17
A Developed Workforce
Contributing to economic development in Ayrshire
73.
Although Ayrshire continues to deal with the consequences of the industrial decline of the 1980s,
opportunities for economic development exist. For example, the Scottish Government’s decision
to support Prestwick International Airport presents an opportunity for partners to build on renewed
optimism to focus efforts on this important resource. Ayrshire has two of the fifteen strategic
locations across the country that make up Scotland’s four Enterprise Areas – Life Sciences in Irvine
and Aerospace in Prestwick. The region continues to have a strong engineering base, with many
companies critical in the supply chains of key sectors such as Oil and Gas and Renewables. The
region’s land and marine resources allow Ayrshire to produce high quality food and drink products,
and its natural beauty and cultural heritage contribute to a growing tourism industry.
The College will build on our track record of meeting the skills requirements of many businesses in
these sectors by becoming even more proactive in addressing their current and emerging needs.
Our focus is on ensuring that our core curriculum and bespoke provision produces skilled individuals
who make a positive impact in their place of work and a contribution to growing Ayrshire’s economy.
74.
The College contributes strategically to economic development across Ayrshire by playing a full and
proactive role in key groups already established to support this. The Chair and Principal are members
of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership, a strategic pan-Ayrshire group which focuses on economic
development across the region and which is supported by the political and executive leadership of
the three local authorities. The College is one of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s
strategic partners, and the leadership of the Chamber has a strong College influence (its President
is the Vice-Chair of the College and the College Chairman is a member of its Board). College senior
managers are involved in the leadership of industry-led groups such as Taste Ayrshire and, through
our role on CPP Boards and sub-boards which focus on economic development and employment,
the College supports economic development at both a regional and local level.
Enhancing engagement with a clear, ambitious strategy
75. part of our strategic planning process, the College is developing a comprehensive engagement
As
plan which will demonstrate to employers how we intend to make their business central to our
business. The College will host a series of strategic events with employers each year to ensure that
our plans and provision are driven by their needs, and that these needs influence the curriculum
we offer and the resources we invest in to support that. Each year the College involves employers
in sectors relevant to all subject areas in our curriculum planning and self-evaluation processes.
This ensures employers have the opportunity to evaluate existing provision for quality enhancement,
as well as being able to determine new provision based on projected skills needs for their sectors.
76.
The College will build on the industry skills forums it has already established to bring together
businesses in particular sectors to understand common needs and offer training on an economy
of scale. Outcomes from the College’s Aerospace Skills Forum included a Performing Engineering
Operations course which acts as a practical enhancement for HNC students. The College’s Wind
Turbines Technologies Forum developed the Wind Turbine Technology Diploma which forms the
educational component of the Wind Turbine Modern Apprenticeship. The College leads the
www.ayrshire.ac.uk