A TEAM from Ayrshire College found their journey to a national awards ceremony anything but pointless.

Their trip was a worthwhile one as the college was named the UK engineering sector’s best training partner at the event, held at London’s Hilton Hotel on Park Lane.

The college’s STEM department, which was the only Scottish college or university team represented at the Semta Skills Awards, was named Training Partner of the Year.

Hosted by Alexander Armstrong who presents popular TV quiz show, Pointless, the awards recognise engineering and manufacturing achievements in the UK.

Ayrshire College earned their accolade for its ThisAyrshireGirlCan campaign and its successful organisation of the inaugural Mission Discovery Ayrshire programme.

Also highlighted as a worthwhile project was a course designed alongside Ryanair that took unemployed engineers and re-trained them for sheet metal work.

More than 25 students have been employed following the course.

ThisAyrshireGirlCan has had great success in advancing equality and promoting apprenticeships to females.

The campaign, which includes videos, blogs, case studies, events and a mentoring support network for female STEM students, was also a recent winner at the Herald Diversity Awards.

Mission Discovery Ayrshire 2016 brought 200 school pupils and college students from throughout East Ayrshire to the college, where they designed a space experiment with the help of NASA experts - including former NASA astronaut Michael Foale, CBE.

Gavin Murray, director of STEM at the college, said; "Receiving this award represents a true cross college approach to providing our partners from industry with high-end training within industry standard facilities.

"This award also recognises the tremendous initiatives within Ayrshire College to promote STEM subjects as a career and in particular the positive impact strategies such as ThisAyrshireGirlCan has in encouraging women to consider a career in STEM.

"It was an honour to receive this award with colleagues Marti Anderson and Stuart Millar on behalf of everyone at Ayrshire College."

Stuart Miller, director of education contracts and business development at the college, praised his colleagues and industry partners for their hard work and support.

Ann Watson of Semta, a not-for-profit organisation, added: "Ayrshire College is a very deserving winner. It plays a major role in the aerospace industry in Scotland, working with employers on a wide-range of initiatives, supporting apprenticeships, job creation, upskilling and promoting diversity in engineering."