Nine secure jobs through the recruit

Nine young people secured jobs with at the final of Inverclyde Council’s innovative ‘The Recruit’ programme, which celebrated its thirteenth year.

Young people from S5/6 years in Inverclyde’s secondary schools devoted their summer holidays to participate in the award-winning personal development programme ‘The Recruit’.

The finale, held at Port Glasgow Town Hall, revealed 2019s nine successful recruits being offered jobs from local organisations and businesses.

Aidan Morris was named as the Top Recruit for 2019.

The recruits received posts paying salaries of up to £14,000 from local firms KBS Engineering (2), West College Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Inverclyde Council, MPS, Cloch Housing and Pursuit Marketing, Glasgow.

The successful candidates were selected based on their overall performance, attitude, potential, personal drive, determination and employability skills throughout the four month programme of challenges and activities with local organisations.

Challenges tested the young people on all their entrepreneurial skills from profit counting to marketing and branding. It gives them an insight into the real business environment and see the huge variety of jobs and services that the many programme partners do.

For twelve years running, the Ardgowan Hospice has been the sole beneficiary of all donations accrued by ‘The Recruit’ programme.  This year Cancer Research UK will also be supported. 

During the summer and on the evening of the finale, the recruits raised approximately £6,000 bringing the thirteen year total to just over £112,000 for the Inverclyde-based charity.

Commenting on the announcement, former recruit and Inverclyde Council’s Young Persons Champion, Councillor Natasha Murphy, said: “All of the recruits begin the summer with the expectation of one job being available to the top recruit.

“Our partners in the business community have, once again, delivered additional opportunities for our young people.

“The Recruit shows that young people across Inverclyde are motivated, ambitious and ready for work. 

 “During the programme, this year’s recruits have taken on a three day outward bound teambuilding event; 30 business challenges; heard from some of Scotland’s top entrepreneurs;  undertaken 25 team or individual tasks and assignments; written over 20 business reports, run small business ventures and all of this during their summer holidays, putting in 400 hours of work.

Inverclyde Council’s Deputy Leader and Education Convener, Councillor Jim Clocherty, said: “I would like to congratulate all the recruits for their outstanding efforts and wish them all the best for their future careers.”

‘The Recruit’ has awarded a total of 118 jobs to young people in Inverclyde since the start of the programme began in 2007.

The finale event was sponsored by Pursuit Marketing, Amazon, DYW West, West College Scotland and ICE.

The full list of The Recruit 2019 winners are:

West College Scotland:                                   Hannah Ross
Pursuit Marketing:                                          Heather Gould
Royal Bank of Scotland                                   Aidan Morris
Royal Bank of Scotland                                   Grace Kane
Inverclyde Council                                          Sophie Elliott
Kilpatrick Blane Services (KBS)                       Jamie Morris
Kilpatrick Blane Services (KBS)                       Ellie Morgan
Cloch Housing                                                             Dylan Docherty
MPS                                                                 Ryan Bissett

Aidan Morris was named as the Top Recruit for 2019

The businesses, organisations and individuals supporting the recruits throughout the summer include: Royal Bank of Scotland, Amazon, Inverclyde Council; Auchengillan Outdoor Centre, Live n Learn, Former Recruits, Tree of Knowledge, Clearwater Brookes, Clearview Minds, DYW West, Elevator, West College Scotland, CLD, The Co-Op, The British Army, Babygrand Productions,  Kip Marina / The Chartroom, Watt Nicoll Associates, Active Schools, KBS Engineering, Pursuit Marketing, Ardgowan Hospice, Robert MacDonald, Discover Fortunes, and entrepreneurs Gary McEwan, Donna Bryson, and Watt Nicoll.

A further 12 new businesses supported the programme this year Scotrail, NHS, Princes Trust, Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce, Accelalpha, Cloch Housing, MPS, Stewart and Shields, Balmore Group, New Chocolate Company, ARB Growth and Succession Wealth

Page last updated: 20 August 2019