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Careers Scotland Excellence Awards 2006 Winners Announced

Scotland last night (8 Nov 2006) celebrated the success of some of its most enthusiastic and dedicated people who have transformed their careers.

Glasgow Science Centre was home to the first ever Careers Scotland Excellence Awards.Young people and adults, along with a number of businesses, community organisations and schools, were rewarded for their success.

The Careers Scotland Excellence Awards 2006 publicly recognised the positive and diverse range of career planning activities taking place throughout Scotland. Broadcaster George Bowie hosted the awards ceremony and the event attracted an audience of more than 200 guests from across Scotland.

All the finalists and their guests were treated to a spectacular show of fire-eating, pyrotechnics and music before they enjoy a gala dinner.

The standard of entry for the inaugural awards was incredibly high – Careers Scotland staff nominated individuals and partner agencies that had impressed them in the last year. Many of the finalists had overcome huge odds to make real changes to their careers and working lives. There were five categories of award and the winners are:

Individual Excellence Award (under the age of 20)

Hayleigh Barclay from Prestwick, who has refused to be daunted from her media ambitions and who has fought her way to a place at Paisley University.

Runners Up

  • Glenn Butler, Kirkcaldy
  • Stuart McLeod, Prestonpans

Individual Excellence Award (over the age of 20)

Billie Dishington from Duns, who was juggling a part time job and being a full time mum and felt that she was in a rut. Billie and her careers adviser began a career planning journey – a journey that looks set to take her artistic talents to degree level.

Runners Up

  • Hugh Hoolighan, Glasgow
  • Roy McCandlish, Falkirk

Business Partnership Award

L’Aperitif Restaurant in Stranraer whose owner, Douglas Lisi, has played an enthusiastic leading role over many years in helping local young people to explore and learn about food preparation and the catering industry.

Runners Up

  • BP, Grangemouth
  • Drumchapel Arts Workshop, Glasgow

Career Education Award

Smithycroft Secondary in Glasgow, a school that has integrated career planning into every aspect of school life and dramatically reduced the number of its leavers who miss out on jobs or further learning.

Runners Up

  • Caddonfoot Primary School, Galashiels
  • Eastbank Academy, Glasgow
  • St Andrew’s RC Secondary, Glasgow

Community Partnership Award

Strathclyde Police: North Lanarkshire Division, Cumbernauld Area which, recognising a common client group with Careers Scotland, developed a trail blazing cross-referral scheme that is delivering impressive results with youngsters engaged in neither jobs nor learning.

Runners Up

  • Angus Literacy and Numeracy Partnership
  • Glasgow City Council Vocational Unit

The standard of entry was so high that Careers Scotland also recognised two of the winners as joint Overall Winners 2006. The judges found Smithycroft Secondary and Strathclyde Police: North Lanarkshire Division, Cumbernauld Area to have excelled in their areas.

Christina Allon, Director of Careers Scotland (SE), said:

"All the finalists and winners must be congratulated for their dedication, enthusiasm and commitment. Careers Scotland has a clear and simple purpose – to help the people of Scotland get the jobs of tomorrow and our first awards ceremony was a great opportunity to reward our outstanding clients and partners.

"It was a tremendous night and we are now looking forward to next year’s awards ceremony to celebrate more of Scotland’s success stories."

Catriona Eagle, Director of Careers Scotland (HIE), said: "I congratulate all finalists and winners on all their hard work and commitment. The awards celebrate the positive and diverse range of careers planning activities taking place throughout Scotland. Such activities are developing the career-resilience of the population from the Scottish borders to the Shetland Isles - and this is great news."

Careers Scotland offers a range of career planning and information services to help people of all ages to maximise their career potential.Its aim is to equip people living in Scotland with the skills to make well informed career decisions throughout their lives.