You can bank on Clydesdale to Develop the Young Workforce

National retailers including Asda, M&S, Specsavers and Waterstones as well as Centre Management at The Avenue have delivered the project in order to educate local primary school children in a workplace environment.

The Avenue launched their Developing the Young Workforce programme at the end of 2017 in partnership with Mearns Primary School giving 800+ local children aged from 4-11 the opportunity to learn from retailers at the shopping centre.

The initiative aims to introduce children at Mearns Primary School to the fun experience of working in retail as well as giving understanding of the industry by spending time with the national retailers based within the busy shopping centre.

Michelle McCabe, The Avenue’s centre manager, said: “The Avenue is incredibly proud to have been able to offer children within our local community the chance to experience such an immersive and interactive experience over the past year, and Centre Management together with the retailers involved are committed to continually running this project for future class years”.

“As we now approach the end of our second academic year of the project, welcoming Clydesdale Bank on board is the next step in this progressive programme to enhance the pupils learning about the value of money and putting their maths in particular into practice”.

Trina Hay, branch manager at Clydesdale Bank in The Avenue said: “We are delighted to be joining fellow retailers at The Avenue to support Mearns Primary School pupils’ development.

“We are an integral part of our community and we want to demonstrate to our future local workforce how focussing on their subjects in school will add up as they grow older, earn an income, buy a house and some who may wish to progress to a successful career in finance.”

Sharon Hunter, Headteacher at Mearns Primary added: “The local community provision that The Avenue has offered our school has greatly improved the motivation and engagement of all our learners from P1 to P7.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed working collaboratively with our retail partners in developing creative and innovative approaches that promote the Developing the Young Workforce national agenda.

“The children have developed and used transferrable enterprising skills which will prepare them for learning, life and work and their future careers.”