More than 30 businesses from East Ayrshire and surrounding areas attended two events which highlighted potential benefits of working with a windfarm company.

Meet the Buyer sessions took place at the Park Hotel, Kilmarnock, hosted by innogy, provided an opportunity for firms to find out how to tender for work during the construction and operation phases of onshore windfarms.

Attendees heard that local spending constitutes a significant proportion of innogy’s investment in onshore windfarm construction.

In one example, from a windfarm constructed in the Highlands, fifty-five per cent, equating to about £8.7 million, of the civil engineering contracts went to businesses within 30 kilometres of the construction site.

Karen Fox, innogy’s onshore wind Development Manager in Scotland, said: “We are delighted with the success of our two recent events.

"It was a great opportunity to share examples of innogy’s commitment to local inward investment and to get feedback on the most effective way of ensuring local firms are in a strong position to take part in our tendering process.

"If consented, developments such as Ashmark Hill, near New Cumnock, could present a real opportunity for firms in the area to expand into the renewable energy sector and for the local economy to benefit from innogy’s investment in local businesses."

The proposed Ashmark Hill Community windfarm is located approximately 5km (3.2 miles) south of New Cumnock, with access to the site from Afton Road.

Subject to approval, seven wind turbines will be installed with community benefit funding of up to £100k annually for the operational lifetime of the project.