Students from Ayrshire College have been given an insight into the role of The HALO Kilmarnock in helping to develop a skilled workforce for the digital age.

In partnership with the college, the HALO Kilmarnock is engaging with local students now and in the future and partnering the College on a wide range of learning and research initiatives.

One of the earliest practical experiences is with students in Construction, involving them with contractors from ground-works and infrastructure through to the completion of the £65million transformation of the former Johnnie Walker bottling plant.

The students have been given an extensive tour of the site and its initial groundworks, and were able to see first-hand the initial stages of the innovative regeneration project.

The students heard how the HALO will help to support the growth and resilience of the Ayrshire economy.

Marie Macklin CBE, Founder and Director of The HALO Kilmarnock said: “This visit was a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the link between the HALO and education and the multiple, immediate, medium and long term relationships with the college and its students.

“It is a delight to work alongside Ayrshire College and to provide its students with an invaluable start-to-finish insight to a development of this scale and it is our wish that the practical engagement we offer, will help to make the students skilled and knowledgeable future employees.

“We are partnering the college in practical learning opportunities that would not otherwise be readily accessible, in areas such as digital and cyber skills, construction, design, early education and social care. Our aim is to help students to be the best skilled in their areas of learning and more than ready for full time employment”.

Cameron Bell, Head of Construction Technology & Trades, Motor Vehicle and Horticulture at Ayrshire College, said: “I would like to thank Marie Macklin CBE for giving our students such a fascinating insight into the HALO regeneration project. Ayrshire College is proud to support the creation of the HALO Enterprise and Innovation Centre and the project’s cyber security and digital hub, and it’s great to see our students getting involved with the project at such an early stage.”