Triple success as teens land apprentice roles

THREE teenagers have landed apprenticeships with one of Scotland’s largest construction firms thanks to a scheme by regeneration agency Clyde Gateway.

It is behind Red Tree Shawfield, a £9million office building which is due to be completed in summer next year.

Scott Kelly, 16, from Cambuslang and Craig McIndoe and Jack Kennedy, who are both 17, and from Parkhead, have been recruited by construction company Robertson Central to work on the project.

Clyde Gateway has clauses in its contracts to ensure local residents are provided with jobs, training apprentices.

Chief executive Ian Manson said: “The length and value of this particular contract for Red Tree Shawfield meant Robertson went through an interview process to take on three young folk who were already known to us with our ongoing work with local schools and training providers as having an interest in moving into the construction industry.

“Over the past nine years, our use of community benefit clauses in construction contracts has helped hundreds of local people either into their first work experience or back into work after an extended period of unemployment.

“The physical change taking place across the Clyde Gateway communities is not enough to ensure the success of our long-term regeneration efforts.

“It has to be about making a difference to people’s lives and giving them a better and more secure future.”

Red Tree Shawfield will be the first building at Magenta, the new business district launched last year by Clyde Gateway.

It is located on formerly contaminated land which has been cleared to make it ready for investment.

The office, which will contain more than 40 suites of varying sizes, is already attracting early interest from a wide range of firms.