO update
The Taskforce received an update on Great British Energy's recent organisational and investment milestones, including progress against strategic objectives and recent investment activity.
Members discussed how the Taskforce can support Great British Energy's delivery ambitions and maximise the benefit of investment activity for Aberdeen and the wider North East. Discussion also considered the role of the Taskforce in strengthening understanding of Great British Energy's activities and supporting wider regional engagement.
The importance of ensuring that progress, opportunities and outcomes are effectively communicated across the region was recognised. Members noted recent organisational growth, investment activity and progress against delivery objectives, and discussed how awareness of Great British Energy activity and regional benefits could be strengthened through more coordinated communications.
There was discussion on how the region could strengthen its investment capability, including the potential for an informal subgroup to explore how existing and future investment opportunities can best support regional priorities.
Action – Regional Comms to be added to the agenda for December meeting.
Action (closed) – Provide a summary of GBE activity to all Taskforce Members.
Action – Steve Gray, Nick Dalgarno and GBE to discuss how Taskforce can best consider opportunities to strengthen the region's investment capability and maximise the impact of investment in the region.
Deepwater wind
The Taskforce received an update on Great British Energy's activities in support of floating offshore wind and discussed the significant opportunity the sector presents for Aberdeen and the wider North East.
Members welcomed the progress being made and recognised the potential for floating offshore wind to support jobs, investment and supply chain growth across the region. Discussion focused on how the North East can maximise the economic benefits of future deployment and strengthen its position within the emerging market.
Members also held a wide-ranging discussion on the challenging commercial environment facing the sector, including investor confidence, market conditions and the pace of deployment required to achieve commercial scale. This included consideration of market confidence, the pace of deployment, investment conditions and the longer-term pathway to commercial scale. Members noted the importance of maintaining confidence across the supply chain and ensuring that industry, government and public finance institutions continue to work together to support delivery. Members discussed differing views on the near-term outlook for floating offshore wind, including concerns regarding deployment timelines, investor confidence and market conditions.
The role of Great British Energy in helping to accelerate development, support market confidence and work with partners to address barriers to deployment was also discussed. Members emphasised the importance of clear and consistent messaging on the economic opportunities associated with floating offshore wind, particularly for the North East and Celtic Sea regions. There was discussion on potential benefit of collaboration between the two regions.
The Taskforce further considered the value of closer collaboration with other regions pursuing floating offshore wind opportunities in order to strengthen the collective case for investment and maximise economic benefit for the UK.
Action – Great British Energy to consider opportunities for further regional collaboration in support of floating offshore wind.
Action – Members to identify opportunities for coordinated regional advocacy and consistent sector messaging.