Meet the Team

The Economic Development Service within East Ayrshire Council is tasked with supporting new businesses to start up, indigenous businesses to grow and others to relocate into East Ayrshire and are happy to be the first point of contact for businesses interested in growing in East Ayrshire.

Get in touch with one of our business advisors to help take your business to the next level.

Business Support

Providing access to advice and guidance; loans and grants; and workshops and networking events to support business growth– the delivery of the Business Gateway Programme is a key element of this support and focuses specifically on start-up and high growth companies.

Business Advisors

Jim Dunn

jim.dunn@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Carol Andrew

carol.andrew@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Gillian Thomson

gillian.thomson@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Business Gateway Start Up Advisers

Caroline Duff

caroline.duff@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Stacey Neville

stacey.neville@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Business Gateway Growth Adviser

John Strachan

john.strachan2@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Events and Marketing Officer – Business Gateway

Claire Duncan

claire.duncan@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Inward investment

Providing a principal contact for all inward investment enquiries; undertaking property searches, undertaking marketing and promotional activities and supporting the creation of new property developments aligned to job opportunities.

Economic Development Officer – Inward Investment

Fiona Paterson

fiona.paterson2@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Food and Drink

Working with a range of partner agencies to provide support to Ayrshire businesses from across the Food and Drink supply chain, from primary producers through processes to retailers and restauranteurs, ensuring they have access to advice, guidance and support to develop and grow the sector regionally and to create new job opportunities.

Business Development Advisor – Food and Drink

Neil McAleese

neil.mcaleese@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Tourism

Providing support to the tourism sector in East Ayrshire to develop and grow; attracting more visitors, more spend and creating more jobs.

Tourism Development Officer

Julie Sloan

julie.sloan@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Town Centre management

Delivering a range of events and marketing activity designed to increase footfall in Kilmarnock and Cumnock and grow employment in these towns.

Town Centre Manager, Kilmarnock and Cumnock

Fiona Nicolson

fiona.nicolson@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Employability

Supporting local residents to acquire the skills and qualifications required in the labour market and to assist individuals to access employment opportunities.

Skills Development Team Leader

Sarah Parker

sarah.parker@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Administration Support

Supporting local residents to acquire the skills and qualifications required in the labour market and to assist individuals to access employment opportunities.