A MORAY FIRM has declared its attempt to increase the number of young people entering the construction industry as a roaring success.
The Elgin-based Robertson Group set out its careers initiative in January with the target of reaching 7000 young Scots – but this week they revealed that in fact the scheme managed to engage 12,000.
Classroom talks, workshops and site visits were launched in a bid to reverse years of decline in the number of young people choosing the construction industry as a career path. Robertson set out to improve the perception young people had of the industry – now the firms’ chief operating officer for the firm said he has been “overwhelmed” by the response.
Derek Shewan said: “Job levels in construction are still below pre-recession levels and have failed to keep pace with work demand. Our goal was to engage 7000 young people in 2015 – we have exceeded that target.
“We have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of young people who, as a result of meeting with our team, have decided that a life in construction is for them.”
The firm now plans to continue their young engagement programme over the long term with a view to safeguarding the sector.
More than 1450 people are employed by the Robertson Group throughout the UK.