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Welcome to the quarterly progress update for the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD).
In this bulletin we're aiming to give you an overview of the latest progress of the programme with key updates on the latest developments, milestones and insights from across the Ayrshire Growth Deal Programme.
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AGD in development
In terms of programme development progress, recent highlights include good business case progress, with three business cases recently gaining approval. Business cases approved include Ayrshire Innovation Park Infrastructure Full Business Case (FBC), Marine Tourism: Cumbrae Outline Business Case (OBC) and CoRE Phase 1 FBC. The Commercial Build FBC is currently in final stages of review and redevelopment and we are hopeful that an update can be given on this in the next quarterly update.
AGD in delivery
The AGD is keen to get more projects on the ground and we are delighted to share that two projects have finally entered their delivery phases: Ayrshire Innovation Park and the Community Renewable Energy project (CoRE).
Ayrshire Innovation Park
The Ayrshire Innovation Park construction commenced in September and was celebrated with a ministerial visit on Tuesday (December 9th). The Ayrshire Innovation Park brings together two major projects: Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor (AMIC) and Ayrshire Engineering Park (AEP) with a combined investment of over £42.5m.
It aims to expand Moorfield Industrial Park in Kilmarnock, addressing the shortage of high-quality industrial space in Ayrshire, creating job opportunities in engineering and advanced manufacturing, with a particular focus on food manufacturing and production that will attract further inward investment.
Community Renewable Energy (CoRE)
The first phase of the CoRE project received endorsement from the UK and Scottish Governments on the 6th of November and can now enter its delivery phase.
The first phase is the demonstrator phase which has six key components focused on using green recovery to transform rural towns and villages, making communities better connected, healthier, and improving living standards through a just transition.
It supports the creation of long-term sustainable jobs whilst tackling fuel poverty and deprivation in some of Ayrshire’s most rural and deprived areas.
AGD Community Wealth Building as an exemplar
 As we reported previously, the AGD Community Wealth Building (CWB) Programme is one of two AGD projects which have concluded successfully.
The AGD CWB programme evaluation highlighted positive impact on local businesses across Ayrshire, and the programme was selected to be showcased at the Just Transition Summit in Edinburgh in October.
The event featured a keynote speech from First Minister John Swinney, UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks and Climate Change Committee Chair Nigel Topping and had engaging panel sessions which included a youth-led panel challenging political leaders on Scotland’s future. Community Wealth Building was a key feature of the day, and it is encouraging that Ayrshire as a region is at the forefront of this approach in Scotland.
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Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board Meeting at DPMC
The Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board recently had the opportunity for an in-person meeting at the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC).
The session included an optional tour of the DPMC facility which has been funded through the Growth Deal as a pilot phase. You can read some insight from the team at DPMC in the Case Study spotlight shared later on within this update.
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i3 Flexi Preview Tour
The in-person Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board meeting also included the opportunity for a sneak peak of the first phase of the i3 Flexi Space project, which is nearing completion ahead of a planned topping out ceremony. Tenants are scheduled to occupy the building in early 2026.
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The Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF) continues to deliver training interventions to upskill and increase the skills within the key growth sectors. The target groups are individuals from the key priority groups identified from the inclusive growth diagnostic. These interventions aim to ensure productivity levels can increase, growing people and business across Ayrshire.
The Employer Grants programme has supported over 400 local workers in Ayrshire to upskill and gain accredited qualifications. This has been enabled through eight funding rounds with a range of innovation training solutions being delivered. All training interventions are subject to approval by the ASIF Sub Committee and monitoring to ensure outcomes are achieved.
For more information on the ASIF employers fund or to register with your local Employability service please email fairworkayrshire@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
The project continues to deliver health interventions across Ayrshire to support unemployed individuals to manage health conditions to be able to progress to employment, as well as supporting employed individuals at risk of being unable to retain employment through ill health. WfHE continues to work closely with the delivery partner and key stakeholders to deliver this service across Ayrshire.
To date 1,730 unemployed individuals engaged with the WfHE service and the clinical outcomes are:
- 28.2% anxiety levels reduced
- 35.1% depression reduced
- 45.3 % health and wellbeing improved
The project will continue to deliver health interventions that benefit the wellbeing of local people across the region.
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The AIP infrastructure FBC has had government approval, allowing the commencement of works on site in September 2025. This milestone was celebrated on Tuesday with a ministerial visit from both UKG and SG. Read about the event here. The second phase of FBC is currently being prepared with first draft submission expected soon.
