Latest news with #AyrshireCollege
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Ayrshire College pens 'exciting' deal with Canadian education centre
The partnership opens up valuable opportunities for staff, students and industry partners. Ayrshire College and Durham College, based in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, have formalised a new international partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU reflects a joint ambition to support innovation, skills development and a globally connected approach to education. It underlines a shared commitment to ongoing collaboration, knowledge exchange and the development of meaningful learning opportunities for staff and students across both institutions. This agreement builds on foundations established through The Scottish Government's Education Exchange Programme: Test and Learn, which launched with six delegates from Ayrshire College visiting Durham College in January 2025. This trip included strategic discussions on dual-delivery pilot programs, post-graduation pathways, corporate training and workforce upskilling, with a shared focus on supporting emerging and evolving labour market demands. Representatives from Durham College completed the exchange in February 2025 with a visit to Ayrshire College where they toured our three campuses, spent time discussing opportunities for collaboration and sharing industry insights in the aerospace sector. The partnership will support a range of joint initiatives, including training development and collaborative cross-institutional and industry-focused projects in key sectors. Robin Young, Director, Corporate Training Services at Durham College, said: "This partnership represents an exciting step forward in our commitment to global collaboration. By working together with our colleagues in Scotland, we created meaningful opportunities for our learners and industry partners to innovate and grow on an international scale." Alistair Rodgers, Director of Enterprise Development at Ayrshire College, added: "Formalising our collaboration with Durham College marks a significant milestone for Ayrshire College, as we continue to advance our international ambitions. This partnership will open up valuable opportunities for staff, students and industry partners to share knowledge, exchange best practices and drive innovation on a global scale across a diverse range of sectors." This global partnership reinforces both Durham College's and Ayrshire College's dedication to creating meaningful, future-focused opportunities that benefit students, educators, industry partners and communities at home and abroad.
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Ayrshire College student takes short course to success at award winning spa
Gracie Wilson secured a spa attendant role at the Gailes Hotel's spa. A combination of industry training, hard work and enthusiasm is paying off for spa attendant Gracie Wilson who has taken her love for skincare into an exciting career in the beauty industry. Gracie is a valued member of the Si! Spa at The Gailes team, where she was recognised as Outstanding Performer of the Year at this year's SimpsInns 'Oscars', a celebration of excellence across the SimpsInns group. The ambitious 18-year-old from Saltcoats began working as a member of The Gailes Hotel & Spa's events team on a part-time basis after leaving Auchenharvie Academy. She was interested in the beauty industry and a career advisor suggested signing up for Ayrshire College's accredited short beauty courses. This appealed to Gracie as the courses offer industry standard practical training, combining studying on campus and online. The 18-week full-time courses are accredited by the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTAC) and most students who meet the eligibility criteria will receive full funding. Gracie decided to begin with the Body Massage Technician short course and this helped her to secure a spa attendant role at The Gailes Hotel's award-winning Si! Spa. As part of her in-house training programme, she then went on to complete a Facial Therapy Technician short course, also at Ayrshire College, alongside bespoke training on ishga and ESPA treatments. The spa attendant's role involves practical tasks like clearing lockers, laundry and assisting therapists with room turn-arounds, all of which are geared to teach junior members of the team about the operations of the spa from the ground up. Attendants also assist at reception and with show-arounds, which allows them to gain a working knowledge of products and treatment lists by answering enquiries from customers. Gracie said: "I moved from the hotel to working at Si! Spa last April and I've already completed all my ishga training - including advanced treatments like pre-natal and deep tissue massage - as well as my ESPA Essentials training. "The courses I did at Ayrshire College were a great way to learn the basics and helped a lot with what I was doing at the spa. I also got introduced to Abbie [Malone, who began working as a spa attendant in March 2024] when we were at college and we became friends when we both started working here. "I love working in the spa and getting to personalise each guest's experience when they come here. My sisters live in Melbourne in Australia and I've been lucky enough to visit them a few times. I would like to follow them out there one day and work in a spa there." Angela Sheridan, Head