About Nigg Skills Academy

Training at the heart of industrial innovation

Nigg Skills Academy is a fully independent training academy based at the Port of Nigg, a hotbed of industrial expertise at the heart of Inverness & Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.

For over 10 years, we have delivered industry-leading training in welding, fabrication, engineering and NPORS accreditation.

Set up originally to address the energy skills shortages in the oil & gas industry, we have transitioned into supporting the renewables, utilities, construction and distilling industries.

Strategically Located for Superior Training

Located on the Cromarty Firth, the port is equipped with dry dock, deepwater quayside space, laydown areas, and some of the largest fabrication facilities in the UK – putting our learners in the midst of the action.

Our trainees experience the reality of working in a real industrial environment, giving firsthand experience of the energy industry – and providing inspiration for future work as they see first-hand the massive structures they will work on post-training.

Our Philosophy

As a not-for-profit enterprise, all our profits are reinvested in training resources, courses and equipment. Giving our trainees the highest quality of education – and preparing them for the world of work beyond training – is our number one priority.

Uniquely, we work in tandem with the Department for Work and Pensions to upskill jobseekers into employment in the energy industry through funded high level training. We also support unemployed welders in gaining Lloyds Register codings, allowing them the return to work.