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Hillcrest Enterprises News
Hillcrest Driving Forward Employment
Jamie Campbell was swinging into action today in his new role of Apprenticeship Greenkeeper at Panmure Golf Course. Thanks to Hillcrest Enterprises’ Toolbox Project, Jamie has secured an apprenticeship with the Golf Course after a 26 week placement.
Jamie, aged 18 from Carnoustie, commented that “After leaving school I completed an Introduction to Construction course at Angus college. I then went on to do some seasonal work at Carnoustie as a greeenkeeper which I really enjoyed. I was struggling to find a job when the Careers service referred me to the Toolbox Project.”
Hillcrest’s Toolbox project is aimed at helping young people gain experience and build their confidence. Jamie continued that “The placement I got through Toolbox was great. I really enjoyed working at Panmure and the placement taught me a lot. I was over the moon to be offered an apprenticeship at the end of it.”
Over the last year Hillcrest’s Toolbox Project which covers Dundee and Angus has provided 48 young people with placements. 13 of these people moved into employment and 27 completed an accredited qualification. John Mulloy, Hillcrest’s Chief executive, commented that “We are trying to offer unemployed, unskilled young people the experience that will allow them to make the transition from school or college into working life. By increasing their skills, confidence and self-esteem we hope to enable them to go on and secure employment.”
The Toolbox Project was established in 2007 and since then has gone on to operate in Angus as well as Dundee. The expansion of the project has seen apprentices in construction, administration, maintenance and hospitality, with the success of the project relying on the support of employers in the area.
Gary Nicoll, Head greenkeeper at Panmure Golf Club, commented that “The Toolbox Project is a great initiative. Working with Hillcrest let us give Jamie the experience of working in the role of greenkeeper. This allowed us to see how well he worked which resulted in an apprenticeship being offered.”