XLCC training centre will move from Irvine to Hunterston

UK subsea cable manufacturer XLCC have signed a lease on a unit at Arkwright Way in Irvine, to operate as a dedicated training facility for its apprentices.

The 12,500 square foot site was secured with the support of Scottish Enterprise, which provided a £200,000 grant towards the fit-out of the unit with office, conference and welfare facilities. 

The centre is XLCC’s main training hub for its apprentices. However, Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson says he has received assurances from XLCC that the training hub will move to Hunterston when the factory opens, which is due in 2027/28.

The MSP says there are plenty of positives going forward with the the XLCC cable manufacturing plant, which will be a "major employer in the area".

XLCC says the development is a "cornerstone project" which is "set to play a critical role in establishing an interconnected network of subsea cables that will drive the future of global energy supplies".

MSP Kenneth Gibson (Image: Newsquest)

Cable testing and certification will take place in 2026 and 2027, with the first cable lengths being produced from 2028 ready for deployment to client projects.

Mr Gibson said he has regular meetings with XLCC over the development, and believes it is going to play a major part in boosting the local economy for years to come.

He said: "The last time I met them was when the Cabinet Secretary of the Scottish Government Màiri McAllan came down to visit and we got a full presentation on everything, including their recruitment plan, so we are still going to have 900 jobs - there is no change in that.

"They have already started training apprentice, and when I had my Jobs Fair in Saltcoats recently I met some of the apprentices. They have taken them over to Germany to start training them, and they have a training facility in Irvine, which they got a grant from Scottish Enterprise for. 

"I have said to XLCC that I really want to see the training facility in Hunterston and they have told me when they start building in Hunterston they will move it there because the whole idea is to attract people from this area.

"It all seems to be going pretty well and they didn't present us with any difficulties technical or financial and they have very high level individuals in to do the planning of the factory and the processing, and they have been out to NBO in China."

NBO in China is a Chinese power cable specialist Orient cable which has commenced the construction of its southern manufacturing base in Yangjiang, Guangdong.

Mr Gibson continued; "The market for this cable that XLCC will be producing has a 10 year backlog as there are so few factories that produce it, so it will be global leading and will be a major employer in this area and there will be huge spin-offs for local supply chains."

The project will be situated on a 70-acre site in Hunterston, with access to the deep water port.

The proposal has full planning permission and is ready to break ground on the 180-metre tower development, with the main factory design also well advanced..

The project is also working on a world-leading cable laying vessel design, and the shipyard tender is complete.

The ship will be the world’s largest at 201 metres long, with capacity for 110 crew and 26,000 tonnes of cable.

XLCC is also looking at eco-friendly options to fuel the boat, with both hybrid fuel and hydrogen being options. The vessel will be finished by 2027.

A spokesperson for XLCC said: "I can confirm that our plan is to move the XLCC apprentices and their supervisors into our Hunterston site once the factory is opened."