Call Centre provides Irvine Jobs Boost  

AN Irvine call centre has secured a new contract with an international bank that looks set to lead to more jobs. Stellar, formerly Excel, will provide inbound customer assistance to support the unnamed banks clients. More here

£190k new look for Irvine town centre streets  

WORK has started on a £190,000 project which will transform the Kirkgate and Parterre area of Irvine. More here

Irvine Bay Regeneration company gets government support  

THE ORGANISATION fronting the redevelopment of five North Ayrshire towns was given the Scottish Governments seal of approval this week. More here

Irvine Retail set for Massive Investment  

TOP-LEVEL talks were held this week to lay plans for a massive revamp of retail facilities in Irvine and the surrounding areas. More here

Switched-on firm expands  

AN IRVINE television recycling firm is expanding after cashing in on the digital TV revolution. More here

£6 million for coastal development  

IRVINE Bay Regeneration are to get £6 million of Scottish Government cash to drive forward their plans to breathe new life into the coastal towns in North Ayrshire. More here

Eapnasion Plans for Argos Revealed  

Retail giants Argos are moving in to a store at the East Road Aldi development in Irvine. More here

New Office Development for Irvine  

A NEW £3m office development is on the cards for a six acre site in Irvine. More here

Major House Expansion Approved  

THE HOUSING boom in Irvine and Kilwinning rolls on with the go-ahead for more than 100 new homes. More here

Leisure Facilities Get Major Boost  

NORTH Ayrshire Leisure are set to make top class leisure, sporting and fitness facilities readily available to the public. More here

Hotel Chain decide on Kilwinning  

THE long-awaited hotel and restaurant complex at the end of the Kilwinning bypass is to be considered by North Ayrshire planners. More here

Irvine Company Score in Premier League  

IRVINE based digital media company Smallworld have scored a £100,000 goal to mark a massive expansion which will DOUBLE the size of their network. More here

Retail giant NEXT is coming to Irvine  

The up-market fashion store is opening a clearance shop in the former Landmark warehouse on the town's Riverway Retail Park which will sell out of season ladies' men's and children's fashions as well as a vast range of homeware products. More here

A Vision for the future  

A BOLD new plan which could see modern harbourside offices in Irvine and a new links golf course running through the beach park was unveiled this week by the Irvine Bay Regeneration Company. More here

New Grants Encourage Innovation  

The latest stage in the Executive's plans to simplify grant support for ambitious Scottish companies was unveiled today. More here

Multi Million investment in Ayrshire  

A multi-million investment package for GE Caledonian's Prestwick operations, supported by grant assistance from the Executive, is expected to safeguard hundreds of jobs. More here

Ayrshires £2m boost from projects on silver screen  

The figures from the Ayrshire Film Service, funded by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and managed by Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, show that the area is increasing in popularity with film and programme-makers year on year. The regions natural coastal locations, coupled with stunning landscapes are regularly cited as key reasons for choosing Ayrshire. More here

Multimillion Pound Investment by Irvine Company  

The UPM-Kymmene Corporation (UPM) has today announced a £59 million investment in a new biomass combined heat and power plant (CHP) at its Caledonian paper mill in Irvine, Ayrshire. More here

Euro funding for West of Scotland  

The West of Scotland is to benefit from a further £2.2m through the most recent round of European Structural Funds (ESF).  More here

Ayrshire continues to benefit from Government Funding  

Deputy Enterprise Minister Allan Wilson said that the latest round of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) awards will help create and safeguard more than 1,500 jobs and should lever in total investment of around £30 million.  More here

Retail Giants move to Irvine  

FIFTY jobs will be created when the new Marks & Spencer food store opens up in Irvines Riverway Retail Park at the end of this month.  More here

Major Jobs Boost for Ayrshire  

Goodrich Corporation's Aerostructures division today (17 October) announced that it is to create several hundred new jobs as a result of an expansion of its aircraft component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Prestwick, Scotland. More here

Irvine Company Celebrate Award  

AN IRVINE company is to receive a top award at the anniversary celebrations of a special local authority backed fund to help small firms. More here

