WEST College Scotland is hoping to give Inverclyde employers a helping hand to find a new workforce for the future.

Lee Clark, a building services lecturer at the college's Greenock campus, has organised a major event to showcase the provisions they have for plumbing apprenticeships as well as opening doors for their students.

He told the Tele that is vital for the local economy that the college works with employers to provide the skills need in industry.

The senior lecturer is keen to show local firms that they offer the very best training for apprentices and offer real experiences for students.

Lee said: "The college has always had a vital part to play in providing support for local firms.

"We have great facilities here and we have strong links with the James Patterson Academy.

"We are also working closely with Home Fix Scotland. We want to encourage more employers to choose West College Scotland for training and also to look at the students that we have as well.

"We have students who have come to us who employers can take on as well. Plumbing apprenticeships offer great opportunities for young people, they  good, skilled and well paid jobs.

"At the college we want to continue to support local people and local employers.

"I am organising this event to show employers the facilities that we have here and also the benefits of taking on apprentices. We do qualifications in SVQ 1, 2 and 3 plumbing.

"We also want to show employers the benefits of taking on young people that we have trained through our courses and our academy."

Lee wants to build on the links they have with a number of firms including Home Fix and various other housing associations.

One of the apprentices benefitting from the skills and qualifications at West College Scotland is Charlie Bell, aged 18.

He said: "It has been really beneficial coming to West College Scotland. I am a second year plumbing apprentice and it has helped me enormously."

At the event, firms from Inverclyde and beyond will be able to see first hand what the college can offer as well as tap into a new workforce.

The Finnart Street campus has state of the art facilities for training in a number of trades 

The West College Scotland plumbing apprentice event takes place on Thursday, November 14 in the Finnart Street campus from 4.30pm to 8pm.

All local employers are welcome.