A RECORD number of young people secured jobs with top employers at the Grand Finale of Inverclyde Council’s Recruit programme.

A total of 29 young people from Inverclyde’s secondary schools devoted their summer holidays to participate in the award-winning personal development programme.

The 2014 Top Recruit was unveiled at a special gala along with the other successful candidates.

This year, 16 young people — more than half of the programme’s candidates — were offered jobs by local organisations and businesses.

Matthew Wishart was announced the Top Recruit and received the winning position with leading business services company Concentrix, along with a bonus prize of 20 driving lessons.

A further 15 lucky recruits also secured jobs with eight different employers.

The UK’s largest mobile network operator EE hired the most amount of recruits: Amy Louise Campbell; Jenna Neeson; Lauren Nisbet; Luke Fairley and Sarah Jones.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) took on a further three — Ellis Cunningham, Ryan McKeown and Sophi-Ann Binnie.

Bosses from Cartsburn call centre firm WebHelp TSC were just as impressed and told three candidates ‘you’re hired’.

Hollie Stanton, Megan Shelton and India Dodge-Forder were the young people celebrating their appointments.

Meanwhile, Inverclyde Council hired Chantel Wilkie to join Community Learning and Development and ISS, one of the world’s leading facility services companies, hired Stuart Anderson.

Sophie Smith was offered a job with PG Paper Ltd and has now started work there.

For eight years running, Ardgowan Hospice has been the sole beneficiary of all donations accrued by The Recruit Programme and this year the organisation offered a fortunate recruit the opportunity to join the fundraising team. This job was given to Georgia Barr.

The successful candidates were selected based on their overall performance, attitude, potential, personal drive, determination and employability skills throughout the four month programme of challenges and activities with local organisations.

These businesses included RBS, Concentrix, Phoenix Car Company, Ardgowan Hospice, Webhelp UK, University of West of Scotland, Inverclyde Living, Live n Learn, Easyski, Babygrand, Dominos, EE, FiSH Philosophy, Enchanted Forest Nurseries, Golden Casket, PG Paper, Tree of Knowledge, Ardgowan Hospice, Seatrek Great Harbour, Webhelp UK, ISS UK, Watt Nicol Associates, Clearwater Brookes, Kip Marina, Inverclyde Radio and Inverclyde Council Community Learning and Development.

Challenges in The Apprentice-style contest tested the young people on entrepreneurial skills like profit counting to marketing and branding.

Education and communities convener Councillor Terry Loughran said: “The success of the programme can be clearly seen in the increased number of jobs made available for the young people.

“This year all candidates who were hoping to land a job at the end successfully received a position with the help of the employers who value the programme year after year.

“Inverclyde Council is extremely grateful for all the support from the organisations involved in this very unique programme.

“The process has seen the candidates grow both personally and professionally, as was evident at the awards ceremony.

“I would like to congratulate all the recruits for their outstanding efforts and wish them all the best for their future careers.” The Recruits managed to raise a record £12,000 for Ardgowan Hospice in Greenock throughout the programme, bringing the eight year total for the initiative to over £77,000.

The Recruit has now awarded a total of 75 jobs to young people in Inverclyde since it was launched back in 2008.

See today's Tele for full pictures.