Millions of pounds winging its way to Ayrshire  

An evaluation of economic impact, carried out by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, has highlighted the importance of Prestwick as a tourist gateway for the rest of Scotland. More here

£11 Million for West Of Scotland  

A total of 76 projects in the West of Scotland will benefit from further European funding it was announced today. More here

Golfing greats boost Ayrshire economy  

The 2006 Senior British Open Championship at Turnberry in Ayrshire is expected to net a £1.2 million windfall for the Ayrshire and Scottish economy. More here

Enterprising Britain judges visit West Kilbride  

Judges have flown in from London to see for themselves the transformation that is taking place in West Kilbride, which is becoming known as 'Scotland's Craft and Design Town'.  More here

Latest Regional Selective Assistance Support Announced  

Companies in Scotland accepted £59 million worth of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant offers last year related to the creation or safeguarding of more than 8,000 jobs. More here

Developer snaps up North Ayrshire Business Parks  

Ardrossan Saltcoats Stevenston Enterprise Properties Limited (APL) and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire are pleased to announce the joint sale of Nobel Business Park and Stevenston Industrial Estate. More here

Scotland :UK Region of the future  

Scotland was today named as 'UK Region of the Future' by the Financial Times fDi (Foreign Direct Investment) magazine, beating seven other UK regions for the title. More here

Company consolidate in Irvine  

ELECTRONICS firm Simclar ' who employ 800 people at factories in Kilwinning and Irvine ' are to consolidate production at a single site. More here

MSP welcomes bright future for Irvine Bay  

I KNOW that a major concern for my constituents is the creation of more jobs in the local area. More here

Major company expansions for Irvine  

TWO new companies will create 57 new jobs with their decision to set up in Irvine. More here

New Ayrshire link to Poland  

New air routes between Prestwick and three Polish cities are to be launched with the support of the Executive's Route Development Fund. More here

Multi-million golf course scheme to tee off in Ardeer?  

AN AMBITIOUS multi-million plan is in the pipeline to transform Ardeers barren peninsula into a championship golf course and housing estate.  More here

Electronics Giant Sells Ayrshire Headquarters  

CB Richard Ellis has concluded the sale of the former headquarters of Sanmina-SCI in Irvine.  More here

College to expand by several degrees  

JAMES Watt College Principal Bill Wardle used last Saturdays graduation ceremony to confirm plans that the college was to expand up to three times its current capacity. More here

Rates cut is just the business  

A CUT in business rates will promote business growth across North Ayrshire, it was predicted this week. More here

Major Financial Boost for Regeneration of North Ayrshire  

NORTH Ayrshire has been given an £11m shot in the arm to breathe new life into the area. More here

JRG to Expand Irvine Operation  

AN IRVINE furniture manufacturer is to take on 40 more workers after landing almost £½million in government funding. More here

Airframe Components Europe choose North Ayrshire  

Ayrshire has beaten competition from Ireland and France to attract a key aerospace company that is to be based near Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire. Airframe Components Europe (ACE) opted for Scotland despite the fact the company won its first contract in Ireland.  More here

O2 Establish new Customer Service Centre  

The mobile phone giant O2 today announced that it is to create 1,500 jobs in Glasgow. After considering a number of other UK and Irish sites, O2 has chosen to locate its new customer service centre at Sky Park in Finnieston. An initial 600 jobs will be created by 2006 - with up to 1,500 being on site by September 2007. More here

Regeneration bid for Irvine Bay is the right way Forward  

POLITICIANS in North Ayrshire are pinning their hopes on the creation of a regeneration zone as a major cure for the jobs crisis. More here

Export Activity Strengthens in 2004  

Scotland's manufacturing export performance in the final quarter of 2004 indicates that the country is well placed to move forward as demand continues to strengthen in the global economy, Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said today. More here

Scotland: The Place To Be  

A report which compares Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling to the eight English 'Core Cities' and a number of successful continental European cities on a range of urban competitiveness measures was published today.  More here

James Watt College in Funding Boost  

James Watt College in Kilwinning was one of five Scottish further education colleges to share in up to £35 million to upgrade and improve their premises, it was announced today.  More here

