Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has welcomed Minister for Higher and Further Education, Graeme Dey MSP, to the UHI Advanced Construction Centre in Inverness. The visit came after the MSP welcomed the minister to the region to learn more about the ground-breaking work being done at the Inverness Campus.

The visit allowed Ms Roddick and Mr Dey to see first-hand the innovative training provided to students at the centre, which is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI); an example includes a Heat Pump Installation Training Course, with the UHI campus featuring up-to-date renewable air source heat pump systems. Ms Roddick has previously raised the importance of retaining students in the region after they complete their studies, and the visit was an opportunity to discuss how to best achieve this.

Ms Roddick said:

“It was great to welcome the Minister for Higher and Further Education, Graeme Dey, to Inverness today, and to show him the fantastic work being done at the UHI Advanced Construction Centre.

“The Highlands and Islands have long been a powerhouse of creativity and innovation, and it is vital that we are able to train our young people here and offer them the high-quality jobs that will allow them to stay here if they want to.

“The UHI Advanced Construction Centre is a great example of the high-quality education offered in our region, and I was so proud to be able to show it off to the Minister. It is critical that we ensure local people are equipped with the skills needed to tackle local challenges. I was pleased to be able to make that point directly to the Minister today.”