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Following the successful launch in February 2025, DPMC has hosted a number of events and visits to raise its profile and engage with businesses and stakeholders, this is ongoing with progress reported regularly to NAC.
National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is leading on undertaking an intermediate review of Phase 1. An awareness raising event with teachers took place in September 2025 to consider how DPMC can support the STEM curriculum and this was positively received. Looking forward, the project continues engagement with partners and development of Phase 2 proposals.
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Phase 1 of the i3 Flexi Space project reached partial handover and the final handover is imminent. Plans for a second unit of similar size to be built immediately north of Phase 1 are being progressed, with a planning application submitted. The development of the business case for Phase 2 is underway.
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The Full Business Case (FBC) for Phase 1 of the CoRE project was supported and approved by the AEPB and AEJC in September 2025 and has recently received endorsement from UKG and SG. This has allowed the project to enter the first phase of delivery. Our next quarterly update will share key insight into how the project is progressing.
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This project is seeing a continuation of work focused on scoping and developing relevant interventions for the project to maximise the outcomes and outputs for the region.
The Outline Business Case for IMSE is in development. Board meetings are taking place between partners, as well as stakeholder engagement sessions with leading academics.
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The Commercial Build Project seeks to support business expansion demand in the Prestwick aerospace cluster, and has a Full Business Case under review with the UK and Scottish Governments. Subject to endorsement by the Governments and support and approval by the AEPB and AEJC, the project will enter its delivery phase in the new year.
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The partnership approach for ASTAC has been extended to include the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) which complements the project’s existing partnership with Ayrshire College and Glasgow Prestwick Airport to ensure strength in both innovation and skills focus.
A draft Outline Business Case was submitted to the Governments for review in April, and is being further developed following feedback received, as well as considering further opportunities that have evolved.
The Roads project is in its developmental stage. Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) is continuing to have dialog with Transport Scotland and work is continuing to bring the project inline with the Prestwick Commercial Build project and ASTAC.
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The first phase of the Great Harbour - Coastal Hub project continues on site with an overall completion due for Spring 2026.
The Programme Business Case has been endorsed by the Scottish Government (February 2025). The Cumbrae Outline Business Case (OBC) has now received approval by the Scottish Government.
The Arran OBC is being further progressed with site working groups and stakeholders. The extension of the Lochranza pontoon facilities has successfully been awarded Islands Programme Funding.
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In January 2025 the Governments confirmed agreement on the ‘broad trajectory of change’ enabling the Pan-Ayrshire ‘Building Digital Capital’ project. Further feedback is expected from UKG and SG imminently to allow the project to progress.
With a Digital Programme Coordinator now in post, it is hoped that BDC can progress at pace through business case process and in clear alignment with associated projects and host sites in both Aerospace and Economic Infrastructure themes of the AGD.
 On 7 November 2025 AEPB was held in person at the DPMC site
Hear from the Head of the AGD funded Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC), Andrew Hamilton about recent developments and opportunities at DPMC:
"The Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC), part of the wider National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), is a collaborative research facility based at the North Ayrshire i3 Enterprise Park.
"Supported by our partners, North Ayrshire Council and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), and established through Ayrshire Growth Deal funding, our remit is to support the local Ayrshire process and wider manufacturing communities through collaborative research and development aimed at de-risking digital transformation via physical technology demonstrators, proof of concept studies, RandD opportunities and tailored training programmes.
"Since officially launching in March this year, DPMC has had a fantastic first year of operation with over 12 events, 130 organisational visits, five industrial projects and have also hosted STEM engagement events with 18 different schools across Ayrshire.
"Over the next few months, we will be developing our next round of technical demonstrators inline with the demands of the local manufacturing sector, including:
- a flexible robotic and modular transportation testbed aimed at inline quality inspection
- digital traceability (for specific use cases compliant with upcoming EU Digital Product Passport regulations)
- practical digital twins leveraging the NVIDIA Omniverse framework to simulate processes, optimise and integrate AI models that address sector challenges.
"We are keen to engage and learn more about the domain challenges facing the local manufacturing sector. Ultimately, we aim to support avenues of digital transformation that can add value within companies, whilst supporting the growth of digital talent within the region."
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That brings us to the end of the quarterly progress update for the AGD. Thanks for reading and engaging and we look forward to sending you further news in 2026! In the meantime, please get in touch with the team if you wish to further engage or have any questions.
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