SSE and Greencoat UK Wind award £139k to support lifelong learning and green skills

WOMEN’STEC and South West Regional College awarded funding

SSE and Greencoat UK Wind have awarded £139,000 to support lifelong learning and green skills development among women and young people in Tyrone, Fermanagh and Derry/Londonderry.

The funding, provided through the joint SSE and Greencoat ‘Learning for Life Fund’, will support two five-year learning and skills programmes delivered by WOMEN’STEC and South West Regional College, following a competitive application process.

WOMEN’STEC has been awarded £75,000 to expand its training programmes in the north-west region. The funding will help embed green skills, sustainability and climate literacy, supporting women and girls to access opportunities in emerging low-carbon sectors.

South West Regional College has been awarded £64,000 to deliver a dual programme. This includes Green Futures, its schools engagement initiative, and Bright Sparks, which supports learners with special educational needs (SEN) to progress into the low-carbon economy.

Both organisations will work with schools and community groups across Tyrone, Fermanagh, Derry/Londonderry and neighbouring areas of County Donegal. Schools and organisations interested in participating are encouraged to contact the programme partners directly.

Learning for Life Fund

The Learning for Life Fund is a regional initiative backed by SSE and Greencoat UK Wind, designed to create accessible education pathways focused on green skills and inclusion.

The fund supports communities in Tyrone, Fermanagh, Derry/Londonderry and parts of County Donegal, reflecting areas where SSE and Greencoat UK Wind own and operate renewable energy sites.

These include SSE’s Slieve Kirk Wind Park in County Derry/Londonderry and Tievenameenta Wind Farm in County Tyrone, alongside Greencoat UK Wind’s Slieve Divena II Wind Farm in County Tyrone. The fund forms part of the community benefit arrangements associated with these sites.

Vicky Boden, Senior Community Investment Manager at SSE, said:

“A fair and inclusive energy transition means ensuring people have access to the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to benefit from the low-carbon economy. Through the Learning for Life Fund, SSE and Greencoat UK Wind are committed to supporting communities which host renewable energy infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

We are proud to support WOMEN’STEC and South West Regional College as they deliver programmes that widen access to learning, build confidence and develop green skills, creating lasting positive impacts in local communities.”

Helen Kerr, Head of Business Development at WOMEN’STEC, said:

“This funding provides an opportunity to embed sustainability and green skills learning across our programmes, helping women and girls build confidence, increase climate awareness and explore pathways into the green economy. help ensure women are not excluded from emerging opportunities in sectors where they remain underrepresented, while also supporting greater awareness of sustainability and energy efficiency in communities.”

Deirdre McElholm, Special Educational Needs & Student Experience Project Manager at South West Regional College, said:

“This partnership is opening doors for young people to access meaningful education that connects directly to the future of our planet.

Through initiatives like Bright Sparks and the Schools Engagement Programme, we are equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the low-carbon economy, while ensuring inclusive opportunities for those with additional needs.”

Additional information

This is the second tranche of multi-year funding from the Learning for Life Fund, which was established in 2019. The latest funding round will run through to 2030/31 and reflects the ongoing commitment of SSE and Greencoat UK Wind to supporting a fair and inclusive energy transition in communities across the north-west region.