The Scottish Government’s acting minister for climate action, Dr Alasdair Allan, made the comments during a visit to the college’s Springburn campus yesterday when he toured the academy where hundreds of engineering apprentices have been trained in cutting-edge tech heating technology, including air-source heat pumps. 

The north Glasgow college has invested more than £100,000 in the bespoke workshop, which opened earlier this year, with an aim to become a centre for excellence in the delivery of training for new sustainable fuel and solartech as the pace of energy transition increases.

It follows moves in the Scottish Government to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuel systems including gas and oil and encourage the use of more sustainable alternatives.

The Green Academy is designed to equip students with the knowledge and practical experience needed to thrive in a green economy while fostering sustainable practices in industry.

At the heart of the Green Academy are workshops at the Springburn Campus, where students gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies, including ground and air source heat pumps, as well as solar energy systems.

They are trained in the installation and maintenance of these technologies, preparing them to not only enter the workforce with advanced, in-demand skills but also to play a key role in supporting and upskilling existing professionals in the industry.

This dual approach ensures that students contribute valuable expertise to the workforce and are recognised as skilled contributors in their workplaces.

Glasgow Kelvin College was recently one of only two UK institutions recognised at this year’s International Green Gown Awards. The honour is bestowed upon the top eco-friendly projects at colleges and universities around the world.

Students at the college were tasked with repurposing used sample wedding dresses and creating their own, unique designs from the pre-loved fabric and trimmings.

Dr Allan said: “I would like to congratulate Glasgow Kelvin College on the incredible honour of winning an International Green Gown Award. It demonstrates the work being done here deserves to be recognised on the world stage.

“I am delighted to officially open Glasgow Kelvin College’s Green Academy and recognise its valuable work in developing the future workforce with the critical skills needed for Scotland’s transition to net zero. The work of this academy demonstrates that Scotland’s education and skills system is already adapting in response to the transition to net zero, with universities and colleges, like Glasgow Kelvin College, acting as key anchor points for research, innovation and training.”

Peter Brown, director of curriculum, skills and apprenticeships at Glasgow, and an engineer by trade, said: “Taking responsibility for your environmental impact is a non-negotiable in education and all walks of life. Our ambition is to be one of Scotland’s most sustainable colleges, and this investment will help ensure we deliver. 

“Our investment in the Green Academy comes at a time when skills development in the sector is at a crucial point as we approach mass energy transition. Demand for new technologies, including heat pumps, is growing. That, combined with the potential for legislative drivers, will create a huge demand for the skills to deliver those technologies across industry and residential properties in future, and we are set up to play our part in providing them. 

“It’s also about providing current students with foundation skills, supported by experience in industry, with the potential to go onto further education in universities to develop new technologies. This is an investment in the long term for the college, and for Scotland’s future.” 

Kelvin’s environmental sustainability manager Sarah Shea is driving the move towards becoming one of Scotland’s most sustainable colleges.

She added: “We’re tenacious in our efforts – we want to be a truly sustainable college. We are taking a multi-layered approach with smaller changes underpinning larger ones across all curriculum areas. We want to set the gold standard for sustainability – everything we are doing here could be replicated on other campuses and by other colleges.”