A new Skills Centre of Excellence has been officially opened in North Ayrshire.

Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said the purpose-built facility would "herald a new chapter in local education provision".

The centre is based at Irvine Royal Academy and is in response to the Scottish Government's 'Developing the Young Workforce' strategy, allowing schools, colleges and businesses to work together. The initiative has been made possible due to finance from Ayrshire College (£400,000), the Scottish Funding Council (£350,000), the Edge Foundation Innovation Fund (£100,000) and Skills Development Scotland (£50,000).

North Ayrshire Council meanwhile, committed more than £1m to the project to facilitate the establishment of the Skills Centre and develop the main school.

The partnership aims to prepare young people for work by providing vocational options during the senior phase of secondary school, while the courses being provided at the centre will be influenced by the needs of the local economy.

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Commenting on the scheme, Education Secretary Angela Constance, said: "I am delighted to join so many pupils, students, staff and employers for the opening of the Skills Centre. The partnership of business, college, schools and council is a wonderful example of the benefit in offering more and varied routes through education.

"What you can see here in Irvine is a deliberate connection between what skills employers in this region are calling out for, showing pupils the wide range of career opportunities out there and offer them the best training and education to help them excel in their chosen field.

"This is an approach we are all committed to as it motivates pupils and trains them to a professional standard with better job prospects at the end of their course."

North Ayrshire Council Leader Willie Gibson added: "This is an important day for North Ayrshire and I'm delighted we are leading the way in the changing educational landscape. There is a renewed need for vocational courses to complement more traditional ones and the Centre captures that perfectly.

"Local businesses will benefit while the strong links with business will help make learning real and relevant to students at the College. This is an exciting new journey and I'm looking forward to our on-going partnership with Ayrshire College."

Courses in Hospitality and Tourism, Care, and Sport have already commenced, while courses in Engineering and Construction will be made available from August 2015. The College and North Ayrshire Council are currently working with Skills Development Scotland to pilot a new foundation programme for engineering apprenticeships from August.

(JP/IT)