Plans to future-proof North Ayrshire’s manufacturing industries at Irvine’s i3 area have taken another step forward.

At a meeting of Cabinet, elected members agreed to contribute £1 million of Ayrshire Growth Deal money to help progress plans that will allow firms to embrace digitalisation and data-driven manufacturing in the drive towards a net-zero economy.

The money will accelerate proposals to create a demonstration and training space in the i3 area of Irvine that will be supported by academic and industry experts that will train and develop business in the process manufacturing sector.

Earlier this year, North Ayrshire Council, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), operated by the University of Strathclyde - and CPI, a deep tech innovation centre, formalised a partnership that will see them work together to help the manufacturing sector in their journey towards digital transformation.

Online courses aimed at helping firms upskill their digitalisation processes have already been delivered through the NMIS Manufacturing Skills Academy.

And now further resources will be committed into the i3 area of Irvine – and it is hoped these services will be ready for local businesses to take advantage of by summer next year.

The i3 area was an important strategic area in the Ayrshire Growth Deal plans and this commitment is seen as a significant step forward.

The Council will contribute £1million to this Phase 1 of the project in the form of a grant to the University of Strathclyde and will also provide them with an additional £450,000 - a grant received from Scottish Enterprise – to help fit out the premises.

The facilities will help businesses to access new technology, products and innovation, improve energy efficiency/productivity/waste reduction, and increase company investment in research.

Council leader Joe Cullinane said: “We are delighted to now be reaching the latest phase of our ambitious plans for the process manufacturing sector in North Ayrshire.

“The collaboration with CPI and NMIS is an exciting one with so much potential to improve digital skills and reduce the use of carbon in manufacturing, while supporting our new Green Deal and ambitions of being net-zero by 2030.

“We are on a really exciting journey with the potential of positioning North Ayrshire as a national hub for adaptation to digital technologies for processing industries.”