Dell brings 850 call centre jobs to West of Scotland  

GLASGOW'S status as the call centre capital of Europe was enhanced yesterday with the announcement that one of the world's biggest computer companies is to create 850 jobs.  More here

New Office Development Set to Bring Jobs to North Ayrshire  

North Ayrshire Ventures have started building a major speculative office development in Kilwinning. Due to be completed in summer 2005, developers hope it will attract another major new employer to the area.  More here

New Bypass Opens in North Ayrshire  

The new £26 million 'three towns' bypass on the A78 in Ayrshire was officially opened today. The scheme involved construction of a 6.4 km stretch of road and four major bridges around Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston. More here

USA becomes Scotland's biggest export market  

The USA has become Scotland's biggest export market, worth £2.5 billion. Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace underlined the importance of the USA and other export markets to Scotland's economy as he announced the results of the Executive's annual survey of Scotland's overseas exports - Global Connections 2003. More here

Canada impressed with what Ayrshire has to Offer  

Ambitious Ayrshire companies have come back from Canada with bulging order books after taking Toronto by storm. A total of 17 companies took part in the whirlwind trade mission to Toronto, organised by Business Gateway International – Ayrshire, and supported by North, East and South Ayrshire Councils. More here

Big inTaiwan  

Zisys Limited, a product design and development Company based at the APL Centre in Stevenston, recently visited Taiwan to establish a joint venture to enable its products to be produced and shipped throughout the world. The trip was part-funded by North Ayrshire Council. More here

Irvine firms develops global market  

An Irvine mining equipment company is set to crack the Far East market after signing a flagship joint venture agreement which will see its products used in the thriving Chinese coal industry.  More here

£15 MILLION BOOST FOR iRVINE  

A £15 MILLION extension to the Irvine shopping mall is on the drawing board for a massive regeneration of the town centre.  More here

Euro funding for West of Scotland  

European funding worth nearly £8 million has been secured for the west of Scotland in the latest round of Euro funding.  More here

North Ayrshire to share in £1 Million SMART Funding Package  

More than £1 million to help small companies commercialise their innovative products was announced today from the latest round of funding from the Executive's SMART:SCOTLAND programme. More here

Irvine Company secures Government Financial Support  

AN IRVINE firm has benefited to the tune of £100,000 in the £1.1m worth of regional grants to Ayrshire companies in the past three months.  More here

Scotland:The Perfect Location  

Scotland is one of the best places to do business in Europe, according to a competition run by the Financial Times group.  More here

North Ayrshire gets £3.4m for regeneration  

North Ayrshire is set to benefit from new Scottish Executive funding designed to help fight poverty in Scotland, with over £3.4m to be invested locally on regeneration projects.  More here

New air routes to Germany and Italy  

Two new air routes between Scotland and Germany and another between Scotland and Italy were launched today. More here

Irvine: the perfect location  

IRVINE is fast becoming a very des res place to live in as house buyers choose affordability ahead of location.  More here

North Ayrshire port has strong development prospects  

International container ports at Hunterston in North Ayrshire and Scapa Flow would both be in a very strong position to compete in a fast-growing market, according to research published today.  More here

NACCO establish European HQ in Irvine  

ONE of Irvine’s biggest employers is making a further commitment to the town with the creation of more jobs. Forklift truck manufacturer NACCO is taking on 31 extra workers with the creation of a pan European Finance and Logistics Centre.  More here

Expansion of North Ayrshire business support scheme  

A public sector project which has helped to create or safeguard 3700 jobs is being expanded, it was announced today. Minister for Finance and Public Services Andy Kerr announced that the West of Scotland Loan Fund scheme, which includes North Ayrshire, will be expanded to increase the contribution it makes. It aims to support a further 850 businesses while creating 3400 jobs and increasing sales by £97 million in the next five years.  More here

Golf boost for Ayrshire economy  

The Ayrshire economy is expected to receive lasting benefits from the Open Championships being held in Troon this week. More here

Prestwick International Aerospace Park Takes Off  

Scotland’s Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace was the special guest of Goodrich Corporation as he performed the official opening of their new Aerostructures Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Prestwick International Aerospace Park today  More here

