CTTS

The South of Scotland is an exciting region ready to support and collaborate with investors looking for business opportunities in the South of Scotland. CTTS is a great example of investment in the South of Scotland and what the region has to offer.

The South of Scotland is an exciting region ready to support and collaborate with investors looking for business opportunities in the South of Scotland. CTTS is a great example of investment in the South of Scotland and what the region has to offer. CTTS created a utility telecommunication training academy providing high-quality training to both unskilled and skilled individuals helping to address the skills shortage in the UK Telecoms industry. 

CTTS was incorporated on 19th May 1995 and are a subsidiary of Telenco.  They currently employ 29 members of staff operating from a national base in Lincoln.  CTTS had two satellite training centres, one based in Northern Ireland and one in Swindon, before opening their third satellite training centre at Tweed Horizons in Newtown St Boswells in the Scottish Borders in January 2024.

Europe's largest independent training provider in communications cabling and telecommunications technology, CTTS offer a range of services to 250 communications providers and are the largest telecoms training provider in Armed Services Resettlement. CTTS offer a full suite of NRSWA courses in line with associated awarding bodies and are at the forefront of equipping telecoms engineers across the country with telecoms fibre skills.  Where possible CTTS plan to diversify into new markets such as rail, forestry, international telecoms and managed services. 

CTTS provide overhead fibre installation training areas, including multi spars and home installs, as well as underground training areas where they can provide training in fibre installations and civils training and accreditations.  Both overhead and underground training enable CTTS to equip the Telecoms Industry with essential skills - accreditations include Safety and PIA (Physical Infra Structure Access) and Openreach accreditations with awarding bodies CABWI, Emtelle, Smart Awards, City and Guilds. 

Training is bespoke and tailored to client needs.  All trainers have teaching qualifications meaning they are knowledgeable on, for example, different learning methods and neurodiversity.  As well as working with companies throughout the UK they also train staff from companies worldwide.

CTTS were awarded £20,039 in grant funding to establish their Utility Telecommunication Training Academy including pole field, storage containers and underground cable training area.

Since the initial satellite training centre was opened CTTS have already grown and taken on additional training space located at Tweed Horizons House.  The additional space consists of three training rooms and office space including facilities suitable for those with a disability. In addition a fibre centre is currently being developed in the upstairs space in the building where CTTS will be able to deliver City and Guild courses and Openreach accreditations locally inhouse rather than these currently only being available off site.

To ensure that there is talent in the region to support the work at CTTS, they are now working with a variety of people from education to develop, for example, courses for pupils in S3 at secondary schools, pathways courses and they are liaising with SDS over Modern Apprenticeship training in the Scottish Borders and throughout Scotland.  

To date the CTTS training site in the Scottish Borders has been used by multinational telecoms companies such as Openreach and Virgin Media. There has also been an extension to existing business from 02, who have continued to use the new facility in the Scottish Borders to train and accredit their staff which has resulted in reduced travel and supporting to achieve net zero obligations. 

The satellite site in the Scottish Borders has opened up opportunities for locals with training and employment opportunities. CTTS Telecoms Pathway Employability Programs in association with local authorities and DWP sponsorship, have successfully trained and integrated eight delegates into full time work within telecoms industry.

CTTS continues to develop and diversify into new sectors such as water and power - all happening from the Scottish Borders site.

Collaboration is key to success and CTTS have collaborated with local partners including Scottish Borders Council, Midlothian Council, East Lothian Council and Skills Development Scotland as well as retaining a positive working partnership with City Region Deals and CCP. Working closely with these organisations ensures that no opportunity is missed.

lYNNE CAMPBELL, BUSINESS SPECIALIST AT SOSE SAID

''It has been a real pleasure supporting CTTS to set up in South of Scotland.  They have been able to make use of the existing facilities at Tweed Horizon where the double poling and underground training area along with the classroom facilities allow experienced and qualified CTTS trainers to provide high quality training to both unskilled and skilled individuals. It also showcases the Scottish Borders to companies opting to train staff here.  Telecommunications training develops transferrable skills that can be utilised in other industries such as wind energy and construction, and I am looking forward to seeing how this site continues to develop to help reduce skills shortages''

Maria Ibbetson, Digital Skills Manager at CTTS said: 

''Bringing CTTS to the Scottish Borders has been a transformative step—not just for our organisation, but for the region. At Tweed Horizons, we’ve created a high-quality, accessible training environment that’s already delivering real impact. From supporting major telecom providers to helping local residents from the Borders and surrounding areas gain industry-recognised qualifications, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. It's been incredibly rewarding to see individuals progress from our pathway programmes into full-time roles within the telecoms sector.
We’re especially grateful for the support we've received from SOSE throughout this journey. Their backing has been instrumental in helping us establish and grow our presence here. Thanks to their collaborative approach and belief in our vision, we're now well-placed to continue addressing the telecommunications skills gap and explore new opportunities across sectors like power, water, and construction—all from our base in the South of Scotland.''

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