Exciting times for Renfrewshire young people as The Recruit 2014 gets underway

 

A bunch of Renfrewshire young people are combating the problem of youth unemployment by taking part in The Recruit, a council-run employment programme run in the local area.

The programme is loosely based on TV’s The Apprentice, and involves young people aged 16-24 taking part in a series of enterprise and skills-based tasks, with jobs on offer for the winners.

This year’s Recruit has changed the format of previous years, by bringing all the age groups together, with each team having a mixture of ages. The teams compete to win each challenge, and also compete against each other for the prize of Top Recruit. The project is part-funded by the European Social Fund.

The programme got off to a flying start, with the first challenges being set at outdoor centre Auchengillen. Many of the Recruits overcame their fear of heights to participate in the pole climbing and abseiling challenges, and got to grips with a bow and arrow in the archery challenge. The activities also gave the Recruits a chance to bond in their teams – The Black Hawks, The Sublime Limes, The Peaches and The Green Dragons – and despite the cold weather, all the young people had a great day.

With challenges including a charity fundraiser, a tour of Tennants Training Academy and fire safety training courtesy of Code Red fire safety, The Recruits will have a jampacked schedule, right up until the finale in March.

Watch this space for announcements on the results of the challenge, and the all-important award winners.