of Learning & Skills: Hair, Beauty, Complementary Therapies and Make-Up Artistry, said: "At Ayrshire College, we are constantly evaluating and evolving the type of courses we offer to best meet our students' needs. Recently we've been seeing learners move away from traditional, longer HNC/HND courses, towards more flexible, skills-focused hair and beauty short courses. "We have a great relationship with Si! Spa and this partnership has been integral to the success of our short courses programme, which bridges the gap between education and employment. These courses give learners the chance to earn while they learn and build real-world industry experience, in this case, at one of the top spas in Ayrshire. "Gracie's journey illustrates how well our students develop job-ready skills to meet their own career aspirations alongside the recruitment needs of the spa industry." Alyson Shaw, Spa Manager at Si! Spa, oversees Spa therapist and team development and is a certified Train the Trainer for ishga, ESPA, The Light Salon and Mii. She said: "There is so much to learn due to the wide range of treatments that we offer at Si! Spa, where we are continuously upskilling our team on new techniques and protocols. We deliver training for all levels of experience within the industry. "For our trainee therapists, I offer a mentorship style training, allowing us to drip-feed product information alongside their spa attendant role and their treatment training. I deliver the training in bite-sized chunks, catered to each employee's learning style and at a pace that suit them. Doing this way creates a more inclusive learning environment for our trainees." Si! Spa, which currently employs 23 therapists and 2 senior therapists, works closely with Ayrshire College to support its ongoing recruitment needs, this includes attending events, facilitating work placements and student visits. Recruitment will also commence soon for the new Si! Spa at The Waterside, a luxury seafront spa opening at The Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride later this year. Rebecca Simpson, Spa & Leisure Manager at Si! Spa, added: "We have a great working relationship with Ayrshire College and some of our most recent recruits have come from connections we have made there. We participated in the Beyond the Surface recruitment event at their Kilmarnock campus, which was showcasing the different pathways their courses can lead to. The students were keen and engaged which led to two new recruits and three joining us on a student work placement. "Abbie was recruited from student placement the previous year, and another recruit Lauren Lynch had already qualified in facials via a short course at Ayrshire College and was due to start the massage course when we took her on. We gained funding through Ayrshire Growth Deal to support Lauren with the massage technician course. "Gracie is keen, willing to learn and has a genuine passion for the industry. She's the perfect example of what we look for in Si! Spa therapists. We are lucky to have her as part of our team and we can't wait to see her progression in the industry."
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Ayrshire apprentices to compete in national competition next week
Chantelle Muir and Frankie O'Dea will compete for top titles. Persimmon Homes has unveiled that apprentices Chantelle Muir, a bricklayer from Ayr, and Frankie O'Dea, a painter and decorator from Kilmarnock, have been selected by Ayrshire College to compete in the Scottish SkillBuild competition in 2025. The event, taking place on June 10 at Dundee and Angus College, is a key regional competition for the UK's most promising apprentices. SkillBuild, delivered by CITB, is the UK's largest construction competition, attracting over 1,000 trainees from across the country. Apprentices will be tested on their technical abilities, time management, character, and commitment, providing them with a platform to build confidence, enhance skills, and showcase their talent. Chantelle Muir, who began her apprenticeship with Persimmon in 2022, will compete in the bricklaying category. Having quickly established herself as a skilled and committed apprentice, Chantelle is determined to excel in the competition and take the top spot. Frankie O'Dea, who joined Persimmon in 2023 as a painting and decorating apprentice, is eager to "brush aside the competition" in his event. Frankie's attention to detail and passion for his craft have made him stand out, earning him the John Mather Award at Ayrshire College. William Smith, Persimmon Homes Regional Apprenticeship Manager, said: "We are incredibly proud of Chantelle and Frankie for being selected to compete in SkillBuild. This is an excellent opportunity for them to demonstrate their skills on a national stage and advance their careers in construction. We look forward to supporting them through this exciting challenge." Frankie O'Dea added: "I'm excited to represent Persimmon and Ayrshire College at SkillBuild. I'll give it my all and aim to brush aside the competition to win in painting and decorating!" SkillBuild Regional Qualifiers take place across the UK each year, with apprentices completing a trade-specific task within a 6-hour time frame. The top eight highest-scoring competitors from each category will then progress to the National Final, where the best in the country compete for the title. To follow Chantelle and Frankie's progress, please visit here.
