SCOTTISH First Minister John Swinney has announced the latest tranche of Just Transition Fund cash aimed at putting north-east energy workers “at the forefront of the transition to clean energy.”

The fund was created in February 2025 with the intention of distributing £500 million over the coming decade to assist workers in the declining North Sea oil and gas industry into green energy.

This year £17.5m will be distributed across seven commercial and 22 community projects aimed at tackling fuel poverty, restoring nature, improving climate resilience, and retraining up to 350 workers.

Mr Swinney said: “This funding will create and support hundreds of jobs in the north-east of Scotland, helping to ensure they are at the forefront of the transition to clean energy.

“The workforce here are among the most skilled and experienced in the world — and the jobs and investment we are announcing today will help to ensure that remarkable energy expertise is preserved.

“While we will be continuing to use oil and gas for years to come, I want to ensure that workers here are also the foundation of our clean energy future.”