A PORT High pupil has been told 'you're hired' after winning an Apprentice-style youth enterprise contest.

Murin Keith was the winner of Inverclyde Council’s personal development programme The Recruit after completing a four month programme of challenges and activities with local organisations.

Murin will now take up a post with West College Scotland - but she wasn’t the only one to secure a job after the programme with another five young people finding employment too.

Caitlin Rodgers and Niamh McKenna will start with Pursuit Marketing, Caitlin McNab is joining the Royal Bank of Scotland, Rebekkah Smilie will work with Inverclyde Council and Matthew Keaney will go to work with Kilpatrick Blane Services.

The six successful candidates were selected based on their performance, attitude, potential, personal drive, determination and employability skills throughout the five month programme and they have now secured posts paying salaries of up to £14,000.

Councillor Natasha Murphy, communities vice convener - herself a former Recruit candidate - said: “Over the years more than a hundred young people have secured contracts with employers as a direct result of the programme.

“Many more have gone on to find employment as a result of the skills, attitudes and understandings they have developed by taking part and taken with them beyond the school gates.

“As Young People’s Champion I am absolutely delighted by the continuing success of this award winning programme - it just seems to go from strength to strength.”

Cllr Murphy congratulated all the young people who took part in the programme and thanked the business and individuals who supported it.

She said: “The Recruit helps to deliver the development of employability skills and partnership working with the prospect of paid employment at the end.

“But it also benefits every young person who takes part - not just those who secure the jobs. I would like to congratulate them all for their outstanding efforts and wish them the best for their future careers.

“I would also like to thank the many businesses and individuals who have supported this project and who recognise the importance of supporting Inverclyde’s inspirational young people.”

Young people from S5 and S6 in Inverclyde schools took part in a series of challenges which tested their entrepreneurial skills from profit counting to marketing and branding.

They also raised money for charity during the contest.

This year’s candidates gathered £6,500 for Ardgowan Hospice and Cancer Research UK.