Barrhead's Greenhouse Cafe impresses Secretary of State

The Greenhouse Café provides training and employment opportunities for those with additional support needs and has recently expanded its service to Barrhead after its successful launch at Eastwood Health Centre.

The Secretary of State expressed her delight for the scheme and credited the café with giving employees the skills they need to gain further employment.

The café runs a successful partnership with the Isobel Mair School, training up graduates and allowing them to take on further qualifications through the SQA.

A further expansion is expected later in the year after the café was successful in securing premises in Rutherglen from property management company Moorgarth.

The acquisition of these premises will allow the café to take on five paid employees.

This will add to their success of getting 70 per cent of their ALS workforce into paying employment.

Mandy Harris, community development director of Greenhouse Café, said: “Employability through enterprise is at the heart of Greenhouse.

“We were delighted to have a visit from Esther McVey Paul Masterton. This was a very positive visit and we were happy to introduce her to some of our trainees and to discuss their future potential.”

Esther McVey said it had been a pleasure to visit Greenhouse Café and see in person the “brilliant work” being done there providing personalised training for young people furthest from the work place.

She added: “As a government we’re determined to ensure people of all backgrounds and abilities have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Paul Masteron added: “It was fantastic to be able to show the Secretary of State around Barrhead, and to introduce her to the employees at the Greenhouse Café.

“The future expansion of the facility is testament to Mandy and the team’s hard work, and their determination to ensure that everyone is able to fulfil their potential is clear to see.”