ESSENTIALS Plus Training Academy Saltcoats held their first graduation of 2017 last week.

Pictured with the most recent trainee graduates are, Managing Director Marianne Greenway, Training Manager Christine Powell, John Herd from North Ayrshire Education and Patricia Gibson, SNP candidate for the General Election, who presented the certificates.

The Childcare and Horticulture courses have been extremely successful with one trainee starting her new job on Saturday, May 6, and the other two in the next few weeks with Ayrshire Children's Services and one young man starting with Kingcroft Logistics In Irvine.

Both courses were funded by Skills Development Scotland with referrals to the training coming from their partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions, extended outreach and the local secondary schools.

Managing Director, Marianne Greenway, stated: “Yet again we have had a great group of trainees who threw themselves into the course work. The horticulture course is run at Geilsland House in Beith working closely with Beith Community Trust. Our trainees have worked hard at Beith to bring the grounds back to life and gain the skills they need to move into horticulture. The childcare trainees have all shown great promise and will all start work over the next two months with Ayrshire Children's Services.

Patricia Gibson MP attended to present the certificates to both the childcare and horticulture trainees, some of whom were picking up nine certificates.

Training Manager, Christine Powell, said: “I have to thank the employers who have attended at both Saltcoats and Beith over the six weeks and to Beith Community Trust for their support in our venture.”

Last week Training Manager Christine Powell attended her own award ceremony when she was awarded the Imperial Service Medal from her majesty the queen.

This is a company to look out for, they have been growing year on year and this can only be a good thing for employers and those searching for work within North Ayrshire.

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