Edinburgh & South East Scotland

Edinburgh and South East Scotland: warmer homes, better jobs and growing businesses

Six local authorities – City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian – are working together to close skills gaps across construction, building services and manufacturing.

The region faces a dual challenge: retrofitting thousands of homes for energy efficiency and building new ones with zero-emissions heating. This isn’t just about climate targets; it’s about helping businesses grow, supporting job creation, and strengthening local supply chains.

Two feasibility studies are shaping the response: one focused on expanding the retrofit workforce, and the other on developing a stronger local manufacturing base for low-carbon heating systems.

HCI Skills Gateway, funded by the Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal and delivered by regional universities and colleges, is helping shape inclusive training pathways and supporting employers to build a future-ready workforce.

Together, these efforts are building an inclusive and thriving regional economy.

Find out more

If you are interested in learning how to transform your community, town or city, then read the Enable Embed Enact – Maximising the Value of Local Net Zero Planning report. If you would like to speak to someone about this project, contact the Net Zero Living team.