Cumbernauld teenager Ryan gets an Xtra Hand into work

ALOCAL teenager is benefiting from a North Lanarkshire’s Working work placement programme.

A LOCAL teenager has benefited from a North Lanarkshire’s Working work placement programme.

Ryan Hendrie from Cumbernauld is one of the North Lanarkshire young people who has benefited from getting involved in the Xtra Hands programme. He joined the programme after leaving school at the end of 2009.

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The Xtra Hands initiative, launched in 2009, provides local young people aged between 16 and 17 the opportunity to take up a six-month work placement with a local employer to help them build their self-confidence and develop new skills.

Caitriona McAuley, economic development manager, North Lanarkshire Council, said: “The Xtra Hands initiative has been one of the real successes of the North Lanarkshire’s Working partnership.”

Ryan (17) said: “I was attending the Forward Training course at Cumbernauld College when I heard about Xtra Hands. I was really keen to find work, and Forward Training had given me a lot of support on writing my CV and interview skills, so I felt like Xtra Hands would be perfect for me.”

Ryan was offered an Xtra Hands position as a recycling operative at CMS Enviro Systems, a manufacturer and installer of windows, doors and curtain walling systems, and he began work in early 2010.

Ryan added: “I was offered a permanent position helping to make reinforced window frames and I was thrilled.”

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