Louise Logan from Falkirk took part in a paid six-month traineeship last year, which was part of the government’s Kickstart work programme to help out-of-work 16- to 24-year-olds improve their career prospects, by learning new skills in a real working environment.
Before the Kickstart programme Louise was looking for a job after completing a college course and took up the placement offer to boost her career opportunities. Following a successful six months, Louise has now accepted a permanent position as an operations administrator working at the Port of Grangemouth’s busy container terminal.
Keeping container traffic flowing
Her new role includes ensuring that all the container traffic through the port flows as efficiently as possible, helping haulage drivers with their enquiries and ensuring the right containers get released to the correct customers.
Commenting on her new role, Louise said: “I have learned and gained experience in a field I had not previously considered while earning a full-time wage. I have also been in contact with my work coach from DWP throughout the programme who has checked how I am getting on. I am really pleased to have been offered a full-time role at the Port and I am really enjoying it.”
Michelle Primrose, group HR manager at Forth Ports said: “Our congratulations to Louise on her new full-time role with the container operations team following her successful Kickstart traineeship. During the pandemic it was not an easy time for young people looking to start a career and we saw the Kickstart scheme as an ideal way of developing the young workforce of the future.
Almost 100 apprenticeships across the group
“Forth Ports has a long and proud tradition of investing in young people including our apprenticeship programme which has trained and recruited almost a hundred apprentices across the group covering engineering, operations, finance and health and safety, with many of those apprentices going on to have a fulfilling career in the Forth Ports business.”
Gill Jardine, senior customer service leader for DWP East Scotland, said: “DWP are happy to hear that our partnership with Forth Ports has resulted in offering our young customer Louise Logan a permanent post following her successful Kickstart placement last year.”
Louise’s work coach at Falkirk Jobcentre, Anne Thomson, said: “I am so pleased for Louise. When she came to me last year, she was looking for a role in hospitality or retail.
“I worked with her to build her confidence and supported her to apply for the Forth Ports role. We got great feedback after her interview with Forth Ports and she was then offered a six-month Kickstart placement. I am absolutely delighted to hear that she has now been offered a permanent post.”