Ocean Winds supporting SSERC welding professional learning

Ocean Winds Donation of Seabery Kits Bolsters Welding Skills to Meet Industry Demand

We are proud to announce that Ocean Winds has generously provided six new Seabery Augmented Reality (AR) STEM MIG Welding units to SSERC. These kits will enhance our professional learning courses in welding and will also be available on loan to educational establishments. This initiative will play a crucial role in developing welding expertise—vital both now and for the future—in Scotland’s growing green and industrial economies. We will work in partnership with ESP in this area of interest and training. 

Addressing a Critical Skills Gap

Recent data indicate a severe shortfall of trained welders in the UK. Over 35,000 skilled welders are projected to be needed by 2027 to replace retiring workers and meet demand from sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and renewables. energyvoice.com+1

In Scotland particularly, the renewables sector supports more than 47,000 jobs and contributes approximately £15.5 billion in output. Offshore wind remains the largest employer in that sector with nearly 20,000 full-time equivalent roles. buildscotland.co.uk Welding skills are essential to many elements of this supply chain—from fabrication to maintenance. Scottish Renewables+1

Enhancing Training & Local Capacity

• The Soldamatic kits use immersive technology to simulate welding tasks, enabling learners to practice in safe, controlled environments before moving on to real equipment.

• These kits, coupled with our existing training programmes, will allow for more flexible learning, reduce supervision costs initially, and help trainees build confidence and competence.

• Loaning these kits to other educational establishments will widen access and help meet demand for skilled welders across Scotland.

Ocean Winds has already supported welding-training efforts—such as its welder “training hothouse” fund and augmented‐reality welding training in colleges—to help address shortages in welding skills particularly driven by the offshore wind boom. energyvoice.com+1

The Importance for the Future

With national targets for net-zero, ambitious offshore wind farms like Caledonia (2 GW) under development, and increasing investment in infrastructure, defence, nuclear, and manufacturing, Scotland’s demand for welders is expected to grow significantly. energyvoice.com+2Scottish Renewables+2

The welding skills gap is more than a numbers issue—it also affects safety, quality, and the ability of local supply chains to compete. By investing in training and educational tools now, we help ensure that Scotland can both deliver on its green commitments and maintain competitiveness in broader industrial sectors.

Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere thanks to Ocean Winds for this generous contribution. Their support is helping to secure the pipeline of welding talent required to sustain jobs, innovation, and growth across Scotland’s renewables and industrial landscape.

(below Paul Cavanagh: Ocean Winds testing his welding skills using the smilulation kit)