HUB South West are offering school leavers in South Ayrshire a chance to boost their careers.

For the second year in a row, the construction and infrastructure partnership, is providing opportunities for South Ayrshire school leavers to progress in the construction industry.

Last year’s successful course saw 11 young students from schools in the area, including Prestwick Academy, Belmont Academy and Girvan Academy, who launched towards careers in the construction industry, 

The course, Your Future Starts in Construction, is the first of its kind to be offered by hub South West. 

Teachers can refer candidates to the employability programme if they are amongst the planned early leavers.

Those selected for the course will then go on to an intensive programme running from May to July, featuring one day a week at college for eight weeks and two full weeks learning employability skills, a week's work experience on an active construction site, and a series of practical experience sessions in skills such as brickwork, joinery and painting and decorating.

Michael McBrearty, chief executive of hub South West, said: “Construction underpins such a large swathe of Scotland’s economy, yet is suffering from a severe shortage of skilled and enthusiastic young people.

“By supporting this course, we want to invest in, not just the future of our industry, but the future of young people in Scotland who might not get this opportunity. 

"Last year showed that, given the chance, young people who could otherwise be written off, will do more than thrive; they will excel.”

Candidates will also have the opportunity to progress to a trade-specific course at the highly-regarded Ayrshire College in Kilmarnock, adding a practical qualification to the experience and skills they will learn.

Schools participating in this years programme will be announced over the coming months.