A NEW project will provide young people with a new rural outlook - and open up opportunities for them in the horticultural sector.

Pupils from the Garnock Community Campus are taking part in GROW – Garnock Rural Outdoor World – which will help boost their skills and make them attractive to employers.

Supporting this initiative are Developing Young Workforce Ayrshire and the Prince’s Trust Scotland.

This project will allow the pupils to:

• Develop real skills in a practical context

• Develop vocational skills which will result in jobs

• Develop knowledge of the world of work

• Develop links with potential employers.

North Ayrshire Depute Provost Robert Barr recently launched the project and said: “There are lots of job opportunities in the horticultural sector in Ayrshire and hopefully some of the young people who are participating in the project will obtain jobs and develop careers in this sector.

“This is a fantastic initiative and everyone involved deserves huge credit. We look forward to seeing how the pupils progress.”

The young people will learn how to grow plants and vegetables, maintain them, market them and speak to buyers and suppliers.

It is hoped that GROW will significantly assist in the development of employability skills known as the 6Cs – confidence, communications, commitment, customer services and customer care and courtesy - in the young people taking part in this project.

The GROW team displayed their project at the recent DYW Ayrshire Conference where they presented their project to Jamie Hepburn, Minister of Employability and Training.

The funding being provided to this project is through the DYW Youth Employment and the Cash Back for Communities initiatives supported by the Scottish Government.