A LOCHGELLY High School pupil has had a career boost thanks to investment into real-world learning opportunities.

Taylor Wimpey East Scotland provided three paid internships over the summer for 16-year-olds going into S6.

The company also pledged continued support for Career Ready, the social mobility charity who made the experiences possible.

The initiative works with employers, employees, schools and local authorities to provide young people with a programme including mentoring, skills masterclasses and workplace visits.

This year two pupils, Shinnade Bain and Jason Muldoon, gained on-site experience at developments in Inverkeithing and Edinburgh, while Jack Vaggers joined the technical team based at the firm's regional head office in Dunfermline.

Jack, who attends Lochgelly High and hopes to train as an architect, said: “Having the opportunity to meet people in the office and working on projects with them has given me a great insight into being an architect.

"It’s confirmed this is really what I want to do and I’m hoping this experience will kickstart my career.

"Being with people of all ages makes this a different way of learning than school.”

He will now stay in touch with his mentor to discuss further opportunities after he completes his studies.

Taylor Wimpey has supported the scheme, which also provides networking and employability skills, since 2018.

The firm's Suzanne Granger said: “There are so many positives for us as a business, as well as for me personally as a mentor, and I genuinely believe our interns benefit so much from the programme.

"Mentors and students are matched based on a whole host of criteria including personalities and interests, rather than what the company does. Naturally if a student has a particular interest that can be best satisfied by our business environment and the other criteria stack up then it’s a match! “