Nine young people from the Highlands carved their first steps into the world of construction as they completed a three-week immersion course.
The Journey into Construction initiative was led by Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Inverness and Central Highland, Robertson and SPW Management Solutions.
It included tailor-made professional training and work experience for young people seeking to upskill and secure jobs in construction.
The programme saw the budding builders first complete qualifications in health and safety, emergency first aid at work and manual handling skills.
They then took part in an employability skills session and two weeks of work placements in Inverness, with Elgin and Stirling-based infrastructure business Robertson.
At the end of their training they were awarded Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards showing they have the required training and qualifications for the type of work they carried out.
Andy Maxtone, programme manager, DYW Inverness and Central Highland, said: “This is our second iteration of the Journey into Construction scheme, having successfully carried it out for local school pupils last year.
“This year’s programme was slightly different – geared towards young people who were perhaps out of work, job seeking or looking to change industries.
“We’ve placed a particular focus on growth sectors within the Highlands – like construction – so participants can come away with something of real value to employers in the region.
He added: “The certifications the participants will gain mean they can go and work on a construction site straight away, without the employer having to put them through training.
“It gives young people a unique selling point from which to launch their careers.”
Robertson regional engagement co-ordinator Jade O’Hara said: “We’re proud to champion programmes like DYW’s Journey into Construction.
“They are invaluable for young people to use as a platform to explore the variety of careers in our industry available to them locally and nationally.
“We are passionate about youth employment because we appreciate how essential it is to the future success of Robertson and Scotland’s growing economy.
Ms O’Hara added: “The construction industry is facing a skills shortage and it is essential we educate our young people about the variety of rewarding careers available to them in our industry.
“I hope those involved in this initiative leave feeling confident and better-equipped as they progress their careers with a sound understanding of industry expectations.”
Feedback from the programme included: “It was great to learn new skills”, “I enjoyed learning from all the different trades, including bricklaying and joinery”, and “people communicated well and were very helpful when doing tasks.”
Details about the scheme can be found on the DYW Inverness and Central Highland website.