We have been continuing to work with the charitable organisation Career Ready to support three high school pupils gain valuable work experience within our business in order to prepare them for the world of work.
Each of the pupils has been working with their assigned staff mentor: Ross McGourty from Inverkeithing High School is mentored by Tracy Trotter, Group Finance Director; Lewis Gibson from St Columba’s High School in Dunfermline is being mentored by Gavin Wallace, Regional Director – Manufacturing; and Lawrie Fraser from Grangemouth High School has been mentored by Marie Spaven, Service Manager at Scott Direct.
In addition to their regular mentoring sessions, all three pupils recently completed four-week paid internships with us. As well as the individual internship roles within their respective teams, they were set a group task to assess PPE consumption, create a monthly order, complete the inter-company transaction, and design a pallet for the delivery of the PPE. The aim of the task was to provide a real understanding of how our business works, and to see them work collaboratively to deliver a real-life business scenario.
Tracy Trotter, Group Finance Director, said: “Being able to empower these young people to successfully integrate in to the world of work is immensely satisfying. In a short space of time, we have seen a marked improvement in communication, presentation skills, personal confidence and their understanding of our business.
“Anyone at any level within our business can apply to become a Career Ready mentor, and we hope to expand this programme throughout the UK next year.”
Career Ready is a charitable organisation that since 2002 has been connecting employers with schools and colleges to provide young people aged 14-18 with mentors, internships, masterclasses, and employer-led activities that prepare them for the world of work. Find out more at Careerready.org.uk
