20 SUMMER 2015
Developing Ayrshire’s Workforce
EMPLOYERS ON BOARD TO
HELP DEVELOP AYRSHIRE’S
WORKFORCE
develop Ayrshire’s school and
college students, for example by
taking on apprentices, offering
work experience placements or
arranging site visits.
AYRSHIRE COLLEGE RECENTLY
HELD A MAJOR EMPLOYER
NETWORKING EVENT ON
THE THEME OF ‘DEVELOPING
AYRSHIRE’S WORKFORCE’.
EMPLOYERS, LOCAL
PARTNERS AND INDUSTRY
LEADERS CAME TOGETHER
TO HEAR THE COLLEGE’S
VISION FOR ENSURING
POSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR STUDENTS AND
CONTRIBUTING TO ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
Heather Dunk, Principal,
welcomed guests to the College’s
Kilmarnock Campus, where they
enjoyed a mouth-watering three
course menu prepared, and
served by, hospitality students.
Heather Dunk said “Events like this
are valuable for students as their
talent is demonstrated to
potential future employers on the
night.
“They are valuable for employers
because they gain a better
understanding of the benefits of
working with the College to
develop their current and future
workforce.
“And, of course, they are
invaluable for the college as they
give us another opportunity to
talk with employers about their
skills needs, and how well our
courses and students are fulfilling
their requirements.”
Employers had the opportunity to
make commitments on what they
would be willing to do to help
Guests were shown videos,
produced by the College for last
month’s Scottish Apprenticeship
Week, featuring apprentice chefs
and engineers. This footage
showed the young employees in
their work environment as they
and their employers - including
Trump Turnberry, Billy Bowie
Tankers and GSK - spoke
positively about the
apprenticeship route.
The event was an ideal setting for
organisations to network with
each other and enabled the
College to enhance its already
well-established relationships with
Ayrshire’s business community.
“Events like this are
valuable for students as
their talent is
demonstrated to
potential future
employers on the night.”