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IGNITE Programme Delivers Life-Changing Employment Opportunities Across Ayrshire An Ayrshire Growth Deal programme is continuing to deliver outstanding results for local people and employers. The Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF) is backed by £3.5 million Growth Deal funding to help employers grow and develop their employees and increase skills for Ayrshire residents, linking them to growth sectors and employment opportunities. And the IGNITE programme is proving hugely successful and life-changing securing sustainable employment through employer-led training in the welding and motor trade sectors. Delivered in partnership with leading Ayrshire employers, including J & D Pierce (Contracts) Ltd and Bridgend Motor Group, the IGNITE programme has been designed to equip participants with the skills, qualifications and practical experience needed to move directly into employment. The welding programme has achieved remarkable success, with over 80% participants from the first cohort progressing into employment. The second cohort is already showing similarly positive outcomes,…

The Ayrshire Growth Deal team made a visit to Dumfries House on Friday – as they outlined their plans, strategies and vision to an American audience. They were invited by Lake Forest Academy, Illinois, whose students were over in Scotland taking part in a week-long training and education programme at the facility in East Ayrshire. During their stay they took in the range of different education centres at the 2,000-acre estate learning about sustainable textiles, hospitality, horticulture and farm-to-fork learning, while also visiting nearby Cumnock and Doon Valley and learning about their rich mining heritage. At the end of week, members of the Growth Deal team visited to wrap up their visit with an overview of Ayrshire and how the Growth Deal is seeking to transform the economic prospects of the area. Strategic Manager Graham Saunders, provided an overview, explaining how the Growth Deal works, the support from UK and…

A collaborative project at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland’s (NMIS) Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC) in Irvine has demonstrated how private 5G mobile networks could support growing demand for secure, high-capacity connectivity in modern manufacturing. Interest in 5G within manufacturing continues to grow, driven by the need for faster and more secure connectivity to support increasingly data-driven production systems. However, many organisations remain uncertain about how the technology will perform in real operational environments. To address this, the project simulated a manufacturing use case and tested network performance under increasing demand in a controlled, factory-like setting. Funded in part by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s 5G Innovation Programme in Ayrshire, it brought together experienced teams from NMIS, Merck, North Ayrshire Council and Folk Consulting. The trial used a private 5G mobile network deployed at the DPMC, where engineers developed a simulated plant room environment based on Merck’s industrial…

Ayrshire is in a strong position to sustain long-term digital growth, economic resilience and competitiveness thanks to their participation in the 5G Innovation Project. The region received £4.4million from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) team in 2024 to become one of ten 5G Innovation Regions (5GIR) across the UK. And a report, commissioned to assess the impact of the 5G Innovation Region Project, says the funding and support has positioned Ayrshire at the forefront of digital technology. The report highlights how the 5GIR programme has not only helped create new digital systems across key businesses and sites in Ayrshire but also helped bring together public, private and academic partners to support long-term digital growth, collaboration and innovation across the region. Some of the other highlights of the project include: This enhanced connectivity at key locations such as Ayr Low Green, Dean Castle Country Park and…

East Ayrshire Council has launched a new vocation training programme as part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal’s ambitions to upskill residents in Cumnock and Doon Valley, enabling them to access employment in the emerging electric vehicle and hydrogen automotive sector. The pilot project is a key component of the Community Renewable Energy project (CoRE) which will develop new skills pathways in creating a pipeline of skilled individuals aligned to the needs of local employers, who have identified a shortage of skills in this sector. The first of these training sessions took place this week at Emergency One in Cumnock, with nine mechanics from local garages working alongside staff from Emergency One to gain accredited EV qualifications. Further sessions are planned throughout March that would see as many as 30 local mechanics gaining much sought-after skills and qualifications in the high growth sustainable transport sector.   Pupils from Robert Burns and Doon…

A state-of-the art new business space was officially marked as complete today (Tuesday) at one of Ayrshire’s major sites for business and industry – i3 in Irvine. The i3 Enterprise area, plays a key role in supporting economic growth, primarily through Ayrshire Growth Deal funding. Investment at the site is focused on delivering modern, flexible workspace to support local businesses, attract inward investment and create jobs. Councillor Tony Gurney, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, carried out duties to mark the completion of the first phase of the i3 Flexible project at the new premises on Tuesday. This new generation of industrial property is an 18,000 square feet unit with yard space that incorporates sustainable and low carbon components and features: The building has already been marketed for lease and the first tenant is expected to be confirmed soon. The building forms part of the i3 Advanced Manufacturing Flexible Space Programme…