ScottishPower is to become a major partner at the HALO urban regeneration initiative in Kilmarnock.

The energy giant has teamed up with The HALO Scotland to lead in The HALO's Innovation and Enterprise Centre and its Digital and Cyber Zone.

Overall the £5 million, five-year programme will;

• Explore energy innovations for a lower carbon society whilst inspiring a digitally skilled generation

• Harness ScottishPower's business and technical expertise to support start-up and scale-up businesses located at The HALO

• Create economic growth by driving a new digital and cyber skilled workforce, upskilling ScottishPower's existing workforce and others through The HALO's innovative partnership with the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, Ayrshire College and Scottish universities, which will see the creation of accredited courses

• Support The HALO's employability initiatives through specialist technical input into student learning and practical skills development to enhance the job prospects of local young people

• Working alongside The HALO, establish and develop ScottishPower's learning partnerships with both Ayrshire College, University of the West of Scotland and beyond

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• See ScottishPower partner with The HALO to establish a Children's Innovation Centre and Nursery of the Future in collaboration with Ayrshire College

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of ScottishPower, said: "Across all of our business areas, ScottishPower is working to deliver a low carbon and sustainable future. We are a leader in smart and renewable energy and a perfect fit to help The HALO achieve their objectives.

"We are excited to explore the opportunities within this innovative project. There will be a focus on young people, digital skills and energy innovations that we hope will help us move towards a decarbonised transport, heat and energy sector."

The HALO Kilmarnock will create a unique urban park on the site of the former Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

A proposed low carbon, renewable deep geothermal district heating network could address fuel costs on the site and have the capability of being extended to service other areas of the community. The development will also include a light manufacturing facility and private rental accommodation for key workers. The scheme is one of four HALO projects planned for the UK that are being seen as catalysts for urban regeneration.

Overall, The HALO Scotland will:

• Contribute £120m of GDP to the Scottish economy annually

• Create 1,400+ direct jobs

• Support 630 construction jobs

Marie Macklin C.B.E., founding director of The HALO, said: "In making this commitment ScottishPower is supporting an urban regeneration project that is going to change the lives of young people, not just in Ayrshire but across the whole of Scotland.

"With ScottishPower behind it, The HALO is going to rock the Scottish economy, generating economic growth, innovation, digital skills development, enterprise and innovation and I applaud their forward thinking. Together with ScottishPower, The HALO is going to light up Britain."

(LM/MH)