Stuart Millar, Director of Business Development at Ayrshire College delivered this presentation at the College Development Network Emporium on 17 June 2016 on how Ayrshire College engages with employers.

1. #THISAYRSHIREGIRLCAN
#WHATIACTUALLYDO

2. Stuart Millar
Director of Business Development, Ayrshire College

3. Our Mission
Raising aspirations
Inspiring achievement
Increasing opportunities

4. Key Facts
20%Of Ayrshire employers
reporting a skills gap
68%Of those employers say it
affects their business
83%Expect new staff skill will be
required in the future
46%Of Ayrshire employers have a
training plan
9%Of local employers have at
least one job vacancy
2%Can’t recruit due to skills,
qualifications or experience

5. Key Facts

6. Our Ambition
To be the training partner of choice
Enhance the College’s role in economic
development
Ensure future workforce has the right skills
Develop the current workforce
Provide training, skills and support for
access to employment
Foster strong relationships with employers
“Getting an apprentice
was a very
straightforward
process”
Douglas Bowie
Billy Bowie Special
Projects Ltd

7. Our Goals
Relevant courses aligned to employer need
and Ayrshire’s economy
Engage with more employers
More Modern Apprenticeship starts
Increase job opportunities for students
Increase training courses and bigger take-
up by employers
“Getting practical
experience on the job
and theory at College
helps you understand
what you’re doing and
why you’re doing it”
Paul Tyrell
Modern Apprentice
Trump Turnberry

8. Our Approach
Everyone has responsibility
Implementation responsibility held by
Director of Business Development
Full strategic support
“The combination of
on-the-job experience,
complemented by
courses at Ayrshire
College, equips
apprentices well for
the future”
Andrew Gunn
Technical Director
GlaxoSmithKline

9. Our mechanisms
Skills forums
1 to 1
engagement
Quality
validation
Curriculum
planning
Training
needs
Dinners and
events
Strategic
partnerships

10. Our offer to businesses
Right skills at the right time to help grow
your company
Involve you in evaluating current and
determining future courses
Industry standard courses delivered in
industry relevant environment
Apprenticeships and SVQs to develop your
workforce
Support your workforce planning for current
and future skills needs
“An apprenticeship is a
great start for any
employee”
Anthony Cecchini
Owner
Cecchini’s

11. Our ask of businesses
Take part in our evaluation and curriculum
planning processes
Offer work placements, volunteering
opportunities and project work for our
students
Raise awareness of your industry at our
careers fairs
Sponsor the college by donating equipment,
sharing expertise and rewarding student
excellence
Help us tackle gender segregation in the
workplace
“Working closely with
Ayrshire College helps
us identify future
employees”
Alison Sommerville
Managing Director
Dustacco Engineering
and Watermiser Ltd

12. Our engagement vision
Returning customers,
new contracts
Training partner for
Industry and stakeholders
Raise Aspirations, Inspire Achievement, Increase Opportunities
Creative
Sustainable
Indispensable
KPIs, NTPs, local regional & national priorities,
contracts, courses, work placements
“We are fortunate to
have a strong
partnership with
Ayrshire College”
Dan Caughran
Vice President / General Manager
Spirit Aerosystems UK

13. Case Study
Prestwick Aircraft Maintenance Ltd - Our Critical
Friend
Open relationship
Constructive two-way challenge
Comfortable to challenge
Contribute to forums and events
Support for campaigns such as
#ThisAyrshireGirl Can and #WhatIActuallyDo
Recurring Modern Apprenticeship
requirement
Recruiting our students
Employability Fund
Staff training

14. Want to know more?
Making Your Business Our Business strategy
https://www.joomag.com/magazine/making-your-business-our-
business/0128029001459421040?short
British Council Vocational Education Exchange magazine
http://www.britishcouncil.rs/en/programmes/education/vocational/maga
zine-2/employer-engagement
College blog
https://ayrshirecollegeblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/12/engaging-with-
employers-making-your-business-our-business/
Video case studies
https://www.youtube.com/user/AyrshireCollege