Pulteneytown Peoples Project and Home Link Caithness working

Helping Teenagers Gain Valuable Experience in a Working Environment

The Pulteneytown People’s Project have been working in partnership with the Albyn Housing Society and Working Rite to assist teenagers into modern apprenticeships with the Caithness and Sutherland Working Rite Programme.

Many teenagers who leave school are discovering an increasing number of obstacles in their path towards finding a job, and some face uncertain futures and long periods of unemployment. The Working Rite programme was designed to give these teenagers the chance they deserve and an opportunity to impress real businesses.

The Caithness and Sutherland Working Rite Programme aims at placing 16-19 year-olds into small construction companies for a six-month contract where they will be treated like one of the workforce. This will give them invaluable experience, a wage, and help build confidence in themselves and their abilities.

The Trainee:

The whole process runs in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and it is through their advisors that teenagers are suggested for Working Rite. An interview between the potential trainee and Working Rite is organised and the successful applicants then undertake internal induction training where they learn work ethics, first aid, and health and safety. This better prepares the trainee for what will be expected from them when they begin work. Finally, a trial day/induction is arranged with a suitable contractor before the trainee begins their job.

The trainee is given on-the-job training and is expected to work hard, show dedication, and be willing to learn. In return they make real progress towards mastering a trade and get those vital first steps on the ladder to a real job or apprenticeship.

The Contractor:

This is also a unique opportunity for contractors, as they get a keen worker to help where needed. The contractor only pays £1 per hour to a maximum of 40 hours towards the trainee’s wages, and then Government funding tops up the wage by £55. The recruitment process is completely hassle-free as the project co-ordinator, Vince Walker from the Pulteneytown People’s Project, deals with all the paperwork. The trainee is even supplied with their own personal protection equipment and basic tools, and is supported by the Working Rite Programme throughout the 26 weeks.

Working Hard

The Caithness and Sutherland Working Rite programme has been incredibly successful to date. There are currently nine trainees out with local firms in Wick, Thurso, and Bonar Bridge in Sutherland. There are also a number of potential trainees from Thurso and Sutherland looking to join the programme.

The following companies have been providing invaluable support to the programme and are greatly thanked:

Lee Mackay Joiner Contractor - Thurso

Mackay Builders- Lybster

Harpers Joinery - Wick

GA Barnie - Wick

MM Miller - Wick

County Joiners - Wick

J W Sutherland - Wick

Norbloc Construction - Halkirk

George Johnston Builders - Bonar Bridge