Ringlink Scotland’s successful intern programme has entered its third year, and GPH Builders Merchants is proud to continue its support of the project.

GPH Builders Merchants, which has branches in Inverurie, Westhill and Stonehaven, is providing all participants with PPE essentials, such as safety wellies and work boots.

Ringlink Services, together with its sister company Ringlink Scotland, is a provider of labour and training solutions to a diverse customer base across Scotland and the wider UK. With four strategically based office locations in Laurencekirk, Elgin, Coupar Angus, and Oldmeldrum, the business is well placed to provide ‘local service’ on a ‘national basis’.

The scheme, which aims to provide practical farm work experience, draws applicants, who are predominantly school leavers with a genuine interest in farming and the wider rural sector, but who are not necessarily from farming families. The aim is to attract new blood into the agricultural and associated industries.

Interns undertake a seven-month work placement with a host mentor farm, preceded by a three-week residential training and induction period, covering: first aid, health and safety, risk assessment, manual handling, basic tractor driving and forklift training. The scheme’s fundamental objective is to make young people aware of the many and varied opportunities that exist within the rural sector, and to allow them to make informed decisions as to how to progress their careers.

GPH Builders Merchants hopes that its involvement will go some way to contributing to the success of this year’s intake and encourage them to achieve their full potential.