The Scottish Government has placed a recruitment advertisement within a South Ayrshire newspaper regarding the Scottish Year of Homecoming in 2009.

This is part of the Executive’s Partnership for a Better Scotland. The Executive is committing to use the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth, which will be celebrated in 2009, as one means of promoting Scotland to all those with links to, or an interest in, the country on the theme of homecoming at the same time as celebrating the anniversary of Robert Burns.

Project staff will be located in Ayr in South Ayrshire, and on hearing the news the Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Andy Hill said: “It is wonderful news that the Scottish Government is seeking to recruit a Project Director to develop and deliver its plans for a Scottish Year of Homecoming in 2009.

“I wish to make it quite clear that all costs for the project will be met by the Scottish Government. The Project Director, and his or her team, will be responsible to the Chair of the 2009 Year of Homecoming Steering Group, and in addition all associated costs will be met by the Scottish Government.

“In 2009 the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth will be celebrated locally and across the globe, and this will be an ideal opportunity to further highlight to the world the wonders of Scotland and in particular South Ayrshire.”

May 2005