THE FIRST TEENAGER to secure a job having taken part in a programme that was created to bridge the gap between education and work is set to begin a new career at Springfield Properties.
Elgin teen Sarah Cantlay will begin working as an administrative assistant by the housing developers after being paired with them for the last twelve months under Moray Council’s ‘Career Ready’ programme.
Career Ready – a national charity linking schools with employers – prepares young people for the world of work through provision of mentoring, workplace visits and paid internships.
Throughout Moray 29 students started the programme in 2014 and a further 37 are set to join later this month. Former Elgin High School pupil Sarah has been helped along the way by her mentor Heater Henderson, the resources manager at Springfield.
Heather said: “When I was paired with Sarah I could tell from her application and her school grades that she was a hard working student.
“Seeing her confidence grow and being able to help her flourish during her internship to the point where she has been offered a full-time position with the company has been extremely rewarding.
“We have another two employees committed to the mentoring programme for 2015 and I would encourage those within other organisations to get involved.”
Sarah, who secured her new job after a four-week internship over the summer holidays, said that he had always wanted to work in an office-based environment after leaving school, adding that the internship was the key by providing her valuable experience.
She said: “It has allowed me to develop new skills and has helped to build my confidence.”
Mervyn Stanley, who is the regional manager for Career Ready in Moray, commented: “Our programme aims to give young people across Scotland the skills, knowledge and attitudes they need to succeed in their future careers.
“But perhaps one of the most important advantages our students get is the opportunity to put their learning into practice in a real work environment.
“The internship experience can be transformational and it is fantastic to see that Moray students have made such a great impression to be offered full-time jobs.
“We are very grateful to all the employers who have supported our students over the summer.”