After a busy summer recess which saw him visiting businesses across Ayrshire, Brian Whittle believes Ayrshire can become a global hub for engineering talent. The South Scotland MSP has written to the Scottish Government, highlighting some of the successful engineering and manufacturing firms he visited over the summer and press.
Among the businesses the MSP visited were Emergency One in Cumnock, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of fire engines; precision engineering firm Hyspec in Stewarton who manufacture specialist components for businesses working in oil and gas, aerospace and other sectors around the world and Wabtec Faiveley in Kilmarnock who are carrying on the tradition of rail engineering in the town. Brian also visited some of the large international firms who base themselves around Prestwick Airport. As part of Skills Development Scotland’s Apprentice for a Day programme, Brian joined apprentices at Spirit Aerosystems and helped assemble components for a plane’s wing. Shortly after that he toured UTC Aerospace’s facility where the metal and composite components that surround aircraft engines are manufactured and repaired.
Brian, who has been one of the most vocal supporters of the Ayrshire Growth Deal in the Scottish Parliament believes businesses like these could lead the way in giving Ayrshire a global reputation for engineering and specialist manufacturing. Now the MSP is writing to the Scottish and UK Governments stressing the need for progress with the deal and the opportunities that building a reputation for engineering can bring.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many different businesses across Ayrshire and they all share a desire to be leaders in their field and make the most of what Ayrshire has to offer. The Ayrshire Growth Deal represents a huge chance to capitalise on the talent we have in Ayrshire and build strong international reputation that will encourage more businesses to establish themselves here.
Through Ayrshire College and UWS, many of these businesses are recruiting and training staff from the local area and giving them the skills to build a long and well paid career. We have some great resources and local talent in Ayrshire and I want the growth deal to make the most of that.”
