SCOT-ZED
Supporting Careers and Opportunity in Transport – for Zero Emission Diversity in the ZE HDV Sector
Project details
Full project title: SCOT-ZED: Supporting Careers and Opportunity in Transport – for Zero Emission Diversity in the ZE HDV Sector
Sponsor/Funder: Transport Scotland
Principal Investigator: Dr Daniela Paddeu
Partners:
- Dr Fiona Crawford, University of Glasgow
- SESTran (South-East Scotland Transport Partnership)
Start date: 1 September 2025
End date: 31 March 2026
Project summary
SCOT-ZED addresses long-standing diversity challenges within Scotland’s heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) workforce, with the goal of supporting a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready sector as the country transitions to zero-emission transport. As decarbonisation accelerates, there is both an opportunity and an obligation to ensure the transition is fair, inclusive and capable of creating accessible pathways into secure, high-quality green jobs. SCOT-ZED contributes to a just transition by identifying practical, evidence-based actions that can strengthen diversity and inclusion across the zero-emission HDV workforce.
Using South-East Scotland as a case study and working in close partnership with SEStran, the project moves beyond high-level policy recommendations towards actionable delivery. This includes stress-testing ideas with stakeholders in real-world contexts and generating insights that can inform practice more widely. The project also recognises that workforce challenges are inherently place-based, and that effective solutions must be tailored to regional economic, social and training landscapes.
Through surveys, interviews and workshops with current and prospective workers (e.g., HDV drivers, trainees, college students and jobseekers) as well as employers, recruiters and training providers, we explore the barriers that limit entry, retention and progression for under-represented groups. An intersectional lens helps uncover how recruitment, training and workplace cultures shape participation and progression.
Drawing on systems thinking, SCOT-ZED will also identify lessons from other parts of the green economy where diversity initiatives are more developed, supporting opportunities for joined-up, cross-sector approaches. Key outputs will include an Inclusive Practices Recommendations report, a diversity-focused roadmap aligned with net-zero workforce planning, and guidance for transferring insights to other regions across Scotland.