Ayrshire apprentices took centre stage on Friday 20 June 2025 as Ross Greer MSP visited XLCC and Ayrshire College to see how local talent and cutting-edge facilities are helping to shape the future of green energy.
The Scottish Green MSP, who represents the West of Scotland, spent the day meeting students and staff at XLCC’s Training Academy in Irvine and the Willie Mackie Skills Hub at the Colleges Kilwinning Campus. Both sites are central to a growing partnership between the College and XLCC, a company building a new high-voltage cable manufacturing facility that will create hundreds of skilled jobs in the coming years.
XLCC’s mission is ambitious but simple: to help meet the UK’s growing demand for clean energy. The company will produce the subsea cables that will support cross-border electricity transmission, grid reinforcement, and offshore wind farm export, and they are doing it with a workforce trained right here in Ayrshire.
For the 15 apprentices already working with XLCC, and the four more set to join them this year, the visit was a chance to show how their training is preparing them for careers in one of the UK’s fastest-growing industries.
“It’s brilliant to see how Ayrshire College and XLCC are working together to build the skills and infrastructure we need for a greener future,” said Ross Greer MSP. “This is exactly the kind of partnership we need more of. Colleges and employers working together to create real opportunities in the green economy.”
At the Willie Mackie Skills Hub, Mr Greer toured the College’s low-carbon training facilities and spoke with staff about everything from smart systems to sustainable construction.
Angela Cox, Principal of Ayrshire College, said: “This visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the ambition and innovation happening right here in Ayrshire. Our partnership with XLCC is about more than training, it is about building a future where local people are equipped to lead in the green economy.”
Ben Lindsay, Project Manager at XLCC, added: “Working with Ayrshire College has been a real partnership in every sense. We’re not just filling roles, we’re building something together that has long-term value for the region and for the energy sector.”
Ayrshire is fast becoming a hub for renewables, with major investment and a growing demand for skilled workers. For the people training today, the future is not just green -it’s local.
