Employment Plus Ayrshire

10/06/2026

Project Complete – And What a Journey It’s Been! 🌟
After 3 years and numerous phases, today we proudly completed our Amey South West Trunk Roads Employability Project at The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory George Steven Community Hub Kilbirnie 🙌

What started as a “small” job (or so we thought!) - groundworks and the er****on of a polytunnel - has grown into two fully successful employability projects delivered with Employment Plus and students from Garnock Community Campus 👏

This year was extra special 💙
We welcomed back two students from last year who stepped up as supervisors, encouraging, mentoring, and inspiring the next group of participants 🌱

Before even stepping on site, all students:
✅ Applied and interviewed for their roles
✅ Gained accredited training in Health & Safety, Lifting & Carrying, and COSHH

A huge thank you to ARCO for supporting us with all the necessary PPE - keeping our team safe every step of the way 🦺

🚧 This week’s onsite work:
Our fantastic team and Amey South West Trunk Roads got stuck in over 3 days:
🔨 Lifting slabs
📏 Framing areas
⚖️ Levelling surfaces
🛣️ Laying tarmac
And learning to use tools like jackhammers, whackers, and wheelbarrows, while understanding dust suppression, hot materials, and the importance of PPE

💪 Blisters were earned, muscles were built and confidence soared!

✨ Today, on the final day, we saw so much more than a finished project:
🤝 New friendships
📈 Growing confidence
🚀 New career ambitions

🙏 Thank you to everyone involved:
Amey for donating time, team, and materials
University of the West of Scotland for supporting students with guidance on Graduate Apprenticeships 🎓
ARCO for helping us work safely

🌟 And a very special thank you to Claire Graham who sparked this entire journey from a chance conversation 3 years ago. We couldn’t have done it without you!

It’s been incredible, rewarding, emotional, and I’ve loved every minute ❤️

26/05/2026

Excited to be delivering this with Take A Bow Kilmarnock every day something different. 🤗

Make this summer COUNT- gain skills, meet employers and prepare for work💼💼

Wether you are studying, parenting or looking for a career change this programme is for you☝ Join a supportive programme open to all adults🤗

This is only available for those aged 16 and over, you can contact us via email, speak to your job coach or drop a DM if you are interested in booking a space📲

22/05/2026

"We need down-to-earth colleagues who thrive under pressure, deliver five-star service at pace, and embrace the transformation we're driving."

25/04/2026

What a glorious end to a busy working week ☀️☀️☀️☀️

I’ve spent a lot of my time this week networking across Ayrshire for The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory Employment Plus.

Monday - had me catch up with Natalie from Take a Bow Opportunity Centre✅

Tuesday - we had the East Ayrshire Practitioners Forum at SL33 in Kilmarnock where is was great to catch up with other providers.✅

Wednesday - I was supporting the Cumnock jobcentre with an apprenticeship information session. Colin from Amey South West Trunk Roads joined me to provide sector specific advice.✅

Thursday - I was over in Kilbirnie speaking to Stephen from the Music Man Project at George Steven Community Hub Kilbirnie about his new podcast.✅

Friday - I was supporting the DWP in Kilmarnock discussing future support.✅

It’s been busy but my favourite type of week. What did I forget???? To take photos📸 Oh well, next time….we keep on keeping on 😃

Thanks again to Claire Graham and Amey South West Trunk Roads for their continued support and advice for the future workforce.

23/04/2026

13/04/2026

🎉 Looking for a summer job?
Want to earn some money, build confidence, or get great experience for your future? We’ve got your back! 🙌

We’re here to provide FREE support for anyone aged 15+, (whether you’re still in school or a recent school leaver) with:
✅ Working out what you're good at
✅ Creating a CV that stands out
✅ Finding summer job opportunities
✅ Help with applications
✅ Interview tips
✅ Work experience options

📩 Message Caroline:
[email protected]
📱 Text or call: 07341 084820

✨ Whether it’s your first job or you just need a bit of guidance, we’re here to help you shine this summer. Enquire now! ☀️

10/04/2026

Happy Birthday to William Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army, born on April 10, 1829. 🎉

His legacy of compassion, service, and unwavering commitment to helping those in need continues to inspire millions around the world. Today, we remember and celebrate a life devoted to making a difference. ❤️