Article Source: East Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 26 March 2014 20:14
The Young Enterprise Scotland Academy is run by Young Enterprise Scotland on behalf of East Renfrewshire Council.
A total of £400,000 over four years has been invested by the council in the centre, which is based within a council facility in the Giffnock park.
It will deliver a wide range of training through vocational and modern apprenticeship programmes and aims to address gaps in training provision to help young people into sustainable employment.
There will also be volunteering opportunities and work experience to set residents on the road to the jobs market.
Since it opened its doors late last year, more than 500 young people have been involved with different programmes and initiatives.
Today, trainees and staff from the Academy invited guests for the official opening and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a tour of the five new training and classroom activities, and workshops.
Convener for infrastructure and sustainable growth, Councillor Tony Buchanan, said: “This is a very exciting new venture and the centre is an inspiring environment in which our young people can grow and develop.
“East Renfrewshire Council’s investment of £400,000 over four years will help the Academy deliver its extensive range of activities that will enable our young people to access employment.
“It is a fantastic facility that has the potential to become a centre of best practice nationally and that will benefit not only our young people but the wider community.
“I look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength.”
The Academy also works with other partners including Glasgow Clyde College, South Lanarkshire College, Grow Wild, Big Lottery, Mansell Homes and Skills Development Scotland.
At the opening, guests were addressed by Stuart Miller and Rosemary McGinness, chief executive and chair of Young Enterprise Scotland, Councillor Buchanan and Academy operations manager James Ward.
Pupils from Isobel Mair School were on hand to talk about their ‘Grow, Cook and Eat’ project, Barrhead High pupils were there to discuss the Grow Wild project at the old Barrhead waterworks, where a £100,000 grant is transforming the former industrial site, and the Royal Horticultural Society hosted a workshop.
James Ward said: “We have established some valuable partnerships already which have been recognised today and I would like to thank East Renfrewshire Council for believing in our capacity to deliver this project.
“We have created an environment which stimulates learning through doing and offers an opportunity to young people of all levels to grow at their own pace and fulfil their potential.
“Having now navigated our way through the first six months, the Academy is now looking at areas of new development and potential new working partnerships. The YES Academy is where everything is possible.”
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