The Scottish government is offering funding worth up to £400,000 to help hauliers address workforce challenges relating to the switch to zero emission HGVs.
It said that developing the skills to build, operate, repair and maintain zero emission heavy duty vehicles (HDVs) and their charging infrastructure was key to Scotland’s transition.
The zero emissions HDV skills challenge fund is aimed at supporting organisations to address some of the key skills and workforce challenges the sector is facing as efforts are made to accelerate the transition.
The government said its draft transition plan published in February did not anticipate major sector wide job losses as a result of moving towards net zero transport, but a challenge would be to ensure that workers could access the skills they needed to adapt to and support the switch.
It added that this period of change also offered an opportunity to address long-standing workforce challenges, including making the sector more attractive to new entrants, increasing retention and improving diversity.
Its newly launched one-year fund has been created to support applicants develop projects under the following objectives: sharing knowledge on training and career opportunities; supporting greater diversity in haulage, and private sector investment in skills development.
Projects need only meet one of these objectives.
The government said the fund was open to private, public and third sector organisations and awards for individual projects are not expected to exceed £100,000. All funded activity must be completed by 31 March 2026.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “The transition to net zero will lead to a change in the type of jobs within the transport sector, so it’s essential we help workers access the skills they need to adapt to and support that change.
“The zero emission heavy duty vehicles skills challenge fund is being launched to support organisations in addressing the key challenges for the sector – covering issues such as access to training, increasing diversity and encouraging private investment in skills.
“The delivery of this fund is a programme for government commitment and I encourage companies to take this opportunity to develop skills for the transition and tackle long-standing workforce challenges making the sector more attractive to new entrants.”
The deadline for return of applications is 12pm on 9 July 2025.
