Apprentices

Hillington-based John G Russell (Transport) is to beef up its participation in the Invest in Renfrewshire scheme, a council initiative to help tackle local youth unemployment and support business growth.

The scheme, set up in June 2012, aims to build partnerships with local firms who want to make an investment in young people aged 16-24. More than 300 firms have signed up to it so far.

The Invest in Renfrewshire initiative provides a range of ways to bring employers and potential employees together, such as events, workplace visits, work experience placements, graduate internships, and apprenticeships.

Although John G Russell (Transport) joined the scheme almost immediately after it was started, it has not pursued it very actively up to now, admitted HR and quality manager, Tom Lawson. “We’re now looking to become more heavily involved,” he told Motortransport.co.uk.

It’s not clear yet how many taster sessions, work placements or other opportunities the firm will be able to offer young people over the next 12 months but “we’ll do as much as we possibly can”, he said.

Apart from potentially introducing fresh talent to the business, the move will also help John G Russell (Transport) interact with the local community, suggested Lawson.

“It’s key to get the message out that logistics isn’t just about trucks and warehouses – we’ve got accountants, finance people, IT people, administrators and engineers here too, among others – and that’s a message that needs to be told,” he said.

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