A teenager – who is desperate to find an apprenticeship – has told of his newfound hope after a businessman made an online plea to find him a job.
Louis Kelly, 16, put in a hard day’s graft at pub The Keep ahead of its reopening, seriously impressing owner James Samain.
The Vale of Leven Academy pupil told the Lennox Herald he had been left overwhelmed by the opportunity, saying it had already led to a couple of offers of work.
The determined teen answered a call for labour help, walking around two-and-a-half miles to the Castlehill pub from his home in Renton.
James put a post on Facebook later that day, praising Louis and saying he would be an “absolute asset to any business”.
He called on anyone looking for an apprentice to give him a chance and even promised to treat Louis to a workwear set and toolkit once he gets a formal offer.
He said: “The youth of today get nothing but a hard time, and more often than not it’s rightly so.
“A lot of them don’t have a days work in them, sit on phones all day and think they should be on £500 a day for getting out of bed and sweeping up.
“But there is always exceptions.
“Meet young 16 year old Louis Kelly from Renton, he’s seen my post today, sent a lovely polite text within minutes offering to help. Jumped in the shower and WALKED from Renton to put in a shift at the pub.
“In the time I’ve went to Screwfix to get him black bags and gloves he’s done a ridiculous amount of work.”
He said he would have liked to have taken Louis on himself at his firm I-electrical, but had taken on a new apprentice that morning, adding: “Chatting to him he’s a lovely lad, and he’s eager to get an apprenticeship.
“But this lad would be an absolute asset to any business.
“If you are currently looking for an apprentice this lad more than deserves a chance and I’ll personally vouch that he’ll take it with both hands, sometimes you can just tell.”
The post was shared more than 600 times, with members of the public congratulating Louis and sending him their best wishes.
Louis said he had been struggling with school since the pandemic began but said the encouragement had given him the determination to get his head down and study for his exams this year.
He said: “I enjoy all the practical stuff but I struggle with subjects like maths.
“It’s been really hard going in school since the lockdown and I’ve lost all motivation with it but I really enjoy working.
“I’ll just crack on and do what I need to do.
“I just want to get my exams done so I can get some qualifications and then start working.
“I stay with my mum, my two brothers and my brother’s girlfriend and I want to help out a bit more.
“I’d like to earn some money and go for my provisional driving licence when I’m 17.”
He told how the Facebook post had left his mum in tears, adding: “When my mum saw it, she was greetin’, and then my aunt was greetin’.
“It really gave me a chance to show what I can do. It’s given me an opportunity and I’m really grateful to him for that.”
He said a couple of people had since reached out to him offering some work, with his ultimate goal to be offered an apprenticeship.
Louis added: “Up until a month ago I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but this has given me the encouragement to get my head down now.”
James said: “I go through a lot of apprentices and it’s rare to find young boys like Louis.
“He is a right grafter and is willing to work.
“I left school when I was 15 because I hated it but I have done alright for myself.
“As long as you have the drive, the rest will fall into place.”
James, who used to run Cardross Road icecream parlour Biggie Scoopz, is preparing to reopen The Keep, which shut down 12 years ago, on Saturday as a modern gastro pub and sports bar.
