3t welcomed Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Conservative Party, to its Dyce training centre to discuss critical industry issues relating to the future of the North Sea, particularly skills, workforce readiness, and long-term job security.
She was joined by senior Conservative representatives including Andrew Bowie, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and Shadow Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Russell Findlay, Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
During the visit, Kemi Badenoch took part in an interactive tour of 3t’s world-class training facilities, meeting delegates undertaking practical training across the Skills Hall, Working at Height structures, Survival Pools, and CompEx electrical training areas. With her background as an electrical engineer and former apprentice, she showed particular interest in the technical programmes delivered by 3t and enjoyed hands-on demonstrations throughout her visit, including a guided simulation in the freefall lifeboat simulator.
Discussions with 3t CEO Frode Scott Nilsen focused on the future of the North Sea and the essential role of training in ensuring a highly skilled, resilient workforce. 3t trains more than 150,000 delegates every year in the UK across the oil and gas, wind, and power industries, supporting both current operations and the energy transition.
Key themes included job security, workforce capability, energy security, and the long-term productivity of the sector. All were underpinned by the need for sustained investment in skills development and stronger collaboration between government, industry, and the supply chain. Early action in developing the future energy workforce was highlighted as essential to meeting the demands of a changing sector.
Frode Scott Nilsen, CEO at 3t, said:
“A skilled workforce is critical to supporting the current needs of our sector and delivering a sustainable energy transition. This ultimately safeguards long-term economic resilience and energy security. We welcomed the opportunity to showcase our training centre and demonstrate the impact our programmes have on keeping workers safe, competent, and prepared as the industry evolves.”
The visit follows the recent visit by Energy Minister Michael Shanks in November, reflecting growing political focus on the sector and the challenges and opportunities facing today’s workforce. 3t continues to welcome engagement from politicians across all parties to champion the needs of the industry, support its customers and delegates, and help secure a thriving, future-ready energy sector for decades to come.