Ayrshire College on Thursday 21 September officially opened the new Willie Mackie Skills Hub in Kilwinning.
The two-storey building provides a flexible learning space that can respond to emerging technologies and allows Ayrshire College to offer vocational training in sustainable and SMART technologies alongside traditional construction trades.
The low-carbon building has been made possible because of significant funding contributions from Magnox and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) – through the Magnox Socio-economic scheme – North Ayrshire Council, the Ayrshire College Foundation and the Scottish Funding Council.
Designed by Thomson Hunter Architects and constructed by Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd, the Skills Hub is equipped with the latest industry standard tools and equipment to provide students with an outstanding learning experience.
Speaking at a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the building, Ayrshire College Principal and Chief Executive Angela Cox said: “We are thrilled to launch this innovative facility that will inspire our future workforce, enable our current students to excel in their chosen career and support our employers to remain competitive in sectors being disrupted by new technologies. The Willie Mackie Skills Hub embodies our commitment to providing Ayrshire with the skilled workforce it requires to thrive.”
The Skills Hub is named after former Chair of the Ayrshire College Board of Management, Willie Mackie, who stepped down from the role after completing the maximum term of office of a regional college Chair.
Invited guests gathered to celebrate the occasion and hear what this new building will bring to the people of North Ayrshire.
Ayrshire College has now expanded its apprenticeship programme into North Ayrshire, with the first cohort of apprentices from James Frew Ltd welcomed to the state-of-the-art training facility in September 2023.
