A GREENOCK hotel is helping to give local young people a chance of employment - and bouncing back from the Covid-19 pandemic with record-breaking bookings.

The Holiday Inn has teamed up with West College Scotland on a new partnership to offer placements to students who are on an employability course.

As part of close community links the hotel is determined to offer opportunities to young people.

Students Megan Stewart and Shaela Sidoma are benefitting from the experience of working at the busy hotel.

It comes after the hotel confirmed that the surge in UK staycations helped bring their busiest bank holidays ever.

Holiday Inn manager Colin Moore told the Tele: "We are always happy to work closely with the college and other people in the community.

"We have offered placements and opportunities to many young people over the years.

"It has been a tough year with Covid and we have had to adapt to the changes in the Holiday Inn.

"But we recently had our busiest ever bank holiday."

Colin says the future is bright for the hotel as the area is establishing itself on the tourism map.

He said: "Inverclyde is an up and coming area.

"There have been big changes over the years and it is a popular place to come."

For both Megan and Shaela, who are on the Certificate of Work Readiness course, the practical experience is helping them to hone their skills.

Megan said: "It is great when customers thank you and say you are doing a great job.

"It helps build your confidence when you are recognised like that."

Greenock student Meghan, 20, added: "The course has been of huge benefit to me, the work placement has really helped with our skills."

West College Scotland's readiness course is part of its learner development work.

It aims to give young people the hands-on experience they need to find jobs, with almost 200 hours of work placements.