A NEW training facility opened in North Ayrshire this week marking a 'significant milestone' in the development of a cable manufacturing plant at Hunterston.
XLCC, the company behind the facility, is set to draw significant investment into the surrounding area and provide employment for 900 people through the project, including approximately 200 apprentices across multiple disciplines.
The opening of the 12,500 sq ft training facility at Arkwright Way in Irvine on Tuesday marks a key point in XLCC’s development and was accomplished with the support of Scottish Enterprise, who provided a £200,000 grant towards the fit-out of the unit with office, conference, and welfare spaces.
The new centre will be XLCC’s main training hub for its cable jointers and other Hunterston factory skilled personnel, and will move to Hunterston when the cable manufacturing plant opens, which is projected to be around 2027.
Dr Marie Macklin CBE performed the ribbon cutting ceremony at the training facility.
An XLCC spokesperson said: "We were honoured to welcome Dr Marie Macklin CBE to officially open our new training academy at Arkwright Way, Irvine, joined by our first cohort of 17 apprentices, who are at the heart of the project and will pave the way for the many more to come.
"The opening marks a significant milestone in XLCC’s development, made possible by the generous support of our key partners: Scottish Enterprise, North Ayrshire Council, Ayrshire College, Glasgow Caledonian University, and HALO Urban Regeneration Company.
"We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and look forward to the next stage of our journey."
Dr Macklin said: "I am honoured and delighted to be asked by XLCC_UK CEO Ian Douglas to officially open their new training factory in Irvine which will supply their workforce of the future.
"This £1.7 billion export-led, green industry in the UK will manufacture world class HVDC subsea cable at their state of the art factory in Hunterston.
"I am very proud of XLCC apprentices who were based at HALO for initial training in 2023/24 before moving to this fantastic new training factory."
Ms Macklin CBE is a Scottish businesswoman, entrepreneur and property developer, who is founder and executive chair of The HALO Urban Regeneration. HALO Urban Regeneration, known simply as The HALO, is a Scottish business innovation park, urban regeneration and business start-up support company, founded, based and headquartered in Kilmarnock.
The XLCC website states: "The project benefits from two-year exclusivity on a 70-acre site in Hunterston, North Ayrshire, with access to a deepwater 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.
"From 2027, XLCC will produce certified 525 kilovolt HVDC cables from three vertical continuous vulcanization (VCV) lines, with the ability to expand to six lines with minimal disruption of production.
"The project is also working on a world-leading cable laying vessel (CLV) design, and the shipyard tender is complete. The CLV 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."
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