AYRSHIRE College was visited by Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, to highlight aeronautical innovation.

The visit to the Ayr Campus' Aeronautical Engineering Training Centre showcased the college's contribution to building a skilled workforce for Scotland's aerospace industry.

During the visit, Ms Forbes, also cabinet secretary for the economy, engaged with the college's executive leadership team to talk about their initiatives in skills development, digital innovation, and industry partnerships.

Angela Cox, principal and chief executive of Ayrshire College, said: "It was an honour to welcome the Deputy First Minister and to discuss our vision for creating a workforce that meets the needs of Scotland’s thriving aerospace industry.

"Through our partnerships with leading companies and our innovative approaches, we are empowering our students and businesses with the practical, cutting-edge skills they need to excel.

"This aligns with our mission of ‘Empowering People for a Changing World’ by shaping a resilient and future-ready workforce."

The Aeronautical Engineering Training Centre is the college's main hub for aerospace training.

Nearly 500 of the college's apprentices specialise in engineering disciplines (Image: Ayrshire College) It has two workshops with industry-standard equipment and a composites lab for training students, apprentices, and engineering employees in advanced composites, crucial for the future of aerospace.

The college's facilities include a training hangar and a teaching centre at Prestwick Airport.

The Deputy First Minister toured the centre, meeting apprentices and speaking with leaders from the Ayrshire aerospace cluster, including Spirit AeroSystems, Collins Aerospace, GE Aerospace, Woodward Aircraft Engine Systems, Ryanair, and Storm Aviation.

She said: "The aerospace sector is strategically important to Scotland’s economy and we have all the key elements to be internationally competitive – a highly skilled workforce, a high proportion of graduates and industry-leading apprenticeship programmes.

"Ayrshire College plays a crucial role in supporting and developing this pipeline of talent, and I was delighted to visit the Aeronautical Engineering Training Centre to find out more about its skills development programme and meet with apprentices who are benefitting from the programme."

The college supports more than 1,300 apprentices, with nearly 500 specialising in engineering disciplines.

As the visit came to an end, the minister joined college representatives, about 80 apprentices, and industry partners for a group photo, symbolising the continued collaboration between Ayrshire College, government, and industry to meet Scotland’s evolving workforce needs.