Chamber and committees

There has been clear growth in the offshore wind sector over the past decade, with increasing employment opportunities across a broad range of roles driven by continued investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, and skills development.

The latest edition of Scotland’s Marine Economy Statistics (published December 2025) provides an estimate of 4,400 people directly employed by the Scottish offshore wind sector in 2023, in comparison to 3,900 people in 2022 (published November 2024).

These figures do not include the jobs created in the supply chain as a direct result of ScotWind, however the Draft Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy Social and Economic Impact Assessment (2025) estimated cumulative potential employment impacts for ScotWind, INTOG and Test & Demonstration sites. It reported an estimated maximum number of FTEs generated or supported nationally as 18,000 (direct employment only in a low installed capacity scenario) up to 41,000 (direct and upstream supply chain employment impacts in a high installed capacity scenario).

These estimates are further supported by the Offshore Wind Industry Council Skills Intelligence Model, which reports that at its peak, the offshore sector in Scotland could support up to 49,000 jobs in 2031.

The ScotWind Supply Chain Development Statement (SCDS) process was designed and is managed by Crown Estate Scotland, and requires developers to report commitments and ambitions for supply chain activity in Scotland, the UK, and overseas.

The 2026 updates show that total projected spend in Scotland has increased between 2023 and 2026 by nearly £2.3bn for the 16 projects included in the updates, from an estimated £23.3bn to an estimated £25.6 billion. The remaining projects are due to submit updates in Autumn 2026.

Developers’ SCDS updates include ambitions to go beyond committed spend, which suggests an additional potential £10.5bn manufacturing expenditure in key areas such as foundations, turbine components and electrical infrastructure in Scotland as the supply chain matures.

There has been clear growth in the offshore wind sector over the past decade, with increasing employment opportunities across a broad range of roles driven by continued investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, and skills development.

The latest edition of Scotland’s Marine Economy Statistics (published December 2025) provides an estimate of 4,400 people directly employed by the Scottish offshore wind sector in 2023, in comparison to 3,900 people in 2022 (published November 2024). These figures capture only direct employment and do not reflect the sector's significant wider economic and social impacts, including the supply chain growth and induced employment opportunities that are expected to be derived from ScotWind projects.

The Draft Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy Social and Economic Impact Assessment (2025) estimated cumulative potential employment impacts for ScotWind, INTOG and Test & Demonstration sites. It reported an estimated maximum number of FTEs generated or supported nationally as 18,000 (direct employment only in a low installed capacity scenario) up to 41,000 (direct and upstream supply chain employment impacts in a high installed capacity scenario).

These estimates are further supported by the Offshore Wind Industry Council Skills Intelligence Model, which reports that at its peak, the offshore sector in Scotland could support up to 49,000 jobs in 2031.

Developers’ Supply Chain Development Statement updates include ambitions to go beyond committed spend, which suggests an additional potential £10.5bn manufacturing expenditure in key areas such as foundations, turbine components and electrical infrastructure in Scotland as the supply chain matures.

We are working with developers and the supply chain to grow the economic value from our offshore wind sector, and to maximise investment, jobs and supply chain opportunities within Scotland. We are consistently clear: developers must help build the resilience of our domestic supply chain and deliver on their SCDS commitments.

Our strategic investment in offshore wind is supporting market certainty and helping to de-risk supply chain investment. To date our own investment of over £150 million is crowding in a further £70m from UK public finance institutions and leveraging up to £675 million in private investment.

Our enterprise agencies are also providing targeted support to our growing supply chain, connecting suppliers with developers, and enabling them to bid for – and crucially to win – work in offshore wind.

The Scottish Government greatly values the contribution made by military veterans and recognises the importance of supporting the Armed Forces community.

Veterans resident in Scotland are eligible to access the existing National Concessionary Travel Schemes where they meet the existing age or disability-related eligibility criteria, including those relating to mobility, injury, or receipt of specific benefits.

Veterans can also access discounted rail travel through the Veterans Railcard, which is available across Great Britain and provides one-third off most rail fares.

The figures contained within the Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS) are expected to change across the term of the lease options as projects mature and the supply chain develops.

Compared with the last updates in 2023, developers have maintained or increased their commitments in Scotland with only two projects reducing commitments. The CampionWind project has returned its site option to Crown Estate Scotland as has Arven South.

We continue to work with CES, developers and industry to identify trends which can help Scottish Government and our delivery partners target support where it can have the greatest impact and maximise value to Scotland.

Based on the 16 projects that submitted Supply Chain Development Statements (SCDS) updates in 2026, Scotland’s share of total commitments in each category is Development 62%; Manufacturing & Fabrication 20%; Installation 36%; and Operation 70%.

This information can be verified on the Crown Estate Scotland supply chain dashboard https://crownestatescotland.com/supply-chain-information

The Scottish Government is leveraging private investment into the offshore wind supply chain and ports infrastructure through our strategic investment – to date we have unlocked almost £900m of investment into projects with the potential to support up to 5,000 jobs.

Our enterprise agencies are providing targeted development support and connecting our supply chain companies with offshore wind projects and principal suppliers and contractors, enabling them to bid for - and crucially to win - work in renewables.

Where levers are reserved, such as with the Clean Industry Bonus, the Scottish Government continues to urge the UK Government to consider all available options to bolster the expansion of domestic manufacturing, support order book certainty for suppliers, and avoid the offshoring of economic opportunities from our energy transition.

We recognise that the offshore wind sector has the potential to bring substantial benefits to Scotland, and we are committed to maximising economic value from ScotWind projects, and to retaining investment, jobs and supply chain opportunities within Scotland.

For some components, overseas supply chains are currently more mature than in the UK. We are working with developers, the UK Government, inward investors and the supply chain to support and grow manufacturing in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has worked closely with Motability to understand how its changes might affect customers in Scotland under the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment (AVE) Scheme.

As a result of our engagement Motability has committed to providing additional mileage, on top of its reduced standard allowance, to customers living in very rural and island communities in recognition of their having to drive further to access key services.

Also, customers in any area who for essential purposes need to drive more than 3,000 miles each year above the 10,000 standard annual inclusive mileage will be able to apply for support with the increased excess mileage charge.

The Scottish Government remains committed to the AVE Scheme and to ensuring that all eligible clients can access the right support through it to meet their mobility needs.

Public investment in Scotland has previously been explored in the context of a publicly owned energy retail company supplying energy to households. Initial exploration of the retail company proposal, including the outline business case, highlighted key barriers to the Scottish Government advancing public investment, particularly around devolved and reserved responsibilities.

The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the public benefits of the energy transition and continues to explore opportunities to invest in energy-related projects, technology and infrastructure within devolved competence.