New Jobs for North Ayrshire  

Scotland's Enterprise Minister, Jim Wallace, today welcomed AEA Technology's announcement to create a further 40 new jobs at Lochshore, Glengarnock. More here

Thriving Irvine-based insurers buy two more firms  

Giles Insurance, who were founded in Irvine in 1967, continue to expand their insurance business with the recent purchase of two English based firms.  More here

Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire creates innovation centre in Irvine  

A high-growth hothouse to help grow Scotland’s most ambitious young companies has just opened its doors at 2 Cockburn Place, Riverside Business Park in Irvine. More here

100 AiB Jobs for Ayrshire  

A hundred civil service jobs are to move to Ayrshire as part of the Executive’s relocation policy. The office of the Accountant of Bankruptcy (AiB) will head west from Edinburgh before the end of 2005. The department oversees the sequestration process and acts as bankruptcy trustee when appointed by a court. More here

Bonmarche Brings 60 jobs to Mall in Irvine  

A new ladies clothing store is to open in Irvine creating 60 jobs. Bonmarché will occupy the former Mackays store in Rivergate Shopping Mall. More here

Hauka find Irvine the perfect location  

A pre-Christmas jobs bonanza has come to town with news that Hauka Corporation are to spend £17m creating up to 500 jobs over the next year by moving their headquarters from Manchester to Irvine.  More here

Calman Technology Expand in North Ayrshire  

Calman Technology Ltd of Irvine has accepted an offer of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) for £30,000 from the Scottish Executive, enabling it to invest in new machinery to boost productivity and help with the cost of moving to bigger premises in the town’s Riverside Business Park.  More here

Ryanair significantly impacts on Scottish Economy  

The arrival of low-cost airline Ryanair has had a sky-high impact on the Scottish economy, according to new independent research. Visitors landing at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport pumped up to £89 million into Scotland - and new flights by the carrier are expected to make this figure grow even more.  More here

Deep-Water Port Facility for North Ayrshire gets Green Light  

Clydeport, the Glasgow based port operator, have announced that they are moving ahead with the next phase of the multi-million pound development of a deep-water container terminal at Hunterston in North Ayrshire.  More here

Irvine Gets New Company Headquarters  

One of Scotland’s biggest drinks wholesalers are to move their headquarters to Irvine. Wallaces Express are relocating from their current depot at Heathfield in Ayr and aim to create an additional 30 new jobs when they move into their new premises in December 2003. More here

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft Choose Ayrshire for Major Expansion  

BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft in Ayrshire today (August 11) celebrated the first birthday of its newly restructured business and the creation of over 200 quality jobs. More here

Irvine company to launch leading edge medical device  

Irvine company Zisys has designed a revolutionary early warning urinary catheter bag stand in partnership with some of the country’s top medical and urinary specialists.  More here

Ayrshire Aerospace Park Takes Off  

US aerospace giant Goodrich Corporation have announced the construction of a 120,000 sq. ft. state of the art Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility to be built at the newly designated Prestwick International Aerospace Park.  More here

Irvine Company wins £2 million USA Deal  

TT Electronics Prestwick Circuits has won a £2m contract in the USA. The Irvine company, which specialises in the production of printed circuit boards, beat off stiff competition from the Far East to clinch the deal. More here

North Ayrshire Call Centre Jobsfair a Runaway Success  

The North Ayrshire Call Centre Jobfair on 19th January 2003 has been hailed a great success, with more than 500 people attending the event at Irvine’s Thistle Hotel.  More here

AMH Direct to establish Irvine HQ  

AMH Direct, the Kilmarnock based trade warehouse company are to move their headquarters to Riverside Business Park in Irvine bringing up to 30 new jobs to the town. More here

Upgrade of M77 gets the green light  

The long-awaited M77 Glasgow Southern Orbital upgrade project is now set to go ahead following the award of the design and construction project to a consortium including Balfour Beatty and Atkins.  More here

North Ayrshire companies shine at Ayrshire Business Awards Ceremony  

GlaxoSmithKline of Irvine hit a hat-trick of honours at this year’s prestigious Ayrshire Business Awards, including the top prize.  More here

