NHS Ayrshire & Arran has joined forces with Jobcentre Plus to offer work experience to young jobseekers so they can improve their understanding of the working world through the youth contract programme.

This eight-week work experience placement gives young unemployed people who may lack experience the opportunity to adjust to the routines and habits of real working life, and therefore significantly improving their employment prospects.

Two more people who have recently benefitted from the youth contract programme are Louise Fitzsimmons and Dionne Kirkwood. Louise and Dionne undertook eight-week placements as clerical officers at University Hospital Crosshouse and have since been successful in securing full-time, permanent jobs within the Radiology Department.

Louise said: “Completing the eight-week youth contract programme provided me with a variety of experience in different clerical roles. All staff were friendly and supportive in encouraging me to establish work with the NHS. This placement provided me with hands on experience in the role as Clerical Officer and a working knowledge of the department, as well as experience I could include in applications and interviews. I am delighted to have been offered full-time permanent employment in the X-ray department where I completed my placement.”

Dionne added: “I really enjoyed my placement and gained a vast amount of knowledge and insight, as well as experience in reception duties, answering telephone enquiries, booking appointments and sorting reports. I feel the youth

contract was a great experience and very beneficial – it helped me to gain employment and secure a full-time permanent position.”

Cheryl Kenny is Office Manager for Radiology at University Hospital Crosshouse and Louise and Dionne’s manager. She said: “The X-ray department is pleased to support the development of young people in Ayrshire by providing them with valuable work experience through the youth contract programme. These skills can then be used in future employment. We are delighted that two former youth contract workers have now joined our team on a permanent basis.”

To find out if you are eligible, or for more information about the youth contract programme, please contact your work coach at your Local Job Centre.