SSEN Transmission, the electricity transmission network provider for the north of Scotland, has marked a major milestone in its commitment to early careers by welcoming a record-breaking 59 new graduates to its 2025 programme – surpassing last year’s intake of 46 and setting a new benchmark for the business.
The graduates were welcomed this week at a special induction event at the business’s head office in Perth, kicking off their two-year journey through SSEN Transmission’s dynamic graduate scheme.
This year’s cohort includes the company’s first-ever nature graduate and first strategy graduate, reflecting the growing breadth of expertise needed to deliver a resilient, sustainable energy future.
The new graduates will be based across SSEN Transmission’s offices throughout their network area in north of Scotland – including in Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Perth, with some allocated to work on specific projects in Argyll and Skye.
A diverse talent pool for a clean energy future
From electrical engineering and environmental science to strategic planning and nature-based solutions, the 2025 graduate intake brings a wide range of skills and fresh perspectives to SSEN Transmission. The programme offers rotational placements across departments, giving graduates hands-on experience in areas such as:
- Grid planning and innovation
- Environmental and sustainability initiatives
- Transmission control, operations, and engineering
Upon completion, graduates will transition into specialist roles, contributing directly to SSEN Transmission’s mission to deliver a network for net zero: energy security and clean power for the country.
Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, said: “I’m delighted that this year we’ve been able to welcome our biggest ever intake of graduates. Bringing 59 talented individuals on board, including our first nature and strategy graduates, reflects the evolving needs of our business and the scale of our ambition.
“These graduates will play a vital role in delivering the biggest grid upgrade in a generation. Their energy, ideas and passion are exactly what we need to build a network that supports energy security and clean power for generations to come.”
Councillor Ian Massie, Perth & Kinross Council Planning and Placemaking Convenor, said: “SSEN Transmission’s record-breaking graduate intake is a major boost for Perth and Kinross. With many of these talented individuals starting their careers locally, it’s creating high-quality, future-facing jobs that directly benefit our communities.
“Opportunities for young people to enter and grow their careers is central to the Council’s commitment to tackling poverty and driving inclusive economic growth, and it’s great to see a major local employer leading the way in this space and investing in their workforce to help position Perth and Kinross as a hub for Scotland’s clean energy transition. We’re proud to support their efforts to build a workforce that powers the grid and powers opportunity for local young people.”
Growth, Opportunity, and Impact
Already, SSEN Transmission has grown from 400 people in 2019 to 2,500 in 2025 – with that number set to continue to rise as more people join the business to help deliver one of the biggest investment programmes the north of Scotland has ever seen.
Last year, the business opened a brand-new extension in its Inverness office to accommodate the expanding team, which follows on from the opening of its new Aberdeen office in 2023. A new operations warehouse was opened in spring this year in Inverness, with similar premises planned for opening in Dundee in the autumn to support the continued growth of the network.
The record intake comes at a pivotal time for SSEN Transmission, as the business plans at least £22bn of investment over the coming years in a transformational upgrade of the high-voltage transmission network that will unlock Scotland’s renewable energy potential, and support up to 17,500 jobs in Scotland, including 8,400 in the north of Scotland.
The company has already partnered with early careers initiatives such as the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), Powering Futures, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and are platinum members of The 5% Club, which is a commitment to having at least 5% of the workforce in ‘earn as you learn’ roles such as apprenticeships, trainee or graduate roles.
Applications Now Open for 2026
SSEN Transmission’s Graduate Programme for 2026 is now open for applications. To explore opportunities, sign up for job alerts, and apply for next year’s intake, visit SSE Careers at: www.sse.com/careers