Ayrshire Apprenticeship Challenge 2025

The Ayrshire Apprenticeship Challenge 2025, sponsored by Skills Development Scotland, culminated in an exciting final on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, at the Ayr United Hospitality Suite, coinciding with Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

Organised by DYW Ayrshire, the event celebrated months of commitment and hard work, dedicated by apprentices from businesses across Ayrshire where they identify, plan, and execute a project that positively impacts the local community. The Challenge is open to teams of 1 or more, providing a platform to showcase their talents and develop their skillset.

8 teams of apprentices participated in the Challenge, representing: Alex Begg, Ayrshire College Hairdressing, Collins Aerospace, GSK, Kelvin TOP-SET, Shire Housing, South Ayrshire Council and Spirit AeroSystems.

Apprentices were encouraged to source their project and step out with their comfort zone to hone new skills. Initiatives included:

Alex Begg – The team improved a garden for Aberlour Children’s Charity, fundraising and developing outdoor spaces for children.

GSK – Organised a STEM Week for local schools, offering hands-on activities and career insights, plus an information session for parents.

Kelvin Topset – Logan created a web-based quiz to educate children on plastic pollution, integrating real data from a local clean-up group.

Shire Housing – Amy raised funds for Alloway Tunnel improvements by organising a sponsored walk, increasing footfall and community engagement.

Spirit AeroSystems – Built a memorial bench and mobile memory tree for Megan’s Space charity, supporting mental health and remembrance initiatives.

Ayrshire College – Hairdressing apprentices provided free salon experiences including a lunch for families in need while fundraising for essential resources for a nursery.

South Ayrshire Council – Painted a drop-in hub for adults with additional needs by designing and painting welcoming murals and walls.

Collins Aerospace – Ran a five-week Skills Workshop for S3 pupils, mentoring them through hands-on engineering activities and career guidance.

To support participants, optional workshops in Leadership, Resilience and Presentation Skills ran by Ayrshire College were offered to all participants equipping them with valuable professional development opportunities.

Teams were required to submit a supporting portfolio and then at the final present to the judging panel which featured: Angela Cox, Principal and Chief Executive of Ayrshire College, Claire Baird, Chief Executive of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Claire Tooze, Area Manager of Skills Development Scotland.

With an impressive lineup of projects, the judges faced a tough decision but after much deliberation presented the awards to:

Most Innovative Project: Kelvin TOP-SET

Best Individual Presentation: Kelvin TOP-SET

Best Team Presentation: Collins Aerospace

Best Overall Project: Alex Begg

Gillian Longmuir, Head of Projects at DYW Ayrshire, said: “This year’s Challenge has been a testament to the talent and dedication of apprentices across Ayrshire. Congratulations to all participants in the 2025 Ayrshire Apprenticeship Challenge! A special well done to Kelvin TOP-SET, Collins Aerospace, and Alex Begg for their outstanding achievements.”

The 2026 Challenge will launch at the end of April. For more information, visit https://www.dywayrshire.com/ayrshire-apprenticeship-challenge/ or email emcclymont@ayrshire-chamber.org