A MULTI-MILLION pound investment package that will improve employment in Ayrshire was rubber-stamped yesterday by councils in the region and the UK and Scottish Governments.

The Ayrshire Growth Deal, which will deliver £251.5 million to the area, was signed, kick-starting a range of projects.

It is hoped the deal will create some 7000 jobs across a wide range of sectors over a 15-year period.

The UK and Scottish Governments will each invest £103m, while South, East and North Ayrshire Councils will invest more than £45.5m.

The council leaders were joined by Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure Michael Matheson, and the Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell, to sign the deal.

Matheson said: “Today’s Ayrshire Growth Deal demonstrates our commitment to supporting the region and delivering long-term benefits to the local economy.

“The Scottish Government will invest £103m as part of a £251.5m growth deal that will drive inclusive growth and benefit people across Ayrshire. Partners estimate this will leverage £300m of additional investment from the private sector and around 7000 jobs for the region.”

He added that £18.5m would go to tourism and regeneration, £14.5m for skills, community wealth building and digital infrastructure, and £40m to develop projects around engineering, manufacturing and digital automation – as well as a further £30m for an Aerospace and Space Programme.

He continued: “I am delighted that we have reached today’s important milestone in delivering this deal and helping Ayrshire thrive. The successful delivery of the deal will create new jobs, protect existing ones and extend economic opportunity to communities, families and individuals throughout Ayrshire.

“The Scottish Government has made a financial commitment of £1.7 billion over the next 10 to 20 years for the regions of Ayrshire, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, Stirling and the Tay Cities Region, including deals and additional investment.”

Scottish Secretary Mundell said the announcement was “fantastic news”.

He continued: “We are investing in a raft of exciting and ambitious projects right across Ayrshire. Initiatives include an aerospace development at Prestwick, a low-carbon energy scheme at Hunterston, a local electricity supply project in Cumnock, a manufacturing corridor in Kilmarnock, and a digital subsea cable to dramatically improve connectivity.”

The deal is set to help position Ayrshire as the UK’s leading hub for aerospace and space, and £80m will fund the establishing of a horizontal space launch facility and visitor centre at Prestwick Airport, as well as a range of commercial business spaces around the area. Other projects will take place in Kilmarnock, Irvine and Ardrossan.