Hollie McArthur beat scores of other applicants to gain a job as an apprentice joiner with Barratt Homes.

Sarah Healy and Helena Montague, meanwhile, have both been offered jobs by Newhouse-based property maintenance company Timetra.

All three students successfully completed a six-week work placement at Timetra as part of their studies.

Before enrolling on the Construction Pre-Apprenticeship course, Hollie and Helena completed an introductory programme, Females into Construction, at the College’s Motherwell Campus in early-2018.

Scott Murray, managing director of Timetra, said: “This is the third year of our successful partnership with New College Lanarkshire and, as a local company, we are delighted to give real-life work experience to young people who are considering in pursuing a career in the construction industry.

“With this being our 50th anniversary as a construction company, we have great pleasure in employing both Sarah and Helena.

“The construction sector has been very slow in enhancing diversity and change, and I have no doubt these young women will succeed in their chosen professions.”

Construction lecturer John Quinn added: “It is great that a local employer has employed two women into their workforce and I have high hopes for both as they excelled in all their college work.

“And I am not surprised that Hollie was successful in gaining an apprenticeship with Barratt as she was very capable and completed all her units to a very high standard.

“We can’t wait to welcome Hollie, Sarah and Helena back to the College in August for the start of their first-year apprenticeship training with CITB.”

Staff in the College’s Faculty of Engineering and Automotive arrange work placements for students by working in partnership with Morrison Construction and a number of local firms.

The placements allow students to gain an insight into the skills and knowledge required for a career in the construction industry while also creating a smooth transition between education and employment.

A number of students from the course have gained apprenticeships with their work placement provider:

• Paul Loughran has secured an apprenticeship with Kilmarnock-based D&D Decorators, which is a contractor with Morrison Construction. He worked at the new Cumbernauld Academy site;
• Steven McLean and Marc Muldoon have gained apprenticeships with Brannock Decorators in Cleland;
• Munro Chalmers gained an apprenticeship with Allied Interiors in Cumbernauld.

Before going on placement, students have obtained CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) and IOSH Working Safely qualifications as part of their studies.