07
AYRSHIRE UPDATE
AYRSHIRE COLLEGE IN TOUCH WITH BUSINESS
East Ayrshire
Employment Fair
South Ayrshire
Jobs Summit
Team North
Ayrshire
An Employment Fair, organised by
Cathy Jamieson MP in Kilmarnock on
20 February, and supported by Ayrshire
College, East Ayrshire Council, Skills
Development Scotland and Jobcentre
Plus, was a huge success. The response
to the Employment Fair demonstrated
the determination of local people to find
jobs and a number of companies were
recruiting on the day. The College was
on hand to offer advice to local people
interested in developing their skills and
to local companies interested in taking
on staff. The College has also supported
employment fairs in Irvine and Beith.
On 4 March, Ayrshire College joined
employers and partners at a Jobs Summit
in Ayr organised by South Ayrshire
Community Planning Partnership. Led by
Professor Alan McGregor, we reviewed
progress from last year’s Summit in
the areas of entrepreneurship, work
readiness, skills and training, and funding.
Professor McGregor reported on South
Ayrshire’s labour market and gave an
assessment of current challenges.
The Summit looked at how to address
those challenges.
Ayrshire College was delighted to
support the creation of Team North
Ayrshire, which was launched in Irvine
on 25 November and aims to provide
a one door approach to supporting
businesses. Team North Ayrshire consists
of leaders from the public and private
sector, including Ayrshire College,
who have committed to helping drive
business growth in North Ayrshire.
The College is helping to assess the skills
needs of employers in North Ayrshire
and identifying how to meet these.
You can find out more at
www.northayrshireforbusiness.com
Business
Solutions
Over the n ext few months, the
College’s Education Contracts and
Business Development directorate
will be re-locating to a customised
Business Solutions suite in our Ayr
campus.
With dedicated professional training
and meeting rooms to deliver
bespoke courses for employers, and
access to advice from a range of
experts, we look forward to this being
a key resource for Ayrshire’s business
community.
College
courses for
2014-15
The College involves employers in
sectors relevant to all subject areas
in the curriculum planning process
to ensure that course provision is
based on projected skills needs for
their sectors. The curriculum plan for
2014-15 has been heavily influenced
by feedback from employers and
Community Planning Partnerships,
and responds to local and regional
needs identified by them.