Kilmarnock regeneration project partners with IT firm to build skills

HALO Scotland yesterday (August 14) announced a partnership with IT services provider, CGI, that they say will create employment opportunities at the Kilmarnock urban regeneration initiative.

The HALO Kilmarnock is a regeneration initiative located on the site of the former Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

It is billed as a ‘multi-faceted’ brown-field regeneration that will create a ‘unique urban park with a dynamic commercial, educational, cultural, leisure and lifestyle quarter.’

HALO says that the partnership will enhance employability iniativites for young people in Ayrshire, utlise CGI’s business knowledge to support start ups and entrpreneureal businesses, develop research partnerships with local colleges and universities and develop technologies to support health and social care in the area.

Marie Macklin CBE, Founder and Executive Chair of the HALO Urban Regeneration Company, said: ‘CGI is a massive global IT provider and I am thrilled to see this industry leader become the latest partner of the HALO’s urban regeneration initiative.

‘I am thrilled that CGI, with its extensive experience in the IT and space industry is joining us as part of the HALO project. The HALO will work collaboratively with CGI to support the Glasgow Prestwick Airport spaceport project as the UK, Scotland and, of course, Ayrshire takes significant strides in the space industry.

‘CGI will also support the HALO’s continued vision of providing our young people with the cyber, digital and also space skills that will be needed to make an impact in tomorrow’s world.’

Steve Smart, Vice President of CGI Scotland, added: ‘Regeneration of this nature, with the opportunities it brings for development and training in our industry, is hugely exciting and adds further to our commitment to Scotland. We very much look forward to collaborating with the team over the coming years and bringing our expertise to such an innovative project.’