The skill of laying granite setts has returned to the streets of Glasgow with the graduation of 14 trainees following an 18-week course developed by the Glasgow Harbour Employment Team with funding from Scottish Enterprise\'s new Construction Skills Action fund and in partnership with Land Engineering.

As a result of the project the previously unemployed recruits from some of the worst unemployment black spots in the city have secured jobs with three of the city\'s construction companies - Land Engineering, DICON and Deborah Services.

The training was primarily designed to meet the needs of the Glasgow Harbour regeneration project being run by Glasgow Harbour Ltd, a subsidiary of Peel Holdings PLC established specifically to regenerate 120 acres of derelict Clyde waterfront between the SECC and the Clyde Tunnel.

The trainees learnt to build the cobbled riverside walkway and the skills will benefit the construction industry as a whole as more developments across Glasgow favour the use of natural stone paving. Until now, employers have had to look abroad for skilled granite setters.

The men received their certificates from Councillor Charlie Gordon, leader of Glasgow City Council, who said said: "The Glasgow Harbour Employment Team has been superb in ensuring that Glaswegians have been given job opportunities in the construction of this very important and exciting development on the Clyde. My congratulations and thanks go to all concerned."

Working with Local Economic Development Companies across the city, the Glasgow Harbour Employment Team was responsible for the design, development and implementation of this employer-led pilot trainee project.

One of the men who received the certificate was Stephen Dumbreck (41). He said: "The more qualifications and certificates you have in the building trade the better. There is no doubt that cleaning the stones was hard graft but it was worth it for the future prospects. Completing the course gave us all a real sense of achievement, a recognised skill and new jobs."

David Coyne, representing Glasgow Harbour Employment Team, said: "This pilot scheme presented a comprehensive training programme which combined trade specific skills with general employability skills such as IT, communication, problem solving and team building.

"Designed in collaboration with the industry, this innovative training programme is the result of a local labour action plan which aims to provide local jobs for local people. We are very pleased by the way this partnership approach has developed and hope that this scheme will act as a blueprint for future employer-led training courses at Glasgow Harbour."