Solar designer Kiera shines on a Graduate Apprenticeship and engineers a cleaner, greener future
Solar panel designer Kiera Wright is powering Scotland’s journey to net zero by delivering complex renewable projects, accelerating carbon savings and inspiring future engineers.
At just 23, Kiera has soared through a Graduate Apprenticeship at renewables company aes renewables, where she became the Forres firm’s first female engineer. Starting in a technical admin role, Kiera upskilled through her apprenticeship and progressed to designing solar PV systems for homes, businesses and landmark sites like Edinburgh Castle.
She provides diagnostics and technical support that keep systems performing at their best, and her understanding of grid compliance means that renewable projects integrate seamlessly with the electricity network, streamlining aes renewables’ approval processes and aftercare, and maximising carbon savings.
Kiera, from Buckie, achieved a first-class honours degree on completion of her Engineering: Instrumentation, Measurement and Control Graduate Apprenticeship from Robert Gordon University in December 2025.
Kiera, who was appointed a Graduate Design Engineer following her apprenticeship, said: “I’m passionate about sustainability and the contribution renewables make to net zero goals.
“Working on delivering net zero is vital for the future – we can’t rely on fossil fuels for much longer. Renewables are one of the best ways to provide clean, green energy.”
During her apprenticeship, Kiera progressed to head up aes renewables’ new servicing department. When demand for maintenance work increased, Kiera identified the need for a dedicated team and brought together 14 operations staff, engineers and technical directors.
A sustainability advocate, Kiera also featured in the documentary Moray Firth: Climate Change and represented aes renewables at a green energy conference, where she discussed the importance of apprenticeships in building Scotland’s green workforce.
Throughout her apprenticeship, and now in her new role, Kiera has independently managed G99 applications – the formal process for connecting large-scale renewable systems to the UK’s electricity distribution network – and ensures projects are installed faster to reduce reliance on non-renewable sources. By acting as the first point of contact for technical issues, she provides remote diagnostics that allow systems to operate efficiently.
As a Graduate Apprentice, Kiera worked on major projects, including Edinburgh Castle, where innovative solutions were needed to integrate panels into a historic site, and five large commercial installations for Lunar Storage and Freezing.
The apprenticeship gave me the chance to stay in my local town, which I’m so grateful for. I have my own property and car, and I’ve been able to travel the world. Apprenticeships are such a great start for young people – mine has been such a privilege.
Kiera Wright
Kiera said: “It was amazing to be involved in two high-level projects like Edinburgh Castle and Lunar. The castle was such an exciting project to work on and quite surreal! I was involved in the technical and panel layout drawings and have carried out remote maintenance of the system.
“Lunar was a massive project for me due to the size of systems installed on multiple sites. I did the panel layout, all the G99 application forms and surveyed the sites with the engineers. After installation, I problem-solved on-site and helped to commission and turn the system on.”
Kiera feels “so fortunate” for her apprenticeship, which allowed her to pursue her dream career without leaving her hometown.
She said: “I was all set to go to university when I saw the advert for a Graduate Apprentice job with aes renewables, and it was more appealing.
“With the Graduate Apprenticeship, I get hands-on experience, earn a wage and it meant I wouldn’t have to travel or end up with student debt.
As aes renewables’ Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) champion, Kiera promotes renewable energy careers in nurseries, schools and colleges and last summer she mentored a local sixth-year student on work experience.
Kiera said: “One of my personal goals is to encourage more young women into engineering. It’s still quite a male-dominated subject and sector, so seeing women in these roles and having those early conversations are crucial. There are so many opportunities in renewables, and we need more diversity in the industry.”
Kiera won Graduate Apprentice of the Year at the Highlands and Islands Apprenticeship Awards 2025.
aes renewables’ Marketing Manager Hannah Jakobsen said: “Kiera is an indispensable part of the team. Her influence has raised our internal standards, and she is a role model for our other apprentices and junior staff. She embodies the ambition, skill and innovation required to achieve a net zero Scotland.”
Graduate Apprenticeships are a way to get qualified up to Master’s degree level while in paid employment. Designed by education and employers, Graduate Apprenticeships are working for Scotland by supporting key sectors that need highly skilled workforces.
Hannah added: “Apprenticeships are central to building a qualified, sustainable workforce in Scotland and celebrating alternative career pathways.”
Robert Gordon University’s Course Leader for Graduate Apprenticeships in the School of Computing, Engineering and Technology Clare O’Farrell said: “Kiera has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic excellence and intellectual curiosity as a Graduate Apprentice in Engineering Instrumentation, Measurement and Control.
“She has taken both the theoretical and work-based learning in her stride, advancing her own skills and contributing to her company, aes renewables.
“Kiera's honours degree project proposed a cost-effective monitoring strategy to optimise solar thermal system efficiency, offering a forward-looking solution with strong potential to accelerate sustainable energy adoption and long-term energy resilience in society.
“This nomination recognises not only her technical excellence, but also her commitment to using engineering to drive meaningful, sustainable change.”
Kiera Wright is a finalist in the Supporting Net Zero Apprentice of the Year category at this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Awards in association with SP Energy Networks.
The awards take place on 26 February as the launch event for Scottish Apprenticeship Week (2 to 6 March).
Find out more about the award finalists and the event by visiting apprenticeships.scot/awards