Essentials Plus Training Academy Saltcoats held their latest graduation last week in Saltcoats.

Both horticulture and childcare trainees on qualified with ten graduates having passed several subjects.

Pictured with the most recent trainee graduates are, Managing Directors Marianne and Peter Greenway, Training Manager Christine Powell and Patricia Gibson MSP who presented the certificates. This year their trainees are also undertaking the Certificate of Work Readiness or Introduction to Work Place Skills alongside the Horticulture and Childcare certificates.

Managing Director, Marianne Greenway, stated: “I love to see the change in the trainees from the first week to the twelfth week. The work placement took place with Ayrshire Childrens Services and the new play and skills centre Ko_Nekt, where they were mentored by the support staff. All trainees threw themselves into the course work.”

Managing Director, Peter Greenway, stated: “The horticulture course has evolved, taking a more community approach to practical experience our trainees receive. Working with local elderly care homes our trainees maintain the outside space to allow access for the residence. We have also built partnerships with local employers and community groups to widen the items that we can cover within the training.”

Training Manager Christine Powell said: “This has been an amazing year with five out of the six courses having ran since May 2018. One young man moved onto an MA with NAC, two into college, and seven with positions within a couple of weeks of ending the training. Thank you to the employers who are now contacting us asking for our trainees to apply for their vacancies. Our next childcare course starts November 19 with ten trainees and the next will start after the new year.”

“If you wish to come and train with us in either horticulture, landscaping or childcare please call 01294 601974 for more details, 93% of those who made that call in 2017 are now in work.”