Ayrshire College

Read our latest article by Anne Campbell, Vice Principal of Skills and Innovation, where she reflects on recent events and visits at Ayrshire College.   These activities showcase our commitment to delivering Outstanding Experiences as part of our new strategic ambition.   Read more below.

Time to renew you or your teams gas tickets? Spaces are available in November for our upcoming BPEC Domestic Gas CCN1 - Reassessment at Ayr Campus Our training and reassessment package is designed for engineers who wish to renew their certification to undertake, service, commission and repair specific gas appliances in our specialised Gas Assessment Centre. Our new dates take place in the evenings and weekends to allow you to keep working through the day with minimum disruption to your calendar. Limited spaces are available, secure your spot today: https://bit.ly/3RYwafl

Composites, with their unique properties, are revolutionising industries like aerospace and engineering. Step into the Composite Materials industry by enroling on one of our 1 day Composite Awareness courses this Autumn. Our 1 day course provides a comprehensive overview of advanced composite applications, exploring their benefits, challenges, and practical uses. We’ll also cover essential health and safety protocols, material storage, and introductory lay-up techniques - equipping you and your staff with valuable, industry-relevant skills. Spaces are still available on our upcoming October date. Invest in your workforce’s future today. Learn more and book places here: https://bit.ly/3ZgZeE2

Ayrshire College is thrilled to receive a donation from GE Aerospace to provide more workforce training opportunities in our area. This generous funding will support evening classes, provide new equipment and materials, and help further develop our training hangar and teaching centre at Prestwick Airport, delivering hands-on experience for approximately 100 students. GE Aerospace is focused on lifting people up in local communities, and their donation will play a key role in building a stronger manufacturing workforce in the region. We’re excited to see what’s next for our students and are proud to continue our partnership with this incredible organisation. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtxfM8tz

The Scottish Government wants to make Scotland the best place in the world for BSL users to live, work and visit. We are delighted to announce that spaces are now open for bookings for our SQA Accredited British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 Evening course starting in January at Ayr and, for the first time in 2025, Kilmarnock Campus! This 12 week course will help you communicate confidently with BSL users in a variety of contexts. You'll gain essential language skills, including productive and conversational abilities, while also exploring how sign languages work and differ from spoken languages. Additionally, learners will have the chance to deepen their understanding of the history and development of British Sign Language and the Deaf Community, both in Scotland and beyond. Invest in your workforce’s future today and doors to greater communication and understanding. Learn more and book places here: https://bit.ly/3uMhwQm

Whether you're an emerging artist or an established creator, our Experimental Illustration evening course provides the perfect opportunity to refine your illustrative skills and elevate your craft. Led by an industry expert, you'll explore a wide range of professional illustration techniques designed to expand your creative capabilities. In addition to artistic growth, this course will guide you in transforming your creativity into marketable products - from custom prints to branded merchandise - helping you bridge the gap between vision and marketplace success. Take the next step in your creative career and make your art work for you: https://bit.ly/485Udzs

We’ve had the pleasure of hosting several important visitors and events at the College this week: - Sharon Dowey MSP toured our Renewables Centre of Excellence, meeting with Principal Angela Cox and Vice Principal Anne Campbell. She spoke with students and staff about the innovative work happening in renewable energy and the College’s commitment to supporting green skills. - Representatives from the College Development Network met with our leadership team to discuss the College's new Strategic Ambition: Empowering People for a Changing World. - Shirley Laing, Director of Lifelong Learning and Skills, visited to discuss how the College supports students facing financial and personal barriers, alongside partners like Thriving Communities and RAMH. - Brian Whittle MSP attended our Skills in Action event as we formally launched our membership with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and Scottish Engineering, highlighting the College’s commitment to building skills for the future of manufacturing and engineering. Separately, at CentreStage, First Minister John Swinney spoke with Ayrshire College students currently studying there. He engaged with them about their learning experiences and aspirations for the future. Angela Cox, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Ayrshire College, said: "This week has demonstrated the strength of our partnerships across education, industry, and community. By working closely with key stakeholders, we’re able to align our efforts to create real opportunities for our students, foster innovation, and ensure that our work directly responds to the needs of our communities and Scotland’s future." #AyrshireCollege #RenewableEnergy #GreenSkills #LifelongLearning #SkillsForTheFuture #EmpoweringPeople

Ayrshire College is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to accredit the FireSkills Employability Awards! This life-changing programme will empower hundreds of young people across Scotland with key life-saving and employability skills. The FireSkills Course is aimed at young people aged 12-18 and teaches critical abilities such as: 🔹 Teamwork & Leadership 🔹 Communication & Problem-Solving 🔹 Practical Skills like First Aid & CPR Through hands-on firefighter drills, participants gain invaluable experience and earn an SCQF Level 4 Employability Award, building their confidence for future education and work opportunities. We’re incredibly proud to be the accrediting body for this initiative, helping young people prepare for a successful future. Special thanks to our partners at SFRS and to everyone who attended the launch at Kilmarnock Community Fire Station on 27th September. Congratulations to the first group of participants for showcasing their newly acquired skills We look forward to supporting the 400+ young people who will benefit from this course every year across Scotland. Read more here - https://ow.ly/MMOy50TJLna #AyrshireCollege #SFRS #FireSkills #Employability

𝐀𝐲𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 🔧✈️ On 10th October 2024, Ayrshire College welcomed key industry partners and stakeholders to our Kilmarnock Campus to discuss the skills challenges within the aerospace, engineering, and advanced manufacturing sectors. This event, held in collaboration with Scottish Engineering and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), marked our official membership with both organisations. Key speakers discussed the evolving skills needed to drive industry growth, with tours of our cutting-edge engineering facilities showcasing the practical training we provide. Ayrshire College Principal and CEO, Angela Cox, said: “This partnership ensures we continue to equip our students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly advancing sector.” Read more here - https://ow.ly/ksaq50TIW2k #AyrshireCollege #Engineering #Aerospace #SkillsDevelopment #FutureWorkforce #ScottishEngineering #NMIS Paul Sheerin Avril Thomson

Composites, with their unique properties, are revolutionising industries like aerospace and engineering. Spaces are still available for our upcoming October date for our Composite Awareness course. Our 1 day course provides a comprehensive overview of advanced composite applications, exploring their benefits, challenges, and practical uses. We’ll also cover essential health and safety protocols, material storage, and introductory lay-up techniques - equipping you and your staff with valuable, industry-relevant skills. Invest in your workforce’s future today. Learn more and book places here: https://bit.ly/3ZgZeE2