A series of events aimed at ensuring local businesses get every chance to benefit from the work of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has been hailed as a success.

Three events were held in Ardrossan, Irvine and Kilwinning to provide local firms with information on procurement and on the regeneration projects and activities being undertaken.

The timing and locations were designed to give local firms maximum choice in attending.

Chief Executive Patrick Wiggins said: "The work we are doing is all about creating a prosperous and sustainable Irvine Bay, and we need strong local businesses to do that.


"It is vital that our local firms understand what we are doing, how our work can benefit them, and how can they work with us. These meetings are the first of their kind we have organised and provided companies in Irvine Bay with an opportunity to engage directly with us. There will be other such events in future."

Attendees certainly found the sessions useful. Eddie Telford, of local building contractors William Skinner & Son, said he was "very pleased with what he heard" at the Ardrossan meeting, while an Irvine coffee shop owner Anne Ritchie expressed her belief that her already thriving business could benefit further from the activities of Irvine Bay.

Karen Herbert, of Real Work Skills attended the Kilwinning event and congratulated Irvine Bay for their hard work in keeping people informed of their activity: "What they are doing with a small team of people is really quite incredible."

(GK/BMcC)