In response to recent announcements about redundancies in companies across Ayrshire, an Ayrshire Employment Task Force has recently been formed.

The remit of the Task Force is to gather and share intelligence about companies which may be experiencing particular trading difficulties, to ensure that effective, co-ordinated support is made available to help sustain the businesses and support the employees.

Formed on a multi-agency agency basis, the membership of the Ayrshire Employment Task Force includes East Ayrshire Council, North Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council, Jobcentre Plus, Scottish Enterprise, Business Gateway, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Federation of Small Businesses and Kilmarnock College.

The Task Force is organising and promoting a Business Summit which will be held on Tuesday 24 March 2009, from 3.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. in the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock and at which information and advice on the range of support for businesses will be available. Proposals are also being developed by Jobcentre Plus and partners for a series of local events, at which support will be provided for people who are seeking employment. These events will be promoted extensively and further more detailed information will be sent directly to you, over the next few weeks.

As you review your own business in the current economic climate, the support of all the agencies involved in the Ayrshire Employment Task Force is available to you. If you wish to discuss your own business situation and the support which may be available, I would invite you to contact North Ayrshire Council Business Development or your local Business Gateway office on the numbers noted below.


Alex Anderson, Economic Development Manager, NAC Business Development,
01294 225152

Business Gateway: Irvine
01294 274113