THE University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) North, West, and Hebrides has launched a commercial training company.
NU-Horizon Training is wholly owned by UHI and will focus on construction, renewable energy, hydrogen, maritime, peatlands, and fabrication training.
The launch comes following the closure of Nigg Skills Academy, which delivered fabrication and welding training at the Port of Nigg for over a decade. Financial difficulties in the wake of Covid and a reduction in public funding led to it closing.
UHI North, West, and Hebrides worked with the Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Skills Development Scotland, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, and private industry partners to secure a sustainable solution in the form of NU-Horizon Training.
The learning institute took on direct delivery of engineering training at the Port of Nigg in March this year, with the lease of the facility transferring to UHI North, West, and Hebrides. Existing staff were offered the opportunity to transfer into NU-Horizon Training under TUPE arrangements, protecting jobs and preserving the expertise built at the Port of Nigg.
Students currently enrolled have seen no disruption to their studies and continue to benefit from the same experienced instructors, high-quality qualifications, and progression pathways into employment, modern apprenticeships or further study within the UHI partnership, it said.
Debbie Miller, VP UHI North, West, and Hebrides, said, “NU-Horizon Training Ltd is wholly owned by the college, which means our learners and employer partners benefit from the credibility and quality assurance of a trusted institution alongside the agility of a dedicated training company.
“We are here to help people learn, work, and thrive in their own communities by delivering the skills and education they need to directly benefit from investment and opportunities in energy transition, innovation and infrastructure.”
An open day will be held at the Port of Nigg on Tuesday 25 August, further details to follow.
