Run by Inverclyde Council, “The Recruit” is a summer-long programme based around the TV programme The Apprentice for 5th year pupils who are moving to 6th year or into the world of work.

Alongside other businesses such as Amazon and Inverkip Marina, the organisations each set a day’s challenge for the participants and Cloch’s challenge was to look to design a home and community of the future using research, discussion, creativity and Lego.

Facilitated by Lorna Wilson of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), the young participants worked in teams to develop their ideas and finished the day with a presentation of their work. Votes were then cast for the favourite ideas, which included a skyscraper that was a community complete with shops, spa and community garden and a house that could be relocated by flying.

MPS Housing, Cloch’s reactive repairs contractor, was also represented and worked alongside Cloch staff on the day giving presentations about how their journey in choosing housing or maintenance as a career experience and what they do as a job.

Similar to The Apprentice, part of the programme is to ask businesses to offer employment to a “recruit”. Cloch will be offering an 18-month Modern Apprenticeship in Housing while MPS Housing has offered a four-year Trade Apprenticeship as part of its community benefit through its contract with Cloch.

The decisions on which candidates are successful will be made in the weeks ahead and announced to the group at a Gala Dinner later in August.

Liz Bowden, corporate services manager at Cloch, said: “This fantastic programme offers so many opportunities to these young people who have big decisions to make about their futures. Hopefully, we have given them a good idea of why a career in social housing is an excellent path to take and the fact that one young person will be offered a four-year trade apprenticeship is a fantastic opportunity.”

Cloch’s participation in this programme is part of its Young Person Strategy which aims to support young people in the community whether that is through employment or a greater awareness of housing, community and the environment.