Career opportunities in Scotland’s low carbon transport sector
Interested in working in Scotland’s low carbon transport sector? We have big ambitions in low carbon transport. At a time of significant industrial change, we're leading the way in our transition to a low carbon economy, making Scotland the ideal place for your career to take off.
Progress your career in Scotland
For a small country, Scotland has big ambitions in low carbon transport:
- Zero emission railways by 2035
- Vehicle emission-free city centres by 2030
- Plans to phase out the need to buy petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032
A diverse range of employers, from start-ups to multinationals, work in our low carbon sector. If you’ve got the skills, there’s an opportunity waiting for you.
Our world firsts in low carbon transport
From electric fire engines and taxis to hydrogen-powered buses and ferries, low emission aircraft and zero emission trains – Scotland is a world-leader in low carbon transport. Did you know that:
- The world’s first net zero aviation region opens in a new window is in the highlands and islands of Scotland and by 2040, all internal flights will be zero carbon
- The world’s first electric fire engine was designed and built in Scotland
- The world’s largest fleet of hydrogen buses opens in a new window is located in Aberdeen and has already delivered over 1 million passenger miles
- The world's first hydrogen-fuelled seagoing car and passenger ferry opens in a new window , HySeas III, is in the final stages of development and will be launched in Orkney
- The world’s first passenger-carrying autonomous opens in a new window bus will be the CAVForth Project over the Forth Road Bridge
Key areas of expertise
Scotland’s low carbon economy employs more than 23,000 people - with a turnover of more than £6 billion. Scotland also has key areas of expertise in:
- Batteries and energy storage
- Low carbon heavy duty vehicles
- Greener railways and hydrogen powered vehicles.
Related sectors to low carbon transport in Scotland include advanced engineering, manufacturing, renewable energy, automotive, aerospace, software and IT, infrastructure and public services.
A wide range of employers
A diverse range of employers from start-ups to multinationals work in Scotland’s low carbon sector across the public and private sectors. They include:
- Alexander Dennis opens in a new window – Britain's biggest bus builder and a pioneer in zero emission buses
- Emergency One opens in a new window – creators of the world's first electric fire engine
- Arcola Energy opens in a new window – leading the project to deliver Scotland’s first hydrogen-powered train opens in a new window
- Arup opens in a new window , a global engineering consultancy, risk management specialist Abbott Risk Consulting opens in a new window and AEGIS Certification Services opens in a new window - which provides independent assessment and certification services, are also part of the consortium to deliver the first Scottish hydrogen powered train opens in a new window
- Celtic Renewables opens in a new window – developers of a biofuel made from whisky residues that is now powering cars
- Forev opens in a new window – developing and building a network of public charging-points for electric vehicles across Scotland
- Highlands and Islands Airports Limited opens in a new window (HIAL) – leading a £3.7 million project to create the UK’s first low-carbon aviation test centre opens in a new window at Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands. Technology partners include Ampaire opens in a new window ,ZeroAvia opens in a new window , Loganair opens in a new window , Windracers opens in a new window and Flarebright opens in a new window
- Jacobs opens in a new window – the engineering group has played a leading role in delivering some of Scotland’s largest infrastructure projects, including the world’s longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge, the Queensferry Crossing opens in a new window
- AECOM opens in a new window – the infrastructure consultancy was involved in the Queensferry Crossing and Borders Railway and, alongside Jacobs, is working on a review of sustainable transport in Scotland opens in a new window
ScottishPower – the major energy supplier also sells and leases electric vehicles and is developing a network of public charging points - Transport Scotland opens in a new window – the national transport agency for Scotland leads on national infrastructure projects including the electrification of Scotland’s railways opens in a new window
Low carbon transport job types
The variety of job types in low carbon transport is vast. They range from electrical engineering and digital design to active travel and software development.
There are roles in planning, health and safety, finance, IT, marketing and customer services – alongside engineering roles in mechanical, structural, civil engineering and other areas.
Academic excellence
Scotland’s universities are centres of research excellence in areas including transport policy, logistics, fuel cells, batteries and ultra-low emission vehicles.
Sixteen of Scotland’s colleges also provide automotive training, including hybrid and electric vehicle courses, as part of their training programmes. Key hubs include:
- Power Networks Demonstration Centre opens in a new window – part of the University of Strathclyde, has received £3 million funding opens in a new window to focus on the decarbonisation of heavy duty vehicles through battery electrification and charging technology
- Hydrogen Accelerator at St Andrews University opens in a new window – enables the effective and efficient implementation of hydrogen technologies into Scotland
- St Andrews University – has a large research hub in energy and materials opens in a new window - including batteries and fuel cells, and hosts the £12 million NEXGENNA project opens in a new window to create a safe, cheap, long-lasting sodium ion battery
- Edinburgh Napier University opens in a new window is a hub for the development of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), including Scotland’s longest established transport research group opens in a new window to solve practical problems and issues in transport
- Heriot-Watt University opens in a new window – a world-leading centre for policy and innovation in transport logistics and low carbon energy, collaborating with Cambridge University in the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight opens in a new window
- University of Edinburgh opens in a new window – a world-leading informatics department, including the Bayes Centre opens in a new window
Supportive business environment
Scotland is home to many ambitious low carbon transport projects and is supported by a highly connected public, private and academic environment:
- Transform Scotland opens in a new window – the national alliance for sustainable transport
- Energy Technology Partnership opens in a new window – the largest and most broad-based energy research partnership in Europe
- Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association opens in a new window – a membership body that promotes and develops Scottish expertise in fuel cells and hydrogen technologies
- MaaS Scotland opens in a new window – a network of more than 75 public and private sector organisations in the mobility as a service supply chain
- Sustrans opens in a new window – a UK-wide active travel charity
- Connected Places Catapult opens in a new window – the UK's innovation accelerator for cities, transport and places, with a base at Glasgow’s Inovo building
- Michelin-Scotland Innovation Parc opens in a new window – a £60 million world-class innovation parc in Dundee opens in a new window for sustainable mobility and low carbon energy, a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise
- LOCATE opens in a new window – a £4 million project to develop sustainable heavy-duty vehicles, in a partnership between the Scottish Government and specialist centres at Strathclyde and St Andrews universities
- National Manufacturing Institute Scotland opens in a new window – an industry-led international centre of manufacturing expertise
Quality of life
Scotland’s rich outdoor wilderness, including mountains, coasts and islands, contribute to our award-winning quality of life, as well as creating the ideal ‘living lab’ to test and scale low carbon technology. Our cities and regions are diverse hubs of history, culture and innovation.
Ready to work in Scotland?
If you’ve got the skills, there’s an opportunity waiting for you. Explore latest jobs from Scottish companies, as well as overseas companies with a base in Scotland.
Find low carbon transport jobs in Scotland opens in a new window