The University of the Highlands and Islands secured GBP 1.17 million to establish a regional skills hub for the Highlands and Islands, while the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board received GBP 372,842 to expand engineering construction programmes and North East Scotland College got GBP 135,162 for offshore wind training courses. The awards are the first made under the Offshore Wind Skills Programme (OWSP), launched earlier this year with a GBP 3.85 million budget, and are expected to attract a similar level of private investment. Energy Minister Stephen Gethins cited industry estimates that offshore wind could support up to 49,000 Scottish jobs; the announcement was made ahead of a visit to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland where a 20-internship Scottish-Irish pilot is under way. Buchan Offshore Wind, developer of the 1 GW floating project 75 km northeast of Fraserburgh, welcomed the funding, noting its project alone could support 2,900 construction jobs and contribute over GBP 900 million to the Scottish economy.