How it supports job creation in North Ayrshire.

A wide range of support and services is available in North Ayrshire to support job creation. The primary driver for economic growth and job creation in North Ayrshire is the Irvine Bay Urban Regeneration Company (URC). Grant funding of £4 million has been provided by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise for 2011-12 to support a range of projects including infrastructure and development works associated with the Ardrossan North Shore Joint Venture and the development and build of a new business centre in Stevenston. Over the course of its business plan the URC anticipates that nearly 3,000 jobs will be created as a result of its activity.
The Scottish Government’s Employability and Tackling Poverty Team works closely with North Ayrshire Employability Group which draws together key community planning partners such as Jobcentreplus, Health, North Ayrshire Council, Skills Development Scotland, Third Sector and the local college. The group focuses on employability support for individuals needing assistance to move into work. The Scottish Government has an employability learning network which North Ayrshire accesses to assist them with tools to improve employability services in their area. The Scottish Government is involved in discussions, initiated at the ministerial visit by Jim Mather and Alex Neil, to participate in a jobs task force for the area led by the council.
The Business Gateway (BG) delivered through local authorities provides support and advice for start up and existing businesses. In 2010-11 BG assisted 761 business start ups across Ayrshire.
Scottish Enterprise (SE) are currently working with 38 account managed companies in North Ayrshire providing intensive support to assist these companies in areas such as strategy development, business efficiency, organisational development and international activity ensuring growth potential is maximised. SE is also involved in a number of projects in the area including the development of Hunterston as a test site for off-shore wind turbines. Scottish Development International has also been proactive in the area.
In 2010-11 regional selective assistance offers were made to 10 North Ayrshire companies totalling £4,784,500. These offers relate to projects with planned investment of over £37.6 million aimed at the planned creation of 222 jobs and safeguarding a further 257.