Aurora Energy Services, Military to Wind Pilot
Aurora Energy Services is a multi-disciplinary services company, which delivers a wide range of services spanning the construction, maintenance, and decommissioning phases of all energy assets. The company brings together a range of specialist capabilities to support clients in delivering projects efficiently and safely. With a growing emphasis on the energy transition and addressing skills shortages, Aurora is committed to developing people and creating opportunities, reflected in its ethos of “people powered progress”.
From its Renewable Energy Training Centre in Inverness, Aurora has launched an innovative ‘Military to Wind’ pilot programme designed to support Service leavers into careers in the wind sector. The seven-week intensive course has been developed in-house to address both a recognised skills shortage in renewables and the challenge many veterans face when transitioning into civilian employment.
As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and a Bronze Award holder, Aurora already employs a number of ex-forces personnel and recognises the strong alignment between military experience and the needs of the energy sector. The programme was created to build on these transferable skills and provide a clear, structured pathway into employment.
Designed for Service leavers with a Level 3 engineering background, the programme equips participants with a comprehensive suite of industry-recognised certifications, including Global Wind Organisation (GWO) training and Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) accredited competencies. A key differentiator is its focus on making participants ‘site ready’, combining technical training with mentoring, interview coaching, and direct access to employers.
Each delegate is guaranteed an interview with Aurora or partner organisations, helping to bridge the gap between training and employment. Over the 7 week programme, participants also engaged in at least 5 interviews with prospective employers, significantly increasing their exposure to the industry. Of the 3 participants in the pilot cohort, all have received job offers, demonstrating the programme’s effectiveness in converting training into tangible outcomes.
Jason McLaughlin, a former Royal Engineer, is one such participant. After 21 years in the British Army, he transitioned into the programme following a varied military career spanning mechanical engineering, facilities management, and aerodrome consultancy. While confident in his skills and experience, Jason found breaking into the wind industry challenging, particularly as a new entrant without direct sector experience. “The biggest challenge was getting noticed,” he explains. “The programme changed that by giving direct access to employers, alongside training and interview preparation.”
Through the course, Jason gained industry-specific qualifications and a clearer understanding of how to present his military experience in a civilian context. This combination proved critical in securing a role as a trainee wind turbine technician.
He credits his military background with instilling adaptability, problem-solving, and a strong commitment to safety – qualities that have translated directly into his new career. “You don’t always realise the value of what you bring, but with the right support, those skills can take you further than you expect.”
Jason now defines success as building a long-term career in the wind sector, with ambitions to progress into a team leadership role.
Aurora’s Military to Wind programme demonstrates how targeted training, combined with employer engagement and tailored support, can create meaningful employment pathways for Service leavers, while helping to meet the workforce demands of the UK’s energy transition.
