Students at Ayrshire College’s Kilwinning Campus will now have access to free breakfasts and lunches, thanks to a £15,000 sponsorship from Highview, who is developing its energy storage facility at the Hunterston Port and Resource Campus (PARC).
This support comes at a crucial time for the region, where around 52% of residents live in communities ranked among the most deprived in Scotland. The initiative will strengthen local partnerships from Hunterston PARC, one of only 18 sites in Scotland to hold national development status under NPF4, recognised as strategically important to Scotland's 2045 net zero target.
The funding will ensure students have reliable access to nutritious meals throughout the college day supporting wellbeing, concentration and overall learning. With many learners continuing to face financial pressures due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, this initiative is designed to remove day-to-day barriers and help students stay focused on achieving their educational goals.
The initiative also aligns with Ayrshire College’s commitment to sustainability and inclusive growth, supporting both social wellbeing and the development of skills needed for a greener economy. Through partnerships with industry and regional organisations, the College is working to equip students with the knowledge and training required to support Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon future.
Angela Cox, Principal and Chief Executive of Ayrshire College, said:
Supporting our students’ wellbeing is central to their success. For some learners, accessing nutritious food can be a real challenge, and initiatives like this help ensure that no student’s ability to learn is limited by financial pressures.
“This partnership with Highview provides practical support for our Kilwinning students while showing how education and industry can collaborate to deliver meaningful benefits for local communities.
Highview is currently advancing plans for its first commercial-scale long-duration energy storage facility at Hunterston, an investment expected to deliver significant long-term economic benefits. Over the lifetime of the project, the development is forecast to generate nearly 6,000 full-time equivalent years of employment and contribute £1.04 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy. Within North Ayrshire, it is expected to contribute £323 million in GVA and support around 1,180 jobs. Highview is working closely with partners including North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Engineering to maximise the economic opportunities from the project.
Craig Muir, Chief Operating Officer for Highview said:
Our priority is to deliver tangible benefits in the regions where we operate and invest. Supporting this initiative for Ayrshire College reflects our commitment to building meaningful local partnerships and create lasting benefits. Students are the emerging workforce of the future – our commitment here starts with a nutritious meal to support learning.
Expected to operate for around 50 years, the Hunterston facility will create sustained opportunities for workforce development and technical training. Highview is also exploring future collaboration with Ayrshire College on apprenticeships and training pathways to help equip local people with the skills needed for emerging roles in the energy sector.
The company continues to engage with communities across North Ayrshire to identify further projects that could receive community funding as the development moves forward.