HALO Enterprise and Innovation Centre, Kilmarnock
Earlier today, (Tue 19th August 2025) Dr Marie Macklin CBE chaired the ‘Powering the Nation Together’ conversation with partners XLCC and East Ayrshire Council. The meeting provided the opportunity for XLCC to provide an update and current status of the project.
The pioneering project spans two Scottish council areas – North and East Ayrshire – with key facilities in Hunterston, where the HVDC subsea cable factory will be built; in Irvine, where the Training Academy for apprentices is already established; and in Kilmarnock, where the HALO Enterprise and Innovation Centre has been identified as the XLCC preferred site for the Sales and Project Delivery Centre with the creation of 300 jobs.
This transformational development will create 1,200 high-skilled full-time jobs in Scotland, including 200 apprenticeships, and support approximately 9,000 indirect jobs during construction and across the supply chain. It represents a £1.5 billion investment in a new green industry for the UK.
Today’s roundtable brought together senior management from XLCC, senior leadership from East Ayrshire Council, including leaders of the main political groups, and local MP Lillian Jones.
Commenting following the meeting at HALO, Dr Marie Macklin CBE said:
“Today’s roundtable gathering was an important step forward in bringing this hugely important project to fruition, and I thank all of those who attended for their time.
“I have been on a 16-year journey in creating HALO as a facility which will play a pivotal role in helping to spark a new era of dynamism, growth and jobs for Ayrshire and the wider Scottish economy.
“That journey has seen me engage with a range of businesses and organisations who can play an important part in delivering that vision – but the partnership with XLCC is one that can be truly game-changing for the region and the country.
“The arrival of up to 1,200 jobs – 300 of them here at HALO in Kilmarnock – promises to be truly transformational.
“Scotland and the UK have enormous renewable energy potential, and we have been successful as a country in setting a vision for the development of green power – what we have not done, so far, is match that with the indigenous manufacturing capacity to build the infrastructure needed.
“This project will go a long way to addressing that issue. Today was an opportunity to take stock of the great progress made so far, but also to look ahead and to resolve jointly to do all that we can to ensure this strategic project of national significance is successfully delivered.
“I was particularly pleased to see the total unanimity around the table from all political groups represented, who are all in complete agreement that it is essential this project goes ahead.”