BATHROOM and kitchen surface manufacturer Rearo has teamed up with Bridgeton-based employment charity First Steps Future Training to create work opportunities for underprivileged young people.
The partnership aims to equip youngsters, aged 12 to 25, with the skills, experience and confidence needed for future employment.
First Steps Future Training provides people with construction training and qualifications. Its training programme covers a range of trades, including bricklaying, joinery, painting, decorating, and scaffolding. The charity has helped hundreds of youngsters from underprivileged backgrounds to find work since being formed in 2013.
Rearo, based in Govan, manufactures high-pressure laminate wall panels and commercial washrooms for businesses including fast food restaurants, supermarkets, and high street chains.
Jamie Campbell, Rearo’s operations excellence manager, said, “The programme that First Steps has set up is remarkable. It provides a valuable training ground for these young individuals who might not have had the best start in life.”
As part of the collaboration, Rearo has contributed to the charity’s facilities, providing toilet cubicles and wall panels to enhance the infrastructure at First Steps’ HQ at Broad Street in Bridgeton.
Jamie Campbell added, “When First Steps reached out to us, we saw an opportunity not just to offer employment but also to contribute to the community. We decided to provide toilet cubicles and wall panels to support the charity in creating a conducive learning environment.”
As well as potential job placements, Rearo is also offering a six-week trial period for graduates of First Steps’ training programme, described as essentially providing a pre-apprenticeship experience. This allows both the company and the individual to assess compatibility before committing to a formal apprenticeship.
Potential apprentices will help to install the Rearo toilet cubicles and Selkie wet wall panels at the charity’s premises.
“It’s like a win-win situation,” Campbell explained. “The trial period helps us identify if the individual is a good fit for our company, and it gives the young person a chance to experience the workplace before committing to a long-term apprenticeship.”
Rearo is actively involved in promoting the programme to local schools. The company is reaching out to high schools to encourage pupils to consider apprenticeships. The firm also intends to diversify its workforce by potentially hiring older individuals.
George Bruce, operations manager of First Steps Future Training, commented, “To say that we’re grateful is an understatement. Rearo has not only provided potential employment opportunities for our graduates but has also enhanced our facilities with their generous donation. This collaboration goes beyond a transaction; it’s about investing in the future of these young individuals.”
The success stories emerging from First Steps are a testament to the positive impact of such collaborations. The charity maintains a ‘Wall of Success’ featuring individuals who have successfully transitioned into employment or apprenticeships after completing the programme.
