Develop Hub South West’s Build Ayrshire Programme hub South West, the construction and infrastructure-focused partnership which operates alongside local Authorities and private sector enterprises in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, has concluded its first exclusively Ayrshire based business development programme. The 8-week ‘Build Ayrshire’ format, is based on hub South Wests’ seasoned ‘Building for Growth’ programme from which over 100 companies from across the region have graduated. This programme was open exclusively to companies with a base in Ayrshire. The ‘Build Ayrshire’ programme aims to help SME’s take on a higher capacity of work and enhance their day-to-day operations by participating in weekly topical workshops led by our network of industry experts. Held in association with North, East and South Ayrshire Councils, the programme included delegates from nine companies across Ayrshire: Girvan-based D Horne Services Ltd, Training First Safety and Aynam Energy Ltd, both from Kilmarnock, Stewart ACR Ltd, Ceiba Renewables Ltd, and TeraPro all of Prestwick, Dundonald-based Dayad Property, Sanitiser Express Ltd of Kilwinning, and Dreghorn-based SF Energie/ Utilities.
Facilitators and topics covered in the Build Ayrshire programme have included Bidding Successfully with Paul Johnstone of 4S Bid Ltd, Corporate Social Responsibility with Gwen Blair of Kier Construction, Opportunities with the Ayrshire Growth Deal and Community Wealth Building with Allison Craig of Ayrshire Growth Deal and An introduction to Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce with Helen McBride from Ayrshire Chamber. The programme provides valuable links between SMEs and hub South West’s stable of Tier-1 Contractors, with the final event giving delegates the opportunity to present their business and have one-to-one sessions with key representatives from Kier Construction, Ashleigh Ltd, Morgan Sindall, Linear Design Construct, Morrisons, Robertson, Cruden, CCG and BAM
Mark Houston, hub South West’s recently appointed Supply Chain Development Manager, said: “Guiding companies through our first Build Ayrshire Programme has been a fantastic way to start my time with hub South West. “Each session has been packed full of information, expert knowledge, hints, tips, and healthy debate, and this has all assisted our participating companies in getting exactly what they needed from this initiative to help them grow and develop the capacity of their businesses to win new contracts. “hub South West has an impressive network of knowledgeable facilitators who lead our bespoke workshops, though the programme is only ever as good as its participants and what they gain from it. “I am delighted that the SMEs on our first Build Ayrshire programme have embraced all that our programme has to offer, and it has been great to get to know each business over the last eight weeks.”
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