Wescott Choose North Ayrshire  

North Ayrshire Council has welcomed the announcement that Scottish company Wescot Credit Services is to create 110 jobs in Saltcoats. The Council with Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire support have been working together to bring the company to the area. More here

AEA TECHNOLOGY TO OPEN BASE IN NORTH AYRSHIRE  

AEA Technology (AEAT), the science and engineering company, today announced plans to open a £3 million Technology Centre in North Ayrshire with immediate plans for 96 jobs and the potential for up to 300 jobs over the next 5 years.  More here

DSM purchase Dalry plant for 2.25billion euros  

Roche Dalry was this week sold off as part of a stunning £1.43billion deal. Dutch Life Science and Performance Material company DSM have reached an agreement with the Swiss-based healthcare giants to buy their Vitamins and Fine Chemical Division – which includes the Dalry operation – for a breathtaking 2.25billion euros. More here

FIRM TO DOUBLE CALL CENTRE JOBS  

Ayrshire businessman Graham Hutchinson this week revealed that he hopes to more than double the workforce at this firm’s new APL Industrial Estate base in Stevenston. More here

Irvine Chosen for new Call Centre Base  

HOLIDAY company Club La Costa moved into Irvine this week – then admitted the sky’s the limit for new jobs. More here

Ryanair Lands New Engineering Jobs in Ayrshire  

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline is expanding its operations at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport with the opening of a new aircraft overhaul and maintenance facility creating up to 180 new jobs. More here

AYRSHIRE EXPORTS GIVE ECONOMY A WELCOME BOOST  

A boom in overseas business has made Ayrshire one of the leading exporting regions in Scotland, a new study has found. More here

International Shipping Terminal in Ayrshire  

The deep water port at Hunterston is to be marketed as a major international container terminal, which will provide shipping links between Scotland and virtually all the world’s major economies. More here

£350 million Paper Mill expansion in Irvine?  

Irvine could be in line for a new £350 million paper mill it was revealed this week. Finnish giants UPM Kymmene are considering building another mill at their existing Caledonian Paper site on the outskirts of the town. More here

Rockware Wins Top Award  

Irvine’s Rockware Glass has won an award for its packaging. More here

Electronics firm aim for £1m of Euro business  

An electronics company’s Council sponsored trip to Germany could lead to nearly £1million of new business coming from our continental cousins. More here

British Wool Marketing Board Relocate to Irvine  

Maxi Estates Limited have sucessfully leased a massive 142,000 square feet building to Scottish Wool Producers as part of a plan for the company to shift operations from its site in Hillington. More here

Irvine leads the way after Omne switch on latest broadband system  

Irvine leads the way after Omne switch on latest broadband system Omne chief Ian Renshaw said customers would have access “to the fastest and most advanced internet service anywhere in the UK.”  More here

Ardrossan Harbour Regeneration gets green light  

The regeneration of Ardrossan Harbour, a mixed use development of leisure, residential and business units is too sperhead the economic development of the area. More here

Ayrshire Company on the move  

North Ayrshire Council welcomed the news this week that Ayrshire Company Barony Universal Products Plc are to re-locate to larger premises in Irvine, with the prospect of bringing new jobs to the area. More here

OMNE MAKES IT GOOD DAY FOR IRVINE  

Cable company plans to create 200 jobs More here

Five Years Anniversary for Council Business Loans  

It’s the fifth anniversary of North Ayrshire Council’s West of Scotland Loan Fund.  More here

Roche Products announces £30 million investment in Dalry plant.  

Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Mr Henry McLeish welcomed the announcement by pharmaceuticals giant, the investment will lead to the creation of 25 new jobs by 2002. More here

Master Plan for Tournament Park, Irvine.  

Launched by Wendy Alexander Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (on behalf of Volvo, North Ayrshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire). More here

Excell Multimedia  

- a leading global call centre business - today announced plans to create more than 200 jobs in North Ayrshire. More here

Council receives hand of friendship from Japan.  

Japanese officials recently made a presentation to North Ayrshire Council Planning Officer, Lyndsay Tough, in recognition of her newly awarded status as Friendship Ambassador to the Iwate region of Japan. More here