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Ayrshire College horticulture students lend a hand at Alloway Railway Tunnel project
Students and staff designed, planned, procured and delivered a full planting scheme at the entrance to the tunnel. Horticulture students and staff from Ayrshire College completed a major planting scheme as part of an ongoing collaboration with the Alloway Railway Tunnel (ART) project. This latest initiative marks the first time Horticulture students, based at Dean Park in Kilmarnock, have been involved in the project. They designed, planned, procured and delivered a full planting scheme at the entrance to the tunnel. The team, which included lecturer Francis McCaughey and Horticultural Technician Mark Haining, worked with volunteers across two days to plant a wide variety of shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials that will enhance the space over time. Shelagh McLachlan, Trustee at Alloway Railway Tunnel, said: "The planting project has been a tremendous team effort from the whole class. They have done a fantastic job transforming the environment and enhancing this area for walkers, cyclists and wheelers. "We are immensely grateful to all the students for their hard work and enthusiasm. It just shows what can be achieved when people come together, working in collaboration to make a lasting change." One of the key objectives of the ART project was to create opportunities for young people to gain relevant work experience that gives them a chance to put their skills and knowledge into practice and introduces them to a network of professionals working in the local area. Portraits of some of the students and staff who have worked on the project also feature in the Alloway Tunnel mural, which has been created by artist Chris Rutherford and is nearing completion. Chris Cowan, a Level 5 Horticulture student, said: "The project truly stood out to me. From the initial planning stages to the final execution, every moment was engaging and rewarding. The collaborative environment fostered creativity and allowed us to share ideas and learn from each other. I found the process to be both educational and enjoyable." Dan McDermott, a Level 5 Horticulture student, added: "It was a great exercise. I learned so much from a great lecturer and technician. It was planned well. I had a great time and can't wait to see the plants mature over the next few years." Ged Freel, Head of Learning & Skills - Engineering, Science, Motor Vehicle & Horticulture, added: "This type of hands-on experience is hugely beneficial for our students and it's particularly rewarding for them to be involved in a project of this scale that is so embedded in their local community." The ART project has involved several departments across Ayrshire College over the last two years, including business students who helped build a dedicated website, developed a business plan, created social media channels, organed a public consultation survey and other administrative tasks. Painting and Decorating students applied the base coat for the tunnel's mural; with Art and Design students adding vibrant detail by painting a bustling market scene. Graphic Design students captured local heritage by producing a short film on the Maybole boot industry and much of the project's progress has also been captured by HND Photography student Rosa Finucane.
Edinburgh Reporter
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hibs youngsters could wrap up title tonight in Ayrshire
Hibs youngsters travel to Kilmarnock tonight Friday 9 May 2025 knowing a solitary point will secure the CAS Elite Under-18 League title. Kick-off for the penultimate league fixture is at 6:30pm at Ayrshire College (Kilmarnock Campus). Darren McGregor's team lead the CAS Elite Under-18 League with two matches remaining. With 65 points accrued, the Hibs are six points above their closest challengers, Rangers, and know a single point from the last two fixtures confirms champions status. That solid advantage was gained on Tuesday evening, when the teamearned a fantastic 3-0 victory over the Gers at the Rangers Training Centre. Dean Cleland netted twice either side of a terrific Josh McDonald free-kick to seal the win on away soil. Kilmarnock will be seek to end their campaign as strongly as possible in the hope of earning a third-place finish. The Ayrshire team are currently fifth in the CAS Elite Under-18 League, accumulating 47 points from 27 games. Killie have two and one game in hand over third-place St Mirren and fourth-place Aberdeen, respectively. There is just two points seperating Killie from the Buddies, and just one point keeping apart Killie from the Dons. Kilmarnock have struggled recently in the league and are currently winless in five league matches, though Darren McGregor and his squad are under no illusions as to the strength in the Kilmarnock team given past results. Travelling supporters can attend at no cost. Like this: Like Related
