COMMENT
Douglas Campbell
Leader of
South Ayrshire
CouncilW: south-ayrshire.gov.ukWorking together to deliver
investment, jobs and growth
Ayrshire has been at the heart of aerospace
excellence for almost 100 years. Today, in 2020,
we are poised at one of the most defining
moments in our aerospace history. With Spirit
AeroSystems’ investment in an open access
Aerospace Innovation Centre, the advent of
a new space sector and the securing of the
Ayrshire Growth Deal investment, Prestwick’s
status and future as a global aerospace centre
are secure.
Internationally recognised, Prestwick
Aerospace Campus is Scotland’s largest
aerospace cluster, and one of the three main
aerospace hubs in the UK. An established
centre of excellence for aeronautical design and
engineering, the manufacture of aero structures
and aviation related MRO (Maintenance, Repair
and Overhaul), Prestwick is home to global
aerospace companies including BAE Systems,
GE Caledonian, Spirit AeroSystems, Collins
Aerospace and Woodward.
Through the ‘Prestwick Proposition’, the
Campus will benefit from £80 million of Ayrshire
Growth Deal investment. This centres on several
inter-connecting projects which will deliver
investment, growth and jobs that will benefit
communities and the economy across the UK,
creating a legacy that will reap benefits for
generations to come, including:
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which will provide vital services to the global
satellite industry, while supporting the growth
of the burgeoning space tourism market;
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(ASIC) which will drive new technologies and
skills, and positioning Prestwick as the hub of
aerospace and space technology;
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manufacturing space to support the continued
growth of the sectors;
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the Campus, taking account of the potential
impact of the growth in the business base and
increase in visitors to the Campus.
Collectively these projects will transform the
local economy creating up to 4,000 new jobs,
while impacting across the UK and beyond.REGIONAL REPORT: AYRSHIRE
http://www.insider.co.uk March 2020 INSIDER 83
in areas such as health and social care
“Also in East Ayrshire there is investment
in the energy sector with a new research
and demonstrator facility. Ayrshire has for
decades been a major supplier of coal to
the UK energy sector – obviously that has
disappeared, demand for that has ceased to
exist and operators have ceased to function
in East Ayrshire. However the opportunity
that has derived from investment in the
energy sector in Ayrshire is to look at what
sources of energy we can use in future.”
Hodgson explains: “It’s an attempt to
look to a community the size of Cumnock
[population 13,000] and how you would
take it off grid and how you could combine
different energy sources to achieve that.
On one hand it’s very much looking to
the future in the context of the climate
emergency and looking at what sources
might look like and how they might
combine, but it’s also recognising what
Ayrshire has contributed to the energy
sector for decades and it’s about
reimagining that and maintaining that link
and that supply.”
Another key element of the Ayrshire
Growth Deal is tourism, with a major
plank of the programme being a £9m
proposal for the development and
regeneration of The Great Harbour at Irvine
Harbourside and Ardeer funded by the
Scottish Government, plus an additional
£4m from North Ayrshire Council aimed
at creating a coastal destination able
to attract many more visitors to
the area.
This will build
on what already
increasing tourism
numbers. Gordon
Smith, VisitScotland
regional director,
said: “With the latest
figures revealing an
increase in both domestic and international
visitors, this year presents a real opportunity
for tourism businesses across Ayrshire
& Arran to showcase their product,
particularly in what is the Year of Coasts and
Waters 2020 (YCW2020). This year-long
programme of events and activities will
shine a spotlight on these vital elements of
our landscape.
“The region will host a range of events
in 2020 with Dumfries House hosting the
annual Boswell Book Festival from 8-10
May, the Making Waves Festival, supported
by the YCW2020 events fund, taking place
in Irvine from 17 to 19 July and the Women’s
British Open coming to Royal Troon from
20 – 23 August.
“These events will draw in visitors from
across Scotland and beyond so it’s a chance
for businesses across Ayrshire to come
together to ensure everyone has the best
experience possible and the local economy
can benefit.
“Another opportunity for businesses is
The Coig, five new touring routes around
Ayrshire, Firth of Clyde and the Clyde
Islands. VisitScotland is working closely
with The Coig as momentum builds to
engage local businesses and to develop new
marketing activity to promote the routes and
the region.”
Tourist players in the area hope that it
will gain a boost from all these initiativesIN FOCUS: Student workers
The area has also seen the recent launch of a
partnership between business and an FE college
to help get young people into the world of work.
Taylor Wimpey, the major construction group
has partnered with Ayrshire College on two of its
courses which are starting in August.
The Taylor Wimpey Training Academy courses
in bricklaying and joinery will give students the
opportunity to work with what is one of the largest
housebuilding companies in the UK. It will mean
all of their bricklaying and joinery apprentices
in the West of Scotland completing their offsitetraining with the college. As part of their course
the company will help students looking to enter
the construction industry by providing site visits
and live work experience on sites in Ayrshire.
Students will also be able to speak regularly to
members of the Taylor Wimpey management
team, who will be able to give them first-hand
advice on how to kick-start their career in the
industry. While students will not be guaranteed
places on the Taylor Wimpey apprenticeship
scheme, the company says it sees the courses as
ideal preparation for such places.Focus is firmly on
future energy supply