YOU'RE HIRED!!!

Original Story posted in Greenock Telegraph on 21st August 2007, by Elaine Bowers, link to original story.

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ON FRIDAY night, business trainee William Baxter was grinning from ear to ear as he revealed his first task yesterday was to return to school — for his leaver’s form.

The 17-year-old is set to join the staff at IBM after impressing judges with his head for business and his ability to work in a team and on his own initiative.

Like all The Recruit hopefuls, he spent his school holiday on challenges and assignments in a bid to convince assessors he deserved the chance to get his foot on the first rung of the career ladder.

Last week, he returned to Greenock High to begin his final school year, while awaiting the results of his efforts.

Two days later, he was ripping up his timetable and preparing to join the world of work.
William, who was joined at The Recruit black-tie awards dinner in Greenock Town Hall by his delighted mum Senga and gran Rita, said: “It is fantastic. I put a lot of hard work in, so it has been worth it.”

William’s enthusiasm was matched by Greenock Academy pupil David McKenzie who scooped a much-coveted sales post with Hewlett Packard.

Shortly after being handed his contract, David said: “I am ecstatic. I am still shaking. I said to my dad I didn’t think I had got it, then, just at that second, my name was called.”

David visited Hewlett Packard during The Recruit programme and immediately set his sights on joining the firm.He said: “I was really impressed, so I am delighted to be working with them.”

Kirsty Townsend, 16, was cautiously optimistic when she decided not to buy a new uniform for the new term at Inverclyde Academy. Her hesitation paid off as she will now need the cash to buy a suit.

Kirsty is set to begin her career with T-Mobile, much to the delight of mum Mhairi and stepdad Andy Hanley.

She said: “I am so excited. The Recruit has been a brilliant experience.”

Wellington Academy pupil Graeme Baillie, 18, has been working part time for the last 15 months with T-Mobile. However, he is set to hand in his notice after securing employment with The Learning Game.

He said: “I can’t believe it. The attitude of the staff when we went there was unbelievable. Everyone was so upbeat.”

Graeme starts work in September and is looking forward to spending his first wage on a holiday to Turkey.

Graeme expressed special gratitude to his maths teacher Siobhan McDonald saying: “She told me at the very beginning I had a good chance of winning.”

Fellow Wellington Academy pupil Ross Guiller, 17, also paid tribute to the popular maths teacher.

Ross, who won a production design and manufacturing position with local firm Blairs of Scotland, said: “I am speechless. Blairs was my first choice.”

Natalie Kerr, 17, of Greenock High, will also be joining Ross at Blairs, although in an accountancy capacity. She said: “I am overwhelmed. It’s fantastic.”

Ross McWilliams is now on the pay roll of accountancy firm Milne Craig. The 17-year old Notre Dame pupil said: “I am ecstatic. Now I will be able to pay my sister back. She gave me money for a car.”

Around 1,000 school pupils applied for a place on The Recruit, with just 36 selected to take part. Over the next five months they worked with — and competed against — each other at a three-day outward-bound challenge, seven business challenges, 25 team, or individual, tasks and wrote 25 reports.

They also raised £2,400 for Ardgowan Hospice during an enterprise challenge.
At the beginning of the £100,000 programme — funded by the Scottish Executive — it was hoped two recruits would be offered trainee management jobs. However, interest in the programme soared and by Friday night seven jobs were on offer.

Enterprise development officer Robert Lamb said: “Each and every one of them has been a credit to their schools, families and most importantly themselves. Each and every one of them has been fantastic.”