Alex Salmond to launch Skills Academy

The first minister is to launch the Nigg Skills Academy, a public-private sector partnership aimed at bringing thousands of jobs to Easter Ross.

The initiative is based at the Nigg oil yard which this week won enterprise area status in the UK budget.

First Minister Alex Salmond will officially unveil the academy offering training in fabrication work.

Last week, work started on the yard's first oil rig refurbish contract in nine years.

The yard, which was built on the Cromarty Firth in the 1970s, is being brought back into use by Global Energy Group, who took it over last October.

Offshore platforms were constructed and refitted at Nigg at the height of the North Sea oil and gas boom, but it has stood largely empty since 2002.

Transocean's GSF Galaxy I arrived last week for a revamp involving 250 workers.

It will take about three months to refit the harsh environment deep water jack up rig.

Global Energy purchased Nigg from KBR and the Wakelyn Trust for an undisclosed fee after the yard was offered for sale in 2005.

The firm intends to develop the 238-acre (96.14 hectares) site as a service hub for the energy industry, and expects to employ 2,000 people by 2015.

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