Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, has visited Lochend Community High School in Easterhouse. Glasgow, to see how its students are being given a taste of the world of work by Sodexo, a leading food and facilities management services provider.

Accompanied by Samantha Barber, chief executive of Scottish Business in the Community (SBC), the Minister met a group of students who have either already taken part in the ‘World of Work’ programme - run by Sodexo in partnership with SBC and Glasgow District Council - or are currently preparing to.

The students spoke to Mr MacAskill about the benefits of the programme, which sees individuals undertake a week-long work placement at Glasgow Sheriff Court - where Sodexo also manages the food services - to gain real-life experience of applying for a job, having an interview and holding work related responsibility.

To apply for the programme, now in its fourth year, students must first respond complete an application form, undergo a competency-based interview and take a food hygiene exam. If successful, a member of Sodexo staff is assigned as their ‘buddy’ for the week, to guide them through a range of activities.

During the placement, students prepare food, serve customers, wait tables, and operate the till across a variety of restaurants at the Glasgow Sheriff Court including the Sheriffs’ dining room, the jury room, public restaurant, and the prisoner meal service. They also watch a live court session, see police cells and prisoners, and meet a court officer, before evaluating their performance with a Sodexo manager, who communicates this feedback to their teachers.

The programme aims to ensure that students develop a better understanding of working life, particularly the opportunities offered by the food and facilities management services industry.
Kenny MacAskill MSP said: “I’m pleased to see first hand the good work that is being done through this initiative.  The Scottish Government is committed to supporting local partners in the public, private and voluntary sector to provide more choices and chances for our young people. Developing their skills, confidence and work-readiness and improving their overall learning experience is key to achieving sustainable economic growth.”

Samantha Barber, chief executive, Scottish Business in the Community, said: “While the recession poses a host of threats for Scottish businesses, SBC believes that an opportunity now presents itself for smart businesses to continue with a robust approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and to realise the immediate and long-term benefits in doing so. The time and effort Sodexo gives to preparing the students of Lochend School for the ‘World of Work’ is an excellent example of a business working innovatively to develop the skills and talent of Scotland’s future workforce. There has never been a greater need for this kind of responsible business practice in Scotland.”

Margaret Coyle, Sodexo’s general manager at Glasgow Sheriff Court said: “Over the years, the students have been very enthusiastic and willing to learn new skills during their interactions with our catering teams and the wider Sheriff Court staff. Some have even said that they would like to pursue a career in the catering industry, whilst it has given others a useful insight into the many other areas of work represented at the court, such as the police force, legal profession and social services.”

Aileen McManus, employability and enterprise officer at Lochend Community High School said: “There is no doubt that the partnership we have Sodexo has been an extremely worthwhile and valuable addition to the educational experience of a significant number of our young people, and has made a substantial contribution to our social inclusion agenda. The commitment and professionalism of Sodexo’s personnel ensure that our students find the programme a confidence building and eye-opening introduction to the opportunities available to them when they leave school.”