A bid to improve an Ayrshire economy which is lagging behind other parts of Scotland has been revealed.

The Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF) is a key plank of the Ayrshire Growth Deal and aims to help unemployed and low paid workers get the skills to improve their own prospects while supporting specific industries.

The programme seeks to help 1000 residents who are either unemployed or in low paid jobs, along with 300 Ayrshire businesses over the next four years.

The business case for the programme, which has secured £3.5m, was put to the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee last week.

The ASIF will support ‘skills development for unemployed and low paid workers to gain new skills and qualifications in existing and emerging growth sectors’.

The fund would also support training where funding is currently unavailable.

The report outlines the challenge facing Ayrshire, stating: “The under performance of the Ayrshire economy provides a strong case for change.

“Ayrshire has remained persistently behind other regions in Scotland and doing more of the same should not be an option.”

One of the measures of the local economy is the Gross Value Added (GVA) which provides a picture of the value of goods and services in the area.

This method shows a GVA of £47,400 per job across Ayrshire, compared to the Scottish average of £54,100.

The Ayrshire Growth Deal made improving this area a key priority, stating: “This Deal will tackle inequality through growing local talent, creating new connections with the world and providing new opportunities and routes into employment for people across the region.

“Key to this will be an all-Ayrshire model of delivery which offers community engagement, pre-employability support, recruitment, in-work interventions, and employability services; with links to employers to tailor investments to demand, and priority given to those struggling to maintain secure and meaningful work.”

Four strategic goals have been identified: Investment in growing talent; to ensure that pathways into employment opportunities are clearly defined; to encourage and support investment in upskilling and reskilling; and to address existing employment barriers and promote inclusive growth.

The report continues: “The region has real ambition to grow the economy and the skills gap is preventing that.

“There has been significant collaboration with academic institutions to create workforces for the future based on existing and emerging growth sectors.

“The ASIF will provide a flexible and responsive skills fund for Ayrshire’s
businesses and residents.

"It is aimed at helping employers grow and develop their employees and increase skills for Ayrshire residents, linking them to growth sectors and employment opportunities, with the objectives of reducing unemployment and increasing productivity.

“The fund supports skills development, where funding currently does not exist. This will fund the gaps in the skills system and contribute to develop the skills needed to support regional, inclusive, economic growth.”

The focus will be on skills development in industries with existing demands, such as manufacturing, space, tourism, construction and social care.

It will also look at emerging sectors such as advanced manufacture, clean growth and digital industries.

The programme also aims to support disadvantaged groups, women, young people, the disabled and those with health issues.

Overall, the business case states that the programme will help 500 employed and 500 unemployed participants, giving 300 accredited qualifications, supporting 300 businesses to develop their workforce skills and 10 inward investment companies access skills support.

The fund brings together the three Ayrshire councils, Scottish Enterprise, Ayrshire College, UWS, Skills Development Scotland, and trade unions.

The Scottish Government will consider the business case and make a final endorsement.