AGROUP of refugees have become the first to secure jobs through a scheme designed to help them find careers in Scotland's health service.
The pilot project was launched last November by NHS Greater Glasgow to tap into the skills of thousands of unemployed people in the city.
Manuel Bernardo, 27, a former soldier who fled civil unrest in Angola, was the first person to complete the fourweek course. He is now working as an assistant technical officer at the Cowlairs Decontamination Centre in Glasgow.
Mr Bernardo, who arrived in Glasgow in 2002 and was granted asylum in September last year, said: "The course has built up my confidence, helped improve my English, and gave me references, and the work placement was very helpful because from that I got a job."
Laura McKie, NHS Greater Glasgow's refugee development officer, said: "They were all highly motivated trainees who worked hard to address the barriers they faced to get into employment."
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