|
Welcome to the quarterly progress update for the Ayrshire Growth Deal. In this we're outlining latest progress of the programme, and featuring upcoming engagements and opportunities to get involved. |
|
|
AGD momentum has been building through the first months of 2025.
Highlights of this past quarter include the AGD Annual Conversation, held on 19 February 2025 at Troon Town Hall, with senior representation from UK and Scottish Governments and North, East and South Ayrshire Councils.
The Project Management Officer (PMO) delivered a presentation on behalf of partners. Discussion focused on lessons learned to enable a quickening of pace in the development and delivery of projects within the Programme.
Further themes centred on feasibility, deliverability and expediency, with representatives agreeing that continuous improvements need to be made to ensure successful delivery of the Programme within the agreed timeline and funding envelop.
Capital investment progress
Tangible progress has been made in this quarter specifically across the capital investment programme. This includes:
- Start of work on the Great Harbour project which is set to transform Irvine Harbourside
- Launch of the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC)
- Planning permission in principle granted for the Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor and Engineering Park in Kilmarnock
- Programme Business Case approval for the Marine Tourism programme
- Ambitious new developments for Prestwick’s aerospace sector becoming more defined.
|
|
Communities Programme progress
The Ayrshire Growth Deal Communities Programme focuses on the health, wellbeing and progress of our local communities.
Three projects sit within this theme:
- Community Wealth Building (CWB)
- Working for a Healthy Economy (WfHE)
- Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF)
All three of these projects have been in delivery for several years and are making good progress towards achieving objectives, and in some cases, exceeding key outputs by some distance.
Community Wealth Building
The AGD Community Wealth Building Programme drew to a conclusion in March 2025, celebrating the following headline achievements across the region:
- 1,152 enterprises supported, exceeding the original programme target by 25%
- 1,027 jobs safeguarded and a further 164 projected new jobs
- 286 businesses received grants or consultancy support, improving resilience, innovation and market access
- 270 enterprises engaged in Fair Work Action Planning, embedding inclusive employment practices
- Over 290 businesses supported in procurement-readiness, resulting in increased local contract wins
- 27 organisations supported in developing or transitioning to cooperative or employee-owned models
- Community and social enterprises empowered through targeted asset and grant support
A recent evaluation for the programme states:
“The Ayrshire CWB Programme has delivered measurable economic and social benefits while piloting a new approach to place-based development.
Its legacy lies in its ability to shift economic power back to communities, build fairer labour markets, and foster resilience through local ownership and collaboration.
The evaluation finds a clear mandate for continuation—and a compelling case for Community Wealth Building to become a mainstream component of Scotland’s wellbeing economy.”
As this part of the AGD CWB project comes to an end the CWB principles and associated best practice has been mainstreamed into the frontline Business Support Services delivered by each Council.
Working for a Healthy Economy
WfHE is committed to supporting individuals manage and improve their health to progress or sustain employment. The project is progressing well, impacting and improving local individuals’ lives and livelihoods. Over the next months, work will be carried out with the partners and PMO to review the benefits to make sure the project is reaching its full potential.
Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund
The ASIF project is also progressing well and in this update we are delighted to share a series of videos that showcase some of the positive impact the project is having:
|
|
New project
The Building Digital Capital (BDC) project is a new project proposal which is aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure and capabilities across the region focusing on the AGD Capital projects.
Having been unanimously approved by local governance channels, a management and monitoring framework is under final consideration with UK and Scottish Governments, and further updates will be provided in due course.
|
|
The Economic Infrastructure programme
This programme focuses on creating conditions for growth, providing local jobs, strong regional supply chains and skills development across a number of sectors in Ayrshire.
Five major capital projects sit within this theme. This includes:
- one completed project: HALO
- two projects in delivery:
- i3 Flexible Business Space
- i3 Digital Processing Manufacturing Centre (DPMC)
- two set to enter delivery this year:
- Ayrshire Engineering Park (AEP)
- Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor (AMIC)
These projects directly counter historic market failure and seek to meet high demand within the Ayrshire economy.
Centre opening
 Centre opening
This quarter saw the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre officially opened in North Ayrshire, fuelling economic growth and helping to position the region as a leader in smart manufacturing and digital skills.
The Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DMPC) is part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and will give process manufacturing businesses access to digital and data driven manufacturing expertise, enabling them to innovate and adopt new technology in a low-risk environment.
Artificial intelligence, robotics, digital data management, and virtual and augmented reality are among the tools that will be available to trial at the centre.
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill who attended the event said:
“It was fantastic to see the first phase of the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre in action. The next stage of the Ayrshire Growth Deal project will see local partners use £5 million UK Government investment to build a permanent facility in the area.
"The UK Government is focused on delivering our Plan for Change to turbo-charge economic growth which will bring a decade of national renewal and opportunity for all.
"Pioneering facilities like this are testament to what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal. I encourage stakeholders, business leaders, educators, and policymakers to seize this opportunity, engage with the resources available here, and contribute to shaping a vibrant, sustainable future for manufacturing in Scotland and the UK.”
Permission in principle
 Planning permission in principle has been granted for AMIC and AEP collocated at Ayrshire Innovation Park in Kilmarnock has been granted along with endorsement of outline business cases.
Partners are working closely with the Governments at pace to ensure the completion of the final business cases to allow the infrastructure delivery phase to commence as soon as possible this year
|
|
Space and Aerospace programme
This programme is positioning Ayrshire as one of the UK’s leading centres of aerospace and space activity.
Having experienced challenges to project progression within this theme, South Ayrshire Council as lead authority is continuing to review alternative investment possibilities.
At the same time the team is pushing forward on the development and delivery of key projects within this theme such as the Aerospace and Space Technology Application Centre (ASTAC) project. This project has been supported by the formation of a strong partnership with Ayrshire College, supporting the delivery of the project's primary objectives, particularly those related to education and specialist /innovative training.
The next quarter will see proposals for projects within this theme continue to evolve, moving forward through discussion and partnership with the UK and Scottish Governments, Scottish Enterprise and other local and national agencies.
|
|
Energy, Circular Economy and Environment programme
This programme will unlock the benefits of developing low carbon energy technologies and solutions.
Ayrshire’s location and natural resources offer the potential to create new jobs, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to achieving net zero by 2045.
The three projects within this theme continue to progress through their developmental stages. They are:
- Community Renewable Energy (CoRE)
- Hunterston Strategic Development Area
- International Marine Science and Environment Centre (IMSE)
This quarter will see the submission of CoRE’s Phase 1 Full Business Case for its pathfinder demonstrator projects, prior to delivery phase commencement.
Project work for IMSE continues through a strong partnership approach, whilst work regarding Hunterston is focused on scoping and developing relevant interventions for the project to maximise the outcomes and outputs for the region.
|
|
Tourism update
Tourism is a key sector in Ayrshire. This programme builds on the existing tourism offer to make the region a highly desirable place in which to visit, live, work and invest.
This theme comprises the Great Harbour project and the Marine Tourism project, and significant milestones have been reached with both projects in this quarter.
Great Harbour
 This quarter saw the start of work on the ambitious Great Harbour project, which is set to transform Irvine’s Harbourside area.
This was celebrated by a breaking ground ceremony in February, where Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, said:
“This is an important milestone for this Ayrshire Growth Deal project and we are delighted work has started on the Coastal Hub first phase of the Great Harbour development.”
The £14 million Ayrshire Growth Deal investment in the area has kicked off with work on the first phase now started. The project is being supported with £9 million from the Scottish Government.
The ‘Great Harbour’ is a key component of the £251m Ayrshire Growth Deal and one of the most ambitious and transformational regeneration tourism proposals for the region.
Marine tourism
|
|
 Marine Tourism development has made further promising strides.
Ambitious plans to develop marine tourism in Cumbrae have taken a significant step forward.
North Ayrshire Council has received confirmation that the Scottish Government support the principle of the development of a marina on the island, following the approval of an initial business case for the programme.
The marina proposal is a key component of the Ayrshire Growth Deal and being supported by £9.5 million investment from the Scottish Government into a Marine Tourism Programme at the Isles of Cumbrae and Arran. Funding worth £4.5m has been allocated to the Millport Project.
|
|
Keep in touch
That brings us to the end of the AGD Progress Update for this quarter. Please get in touch with the team if you have any questions or wish to engage with us on any of the opportunities featured.
For regular updates about AGD and other topics of interest, sign up here. You can unsubscribe at any time
|
|
|
|
|
