Leading installers and experts from across Scotland will join the lunchtime session, Working in Solar – Careers, Skills and Opportunities, on March 12 to share their tips and stories on what we can expect as the solar industry grows.

The event is open to anyone who is studying for or working in the electrician and construction trades. There will be lunch provided, and assistance is available for travel costs.

Josh King is a director of Musselburgh-based Gensource and will be speaking at the event.

He said: “Tradespeople are starting to come in such high demand in this industry. The scale of growth is phenomenal.

“We need good, experienced roofers; we need electricians. Those are the two primary skill sets, but beyond this we provide opportunities and routes to qualifications for people with all backgrounds, as long as they have the drive and willingness.”

Gensource is a renewable technology company which installs and maintains solar PVs, batteries and EV chargers across Scotland, including Fife. King said that his team includes graduate apprentices and former architects, all of whom are trained up on the job.

“With the upturn of AI it’s very likely that what many people do in their day-to-day work will be transformed. You hear phrases like electricians will earn more than lawyers – and I don’t think we’re far away from that.”

According to the solar energy trade body Solar UK, rooftop solar can save households £900–£2,100 per year on their energy bills. The organisation says that there are currently around 800 jobs in the Scottish solar and battery energy storage sector, expected to rise to around 11,000 by 2035.

The event is being organised by Fife Climate Hub, Fife College and Local Storytelling Exchange with the support of Community Energy Scotland, Fife Council, Gensource, SEDA and The Verdancy Group.