New Employability Hub Launched at Bell Baxter with Hand Picked from CR Smith

Senior pupils returning after the October break to Bell Baxter High School in Cupar Fife, will now be able to access a new employability hub to support their job searches.

Set up and operated by Hand Picked from CR Smith, the hub will provide essential careers education in collaboration with the school’s teaching staff and its Developing the Young Workforce co-ordinator. A member of the team from Hand Picked, which provides a range of employability services to support young people into work, will be available to pupils one day a week to offer one-to-one guidance on CVs, job applications and interview skills.

The move is seen as particularly important to support S4-S6 pupils looking to leave school at the end of the term to enter the jobs market ahead of Christmas. The practical support on offer extends to helping pupils get ‘work ready’ so that they can transition into the workplace as smoothly as possible.

The Bell Baxter Employability Hub follows the successful model established at Lochgelly High School, where Hand Picked from CR Smith has been an active careers partner with the school for the past four years.

Carol Ann Penrose, Rector at Bell Baxter, said:

“We have a highly enthusiastic and talented group of senior pupils looking to leave school at the end of this term and we recognise the importance of giving them every opportunity to find and establish themselves in the workplace. That’s why we are delighted to welcome Hand Picked into the school. The experience and the personal service they can provide is quite unique and will be invaluable to our students.”

CR Smith Chairman, Gerard Eadie CBE established Hand Picked in 2011. It is run as a charitable programme by a dedicated team at the home improvements company. Delighted to be supporting Bell Baxter’s employability programme with a Hand Picked hub, he said:

“We’ve always been passionate about supporting young people into jobs and Hand Picked does this by giving an employer’s perspective on the recruitment process. We believe that this helps the young people understand what is expected of them and how to sell themselves through their CVs and in interviews.

“Setting up an employability hub within schools, such as Bell Baxter and Lochgelly High, is a hugely positive step towards breaking down barriers between the classroom and the workplace. It is a challenging time for any young person entering the jobs market and Hand Picked is there to support them on that journey.”

Megan Mackay, project manager for Hand Picked from CR Smith, added

“The Hand Picked hub offers pupils somewhere to go to get one-to-one advice and guidance that is particularly tailored to their needs and aspirations.”