The fund which was setup to help young people in the West of Scotland get a foot on their chosen career saw the College awarded £10,000, allowing them to provide additional resources to seventy-two students college-wide, across four departments.

Marking the end of the academic year, departments gathered to celebrate students’ achievements with those who had performed exceptionally well throughout the year being awarded ‘tools of the trade’.

Hospitality students were delighted to be awarded industry standard knife sets, tool kits for the Construction and Motor Vehicle students and professional styling scissors for the Hairdressing students.

Head of Hospitality, Tourism, Languages and Business, Jim McAllister said “This has been another busy year for all of our staff and students, especially as we have come out of the pandemic and related restrictions. 

We are delighted with our students progress in their chosen field of catering and know that the knife set they have received from the John Mather Trust will support them in the next phase of their hospitality journey.

Professional Cookery student, Ryan Hamilton, said,

I feel really lucky to receive such an amazing set of knives to take with me as I continue my next phase of training. 

'My goal is to move on to specialise in pastries and I hope to undertake further patisserie training before entering the profession full time.”

William McPhail, Curriculum Quality Leader for Motor Vehicle, Paisley campus said “The recipients of this year’s John Mather Award have been excellent students and are all now progressing into industry after the completion of their course and as such the first main expense will be their first toolbox. The picture below shows the first starting point for these mechanics of the future and with ability to also add an affordable roll cab, this will indeed serve they for a long time to come”

Wendy Sheridan-Price, Head of Hairdressing, Beauty and Make-up Artistry, commented, “We’re delighted to have received this funding which allows us to support our students as they move on to employment.

It’s wonderful to be able to end the year in such a positive way and a great bonus for the students who have worked extremely hard this past year.

All the students were extremely grateful to receive their equipment which will give them as much needed head start as they move on to employment or further study.