Ayrshire College Outcome Agreements | Page 17

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