An action plan to help more people find work, improve skills and boost growth across Ayrshire has been launched.
The Ayrshire Regional Skills Investment Plan 2022-25 focuses on the skills needs of people and businesses across North, South and East Ayrshire.
National skills agency Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has worked alongside a host of partners including the three Ayrshire councils, Ayrshire College and the University of the West of Scotland, to create the plan.
It draws on local experiences to identify opportunities for skills investment, in order to boost inclusive growth to ensure that economic recovery is green and accessible to everyone.
Four strategic goals are at the heart of the plan:
Investing in growing talent across Ayrshire by capitalising on sectoral opportunities and ensuring learning and training meets employers’ needs.
Ensuring pathways into work are clearly defined, supporting new entrants and job changers.
Supporting investment in upskilling and reskilling for the existing workforce.
Improving employability outcomes by tackling employment barriers and promoting inclusive growth.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“The Ayrshire Regional Strategic Skills Investment Plan is another step in creating a workforce in North Ayrshire that can stay here, work here and benefit from good jobs and a thriving local economy.
“It is aligned with the Ayrshire Growth Deal, a £251 million joint investment funded by the Scottish and UK governments and the three Ayrshire councils. The deal has the potential to leverage a further £300 million in private investment, with the aim of creating up to 7,000 new jobs by 2029/30.”
Alastair Dobson, Chair of the Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy Working Group, said:
“Investment in business and in our people will be at the heart of Ayrshire’s economic recovery and future success.
“It is important that the regional partners and all three local authorities work together to promote Ayrshire as a vibrant and viable place to visit, work, and live.”
The sectors with the largest share of regional employment in 2020 were human health activities (11.7%), retail trade (10.1%), education (8.1%), public administration & defence (6.3%) and social work (5.9%). Ayrshire also has unique regional employment opportunities from the visitor economy.
Read the plan here.
ENDS
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