Youngsters are being offered the chance to kick-start their careers as the council hosts a special recruitment day for Modern Apprentices.

Young people aged 16-19 looking for an opportunity to get their foot on the career ladder are being urged to sign up and head along to the event to see if they have what it takes for a Modern Apprenticeship (MA) with the council.

The event takes place on Tuesday, June 6 at Greenwood Conference Centre in Dreghorn from 9.30am-3.30pm.

Between 9.30am-1pm on the day, youngsters will get the chance to meet some of the council services offering Modern Apprenticeships including Paralegal, Arboriculture, Bereavement, Housing, Procurement, Information Security, Business Admin, Childcare, Professional Cookery, Horticulture, Vehicle Maintenance and Health & Social Care – to name but a few.

North Ayrshire Council has up to 85 Modern Apprenticeship positions to fill this year and young people interested in applying for any posts can take advantage of computers there at the event.

Members of the Council’s Employability and Skills team will also be on hand to assist applicants with the application process itself.

The event forms part of the council’s commitment to providing 250 Modern Apprenticeships for local youngsters over three years.

Caitriona McAuley, Head of Economic Growth, said: “As one of the area’s largest employers, it is vital that we lead the way in promoting and encouraging young people into work.

“We have a commitment to our young people to offer as many positive opportunities as possible. And that’s why our Modern Apprenticeship programme is incredibly important as it gives them a chance to learn new skills, get used to a working life and provide a focus that they possibly didn’t have beforehand.

“Next month’s event will allow us to highlight all of the various MA opportunities available to young people in North Ayrshire and provide them with an opportunity to bridge the gap between leaving school and finding work.”

Amy O’Rourke (20), is one of the 145 youngsters to have taken part in the Council’s Modern Apprenticeship programme in the last two years. Only six-months into her two-year stint as an MA, she successfully gained full-time employment within the council’s education and youth employment service.

She said: “I couldn’t recommend a Modern Apprenticeship with the council enough. After leaving school, I struggled with trying to decide what I wanted to do career-wise. I had heard about the council’s Modern Apprentice programme through a family friend but I wasn’t sure what this would entail.

“But one day while job searching, I came across a Business Administration MA with the council. Under the job spec, it explained that the MA would allow me to work and gain further qualifications at the same time. It was a ‘no-brainer’ for me.

“I applied online and got an interview only two-days later – it was all go. I found out I had been successful and was even allowed to decide which council department I wanted to work within. I chose education, and once I joined the team, I worked alongside another MA in the department’s administration section.

“However, only six-months into my apprenticeship and having successfully achieved my level two in business admin, I was offered a full-time post as a Clerical Assistant within the resources section.

“I was over the moon to have not only found a job I really wanted to do, but that I was valued so highly as an MA that I was offered a job after just a few months.

“Since taking up the post last November it has been non-stop, I’m in contact with headteachers from schools across North Ayrshire on a daily basis, assisting them with recruitment queries, contracts, hours – I’m on hand to help them with anything related to staffing resources.

“Now six months into my full-time post, I can truly say that the MA programme has been one of the best things to have happened to me. It’s opened doors, allowed me to progress myself and I’ve met so many new friends.

“I would highly recommend the programme to any young person who is struggling to decide on their career path.”

Places from the recruitment day must be booked in advance by contacting the council on 01294 324949 or email MAEnquiriesEG@north-ayrsire.gov.uk.

All available Modern Apprenticeships are advertised on MyJobScotland: https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/north-ayrshire-council.