Employers are looking beyond the Highlands and Islands to fill growing numbers of roles as major renewable energy, infrastructure and engineering projects accelerate across the region.
According to C&P Recruitment’s Inverness team, demand is growing for skilled professionals across a wide range of roles, from groundworkers and drainage specialists to qualified tradespeople, engineers and project managers, creating opportunities for those looking to build long-term careers in the sector.
The recruitment drive is being fuelled by a wave of investment across the north of Scotland, including the new Nairn Academy, HMP Highland, Kishorn Port Dry Dock and a series of substation, transmission and offshore wind projects.
According to a 2025 Highlands and Islands Enterprise commissioned report, renewable energy, infrastructure and engineering projects across the region could attract more than £100 billion* of investment over the next 15 years, with further projects planned across ports, transport infrastructure and education facilities.
The team says the pipeline of work is among the strongest they have seen, with vacancy levels remaining much higher than they were just a few years ago. The need is particularly strong for site engineers, civil engineers, site agents and construction/project managers, alongside skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers and joiners.
As a result, many employers are now widening their search well beyond the Highlands and Islands. With large-scale projects increasingly located in remote and island communities, local labour markets alone are often unable to meet demand.
C&P is recruiting candidates from the Central Belt, Aberdeen, northern England and Ireland, including professionals with experience on rail, bridge, infrastructure and engineering projects.
Some employers are also offering enhanced packages including accommodation, meals and travel allowances to attract workers to rural locations and support long-term project delivery.
Adam Crawford, a Recruitment Consultant at C&P Recruitment who has spent more than a decade supporting employers and candidates across the Highlands and Islands, said: “The region is becoming one of the most exciting places in the UK to build a career in construction and civil engineering. The scale and variety of projects underway is creating opportunities across the sector, from renewable energy and infrastructure to transport and engineering works.
“We’re seeing employers widen their search for talent as demand continues to grow. In some cases, accommodation, meals and travel are now being offered as standard on major rural projects to help attract skilled workers.
“For candidates, it’s a chance to work on nationally significant projects while building a long-term career in one of Scotland’s fastest-growing construction and engineering markets.”
With investment continuing across renewable energy, transport and infrastructure, C&P Recruitment believes the Highlands and Islands will remain one of Scotland’s busiest construction and engineering markets for years to come.
