Seven trainees graduated from Training Opportunities in Lothian (TOiL) Project at a ceremony in Leith on Thursday 4 March and, for the first time, five of the contractors who trained them were also honoured.

The programme offers six months' paid work experience placements aimed at getting young school leavers, with few or no qualifications, skills and work experience to get them into the job market. Training placements are with local firms in a variety of trades and give the trainees real experience and skills that employers look for, whilst paying them a decent wage while learning.

The programme is backed by Port of Leith Housing Association, who also provides in-house training and career guidance for the trainees.

The seven trainees – Paul Glynn (placed with N W Watt & Son), Kevin Casey (Carillion), Badou Sallah (Carillion), James Glasgow (M Gillhooley Contracts), David Craig (Margaret Blackwood Housing Association), Kenny Lindsay (Out of the Blue Arts Education Trust) and Robbie Duncan (Mitie Property Services) – have worked on a range of skills from plumbing and joinery to painting and decorating.


The contractors were recognised in a range of awards as follows:

• Certificate of Recognition: N Watt & Son, Edinburgh
• Silver Award: Quality Decor, Dalkeith
  
  TB Mackay, Granton
• Gold Award: Hugh Muirhead & Son Ltd, Leith
  
  MITIE Property Services (Painting & Decorating), Roddinglaw.

Speaking as he made the awards, Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of Port of Leith Housing Association, said: "I am delighted to see our trainees graduate after six months’ hard work on placements that have sent some of them around Scotland. Already one of our trainees has secured an apprenticeship on the back of the skills learned through TOiL and another two have found work. The others won’t be far behind.

"At this time, when the pinch of recession is still being felt, we thought that it was also important to honour the contribution made to the project by the contractors we work with. It would be easy for them to step back from supporting trainees at this time but they haven’t. Without them, there would be no programme and we are grateful for their ongoing support. But it goes without saying that we are always looking for new building trades companies to help us with our placements."

(GK)