A new career employability hub will soon be opening its doors in Cumnock.

The new hub will set up shop in the former Netherthird Library building on Ryderston Drive.

‘SL66’ will deliver learning and training opportunities to help local young people to progress into, and sustain, employment.

The hub is an extension of Skills and Learning 33 (SL33) in Kilmarnock town centre which is a purpose-built space designed to meet the employability training needs of unemployed young people and school learners at risk of disengagement.

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Partners and training providers will be able to use the hub to work alongside council services to deliver learning and training opportunities.

It's hoped that the new hub in Cumnock will add value to the current opportunities available to young people in the area and provide the same ‘one door’ service which has been very successful in Kilmarnock.

SL66 is being marketed as a designated base which will be responsive to the needs of the community by building skills for work through the delivery of vocational activity which is aligned to local skills gaps and areas of sectoral expansion.

No official date has be given for the hub's opening, but it's hoped that it will be operational by early 2023.

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Councillor Elaine Cowan, Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning, Education and Skills and Culture is understandably delighted to see this new addition to the area.

She said: “This local hub in Cumnock ties in with the aspiration of the Local Employability Partnership to deliver an equal employability offer for every resident across East Ayrshire. SL66 will become part of the local community and will provide valuable services within that community to help young people into employment.

“Its strengths lie in the partnership approach it takes, and by working with our Employability Service and the DWP, the hub team will ensure positive routes to engagement for local young people while also supporting employers to develop and offer work experience, apprenticeships and job opportunities through existing partnerships with Developing the Young Workforce Ayrshire, the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and local and national businesses.

“Now, more than ever, we need to support our young people into work and help them to become the best they can be. SL33 has been a great success and I look forward to seeing SL66 follow in its footsteps to deliver real change in the Cumnock area.”