Former Trinity pupil lands apprenticeship
build with the other developments such as the one on Stonelaw Road emerging from the conversion and refurbishment of vacant buildings.
And efforts are already underway to market the property, funded jointly by Clyde Gateway, the Scottish Government and South Lanarkshire Council, to an extensive range of small and medium sized firms.
Clare Haughey MSP and Councillor Carol Nugent, who is also a member of the Clyde Gateway board, were at Shawfield for the topping out ceremony on Wednesday.
Ms Haughey said: “Clyde Gateway is taking a major lead in the regeneration of the Rutherglen community in many different ways and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to be involved in this topping-out ceremony.
“Shawfield has historically been associated with industry and commerce and I’m really excited by the long-term plans for the Magenta development as they will see more than a million square feet of high quality space becoming home to as many as 12,000 jobs.
Ms Nugent added: “Red Tree Shawfield and the wider proposals for the area offer the perfect demonstration of a regeneration that goes well beyond A Cambuslang teenager is among three young construction site labourers to land apprenticeships thanks to a scheme by regeneration agency Clyde Gateway.
Scott Kelly has been recruited by construction company Robertson Central to work on the Red Tree Shawfield project in Rutherglen which is due to be completed in summer next year.
The 16-year-old was helped by Carillion, a multinational construction services company, who equipped him with the skills needed to join a building site.
Scott then secured an apprenticeship with one of Scotland’s largest construction firms along with Craig McIndoe and Jack a physical transformation.
“It is an exciting development that has been given complete backing and financial support by the council as it is key to our aspirations to expand the range and types of businesses which are keen to make their home in South Lanarkshire.” Kennedy, who are both 17 and from Parkhead.
The former Trinity High School pupil said:“It feels good.
“It’s good to get experience and I prefer it to school because I wasn’t the most academic but I feel this is a brilliant opportunity to do this, it’s what I’m interested in.
“I had just left school and went to a training school which gets people into employment and I gained some qualifications there. Then I went to Carillion, another training company, which gives you work site experience at their training centre.
“They then send you to a site like Roberstons. Basically I was trying to get into employment and get my foot in the door for experience.”
Clyde Gateway has clauses in its contracts to ensure local residents are provided with jobs, training apprentices.
They have already brought 5,000 jobs to the area and they were hailed by Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey, who attended a ceremonial event on the top floor of the Red Tree Shawfield.
She said:“Congratulations to the local modern apprentices and to Robertsons for taking on local people which is really important.
“For the area to thrive we need good sustainable employment within the community, we’ve got a great community, you can see that with the amount of houses that are getting built.
“People want to live here and this gives them the opportunity to work in the community.”