While SNP Government predictions that renewables would fuel a boom in Scotland have proved mistaken an energy giant is creating valuable jobs in support of the drive to electrify the economy.

Scottish energy giant SSE has generated interest in London for creating the kind of green jobs the Scottish Government has been unable to deliver after facing down a US investment giant that has been making trouble for a North Sea stalwart recently.

Perth-based SSE has been recruiting at pace as it looks to develop the capacity required to implement plans for a big upgrade of the electricity transmission networks it operates in the Highlands.

The FT has noted that SSE expects to increase employee numbers in its networks business by 1,000, to 3,500, over the next five years.

The moves come four years after SSE directors came under pressure from New York-based Eilliott Management to break up the group.

Glasgow-based ScottishPower has also been on a hiring spree and plans to double its networks headcount to 2,600 from 1,200.

The recruits will work on the development of the new high voltage lines that will be required to take the output from windfarms in rural Scotland and off the country’s coasts to centres of demand in England.

Scotland badly needs the kind of skilled jobs concerned after SNP Government claims the country was in line for a green economic bonanza proved to be wildly over-optimistic.

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First minister John Swinney stuck to the script last week when he tried to ramp up the SNP’s campaign for the elections to the Scottish Parliament scheduled for May.

Claiming that unemployment in Scotland is significantly lower than the UK average, he boasted: “Our renewables industry continues to grow and grow – powering our green economic future.”

Mr........

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