North Lanarkshire Celebrates Record-Breaking Success of Youth Career Programs

More than 250 young people from across North Lanarkshire have been honored for their achievements in the council's expanding early careers initiatives. The celebration, held at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility on Friday, August 7, brought together students, apprentices, interns, placement providers, mentors, and employer partners to mark a year of outstanding progress.

Record Participation in Summer Placements

This year, a record 207 students completed the seven-week paid Summer Placement Programme, up from 191 last year and nearly nine times the number since its launch in 2023. The event also recognized the Modern Apprenticeship Programme, currently supporting 73 apprentices, and the inaugural Internship Programme, offering opportunities to 15 university students across various professional fields.

Participants gained hands-on experience in council services and with employer partners in sectors such as health and social care, digital, education, business support, and the built environment. These programs are designed to build confidence, develop workplace skills, and explore future career paths while strengthening the local workforce.

Voices from the Celebration

Provost Kenneth Duffy praised the young people, saying, "It was a real pleasure to meet so many talented young people. Every one of them should be proud of what they've achieved. I also want to say a huge thank you to our council services, placement providers, mentors, and partners who have shared their time, experience, and encouragement. Programs like this simply wouldn't happen without their support."

He also thanked event sponsors, including Virgin Media O2, QA Ltd, McLaughlin & Harvey, McTaggart Construction, Mears Group, Brakes, sportscotland, Adult Health & Social Care, and Active NL, noting that their backing creates opportunities that can change lives.

Building the Future Workforce

The Summer Placement Programme is part of the One Workforce Plan and Brighter Futures initiative, aimed at creating meaningful opportunities for young people while developing the workforce of tomorrow. Fiona Whittaker, Chief Officer (People & Organisational Development), highlighted the programs' growth: "It's fantastic to see how these programmes continue to grow, giving more young people the chance to gain experience, build confidence, and take their first steps towards rewarding careers."

She expressed gratitude to the dedicated teams, managers, mentors, placement providers, and employer partners, whose commitment has made a real difference. The event underscored the strong partnerships that are nurturing the next generation of talent in North Lanarkshire.