PLATINUM PARTNER

Future Skills

Hub Construction Forges Ahead

Construction of the Willie Mackie Skills Hub, set within the curtilage of Ayrshire College’s Kilwinning Campus, has moved forward considerably with completion due in Summer 2023.

While maintaining some of the existing curriculum areas in construction, for the first time in North Ayrshire, the curriculum will include Modern Apprentices. These will initially be in Carpentry & Joinery, with the intention to offer further MAs in building services areas of plumbing/electrical including renewable energy.

At pre-apprenticeship level, a shift change from traditional prescribed group awards to programmes designed with local employer input, will lead to a curriculum with increased opportunities for future employment. This links the curriculum directly to employers’ needs and builds on the success of current pre-apprenticeship courses.

This flexible approach to the curriculum will also allow the College to introduce our full-time groups to large-scale project work that will be of benefit to the local community.

Within the new building, the “Future Skills” area will achieve its title through a dynamic and diverse approach to curriculum, embracing changes in technology to meet the existing and future needs of employers in North Ayrshire and beyond. This will be particularly relevant in meeting Government initiatives in renewable energy, through upskilling of existing employees and for those transitioning from other careers routes. This area will also contain Engineering hardware to support automation and control as well as collaborative robots (Cobots) and robots.

NUALA BOYLE Head of Business Growth