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ETZ Ltd’s flagship energy supply chain initiative has delivered over 250 green jobs and unlocked millions of pounds in private sector investment, according to a new evaluation.And the positive economic impact of the not-for-profit’s Supply Chain Pathway and Challenge Fund Programme shows no signs of stopping, with forecasts placing total green job creation at almost 800 in the coming years. Analysis conducted by leading Scottish consultancy Optimat has shone a light on the progress made to date by the Challenge Fund, led by ETZ Ltd and supported by the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund.Since it was launched in 2022, the initiative has generated 267 green jobs, with more than 50 companies receiving support to transition into the low carbon energy sector.During that time it has also unlocked £17 million in private sector investment, just over double the £7.5m of public money awarded by government to deliver the grant funding element of the four-year programme in 2022.According to Optimat’s 10-year forecast, the Challenge Fund will generate further economic value, including over 500 full time equivalent positions, taking the total green jobs count to just under 800, and deliver more than £300m in Gross Value Added (GVA) for the Scottish economy. Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin said:“The ETZ Supply Chain Pathway and Challenge Fund is a critical means of supporting energy supply chain companies, especially SMEs, ensuring they have the tools to succeed in an increasingly competitive global market.“I am delighted at the strong job creation and economic impact emerging from the evaluation. This report is a welcome assessment of the impact of the Just Transition Fund, and a strong case study of the benefits of public and private partnership more broadly. “Our ongoing support for the Challenge Fund will allow us to deliver more jobs and help our companies diversify and compete, ensuring the full potential of this investment is realised.” These economic impact findings from Optimat come as the latest round of successful awards are finalised and distributed to the 2025–26 Challenge Fund cohort.In order to build on the programme’s successes to date, an additional £3m has also been pledged by Scottish Government, through the Just Transition Fund, to support high-growth potential companies across North East Scotland's energy sector.The enhanced Challenge Fund provides grants of between £50,000 and £500,000 to help accelerate innovation and speed up market entry, while supporting business growth and protecting and creating jobs across emerging and established low-carbon sectors.Examples of eligible projects would include the development of new innovation technology solutions or industrial facilities, investment in manufacturing capability and automation, equipment installation, and upgrades to existing infrastructure - including digital systems.The fund is primarily aimed at SMEs currently servicing the energy supply chain market in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray that have ambitions to diversify into new or existing commercial opportunities within the low-carbon energy sector. Maggie McGinlay, Chief Executive of ETZ Ltd, said: “This evaluation is evidence not just of the success of ETZ’s Supply Chain Pathway and Challenge Fund Programme, but more crucially of the level of ambition and entrepreneurship that exists within businesses in the energy sector who are looking to transition into low carbon opportunities. “The figures underscore just how powerful public money can be in unlocking long-term private sector investment; it is industry collaboration like this that will be so vital to delivering a just transition. “By supporting innovation and strengthening supply chain capability, we are not only accelerating business growth in the North East energy sector but also generating meaningful economic returns across Scotland.”  Steven Simpson, Managing Director, Safelift, said: “The support from the ETZ Challenge Fund has been crucial for us. It wasn’t just about the capital to build a new first-class fabrication facility; it was also the catalyst that accelerated our offering into the renewables marketplace.“Because of this investment we’ve been able to move at a far greater pace, already landing our largest project to date for a major European offshore wind farm, a massive boost for our team. We’ve improved our procedures, upgraded our workspace, and most importantly, we’re bringing in new talent and apprentices to build a future.“This funding has essentially helped further anchor us in the North East of Scotland. It gives us the confidence to shout about our global ambitions while staying hugely committed to our local supply chain and the community that supports us.”

Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Energy Transition Zone (ETZ Ltd) have entered a strategic partnership valued at up to £20 million to help accelerate Scotland’s energy transition The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlines the intention for up to £20 million of capital investment by SE into ETZ Ltd projects in Aberdeen and the North East, alongside ETZ Ltd and other partners.   It is aimed at unlocking total investment of up to £65 million in manufacturing, innovation and test and demonstration space by 2032. The MoU strengthens the organisations’ existing relationship by formalising a long-term commitment to jointly invest in and co-design transformative energy transition projects and infrastructure in the region.    The first project to achieve funding under the MoU is SE’s £2.8 million investment into ETZ EnergyWorks, ETZ Ltd’s flagship low carbon energy incubator and scale-up hub.  Other areas of collaboration include attracting global investment, creating high-value jobs, enhancing net zero infrastructure, enabling new technology development and bolstering Scotland’s renewable energy supply chain.  Companies based at ETZ Ltd locations will also benefit from direct access to SE specialists in industries such as offshore wind, hydrogen, sustainable alternative fuels and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).   Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “We’re committed to ever closer working with ETZ Ltd and others to accelerate Scotland’s energy transition. This strengthened partnership paves the way for greater public-private collaboration, ensuring we maximise the benefits this key opportunity presents for Scotland’s economy and its communities, particularly in the North East.  “Through our missions approach Scottish Enterprise supports ambitious energy transition companies to scale and grow by enabling their international expansion, strengthening our supply chain capabilities and driving greater investment into important infrastructure such as ports and harbours.”  The North East is strategically important for a successful just transition due to its highly skilled workforce, internationally renowned businesses and existing supply chains. SE and ETZ Ltd have a crucial role to play in maintaining the region’s global reputation for energy production and exports as the sector makes the shift towards renewables.   Maggie McGinlay, CEO, ETZ Ltd, said: “From day one, ETZ Ltd has been built on partnerships and collaboration with those committed to securing North East Scotland’s future as a global leader in energy excellence. Our work to date with Scottish Enterprise has sowed the seeds for transformational change for Aberdeen and the wider region and this agreement will only strengthen this further.   “Through targeted, strategic investment in key projects, we will help to unlock tens of millions of private capital to deliver the manufacturing, innovation and test and demonstration facilities needed to deliver the just transition that Scotland’s workforce deserves.” 

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Community and Coast newsletter. Here you can find the latest updates and information about ETZ Ltd’s Community & Coast programme, delivering sustainable, long-term, community wealth-building investments as an integral part of our wider energy transition ambitions. Read it here.

Following two years of collaboration delivering mentoring sessions and sponsorship for local schools, ETZ Ltd is delighted to formally partner with Powering Futures to provide inspiring activities for young people across the region, create a future talent pipeline that is regionally aligned, industry supported, and accessible to all young people. ETZ Ltd are thrilled to support the first Energy Sector Careers Fair in Aberdeen City at the end of this month, which offers a new way to harness pupils’ focused interests in industry and encourage engaging conversations between employers and participants.Lauren Braidwood, ETZ Ltd’s Senior Skills Manager, said:“I have been involved with the Powering Futures programme for a number of years now and have seen first-hand how successful it is in building young people’s skills and confidence. ETZ Ltd is proud to work with Powering Futures to inspire more young people across the region into rewarding, sustainable careers and help to power the North East’s future, together.”ETZ Ltd looks forward to continuing our work with Powering Futures to help secure the skills and opportunities needed for the workforce of our Net Zero future

View the results of the first independent survey of over 3,000 people across Scotland’s communities most impacted by energy transition. ETZ Ltd partnered with True North Advisors, who commissioned respected research analysts, Diffley Partnership, to survey over 3,000 people across Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Angus, Highland, Moray and Perth & Kinross. The survey covered vital issues such as the delivery of renewable energy projects, upgrading Scotland’s electricity grid, community benefits, transmission charging and the role of oil and gas.The polling results were analysed at an ETZ Ltd hosted event at the Marcliffe in Aberdeen, where True North Advisors discussed key findings, which led to a panel discussion with industry professionals before hearing what the audience had to say in a Q&A session and round table discussions.The survey, which is of unprecedented scale and detail, provides valuable insight into the views of communities most impacted by energy transition. ETZ Ltd, as a private sector-led and not-for-profit company spearheading North East Scotland’s energy transition ambition, view it as vital to understand the views and concerns of those people and communities at the vanguard of what is a transformational industrial opportunity. With the survey data and accompanying analysis now available to read, it is important to consider views on how industry and policymakers, at a local and national level, can continue to work together to achieve a transition that is managed and just.Read the full polling analysis here: https://etz-ltd-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/WhatTheNorthThinks_updated.pdfRead the full data tables for this poll https://diffleypartnership.co.uk/north-of-scotland-energy-survey-truenorth-advisors/ 

Over the past year, ETZ Ltd has accelerated delivery efforts and taken action to ensure the scale of the energy transition opportunity within the Energy Transition Zone and the wider region is capitalised on. As we continue to reposition North East Scotland as an integrated energy cluster focussed on the delivery of net zero, our Annual Report for 2024/25 summarises the various activities and projects ETZ Ltd has supported and delivered throughout the year. Watch the full video here.