A group of North Lanarkshire young people have made a splash in the world of work with the help of a local employment project.

Coatbridge’s Time Capsule leisure centre has taken on five new employees after they successfully completed a training programme for school leavers and unemployed people organised in collaboration with North Lanarkshire’s Working Employability Service.

Emma (17) from Airdrie, Daniel (17) from Bellshill, Kenneth (26) from Viewpark and Stephen (26) from Coatbridge successfully completed a lifeguard training course, while Aileen (34) from Wishaw finished an administration course.

The North Lanarkshire’s Working project offers local people access to a range of free skills courses and employment projects which can help them find suitable work. Managers at the Time Capsule worked closely with the Employability Service staff to devise the courses, which were designed to ultimately lead to an offer of employment.

Both the administration and lifeguard training courses involved intensive hands-on work which required the trainees to quickly become effective members of the Time Capsule team.

The four-week lifeguard course required the trainees to learn lifeguarding, first aid and customer care skills, while the 12-week administration course involved the development of payroll and personnel skills.

All five of the trainees worked hard during their training, and Time Capsule bosses are pleased with their new recruits.

Debi Ross, Facility Development Officer at the Time Capsule, said: “We’re delighted with the dedication and commitment that each of our new employees showed during their training.

”The courses offered a challenge right from the start and they were more than up to the task.

“We’re keen to continue our association with North Lanarkshire’s Working and hope to start similar customised training courses in other areas of the Time Capsule soon.”

The trainees are equally enthusiastic about their new job. The lifeguards officially started their employment in mid-July, and all are enjoying their experience.

Newly-qualified lifeguard Emma McKenzie said: “I’ve always been a keen swimmer and liked the thought of working in a swimming pool, and when I heard about the training course through the local Job Centre I knew it was for me.

“The training was exciting and I learned a lot in a short space of time. I’m really proud to be doing a job I enjoy and I hope to work my way up through the ranks at the Time Capsule as I gain experience.

”I’d recommend a similar training course to anyone who has a career in mind which they would like to pursue.”

Cllr Tom Maginnis, Convener, Regeneration Services Committee, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to help these five people into employment.

”The North Lanarkshire’s Working Employability Service is committed to offering help and support to all local people who require it, from school leavers keen to find their first job to long-term unemployed who are looking to get back into the job market.

“There are more opportunities out there than people might realise, and we’re ideally placed to help them to unlock their potential and find a career which suits them.”

The pool life guard training programme will be repeated in October.  If you are interested in a career as a life guard and want to take part in the next course ring the North Lanarkshire’s Working free phone number on 0800 0730 226