TWO months ago, Stewart Cunningham was another youth unemployment statistic.
After being expelled from school in third year for behavioural problems, the 22-year-old from Barmulloch had few employment prospects.
He'd had a series of temporary jobs, but had been out of work for almost 18 months.
Now, following a four-week training course, he's among a team of young people who have secured jobs with a waste management company.
The seven graduates of the Prince's Trust Scotland's Get Into Recycling programme last week started full-time work with Shanks in Blochairn.
Newly recruited recycling operative Stewart said of finding out that he'd secured a permanent job: "I felt on top of the world. I've got something to look forward to now –I've got myself into a routine.
"I'm not just sitting about the house doing nothing."
Stewart, who studied sport and leisure at Langside College, found out about the training course through his advisor at Jobcentre Plus.
He added: "It wasn't what I was expected.
"I thought it would be like any other course – you would go in, do what you've got to do, then that's it done, but Prince's Trust helped out a lot more.
"They were there for you if you needed them. . When I asked for help, I got it straight away."
The Prince's Trust trainees completed a mix of on-the-job training in recycling in tandem with classroom lessons, working towards certificates in health and safety, first aid and environmental awareness.
The youngsters who secured jobs celebrated completing the course at an event at Glasgow's Thistle Hotel last month.
This is the second course of its kind operated by the Prince's Trust Scotland in conjunction with Shanks, Glasgow City Council, The European Social Fund and the Wood Family Trust.
Heather Gray, director of the Prince's Trust Scotland, said: "With the support of partners like Shanks, we are enabling young people to access and sustain employment.
"I'd like to offer my congratulations to the young people who have completed the programme and I have every confidence they have a positive future ahead of them."
The six who completed the first programme in November are also now in full-time employment with Shanks.
Most are employed as operatives sorting waste into different categories on the conveyor belts.
Stephen Gilchrist and Michael Farrell, who both completed the pilot course, have since been promoted to lead operatives.
Michael, 23, from Springburn had been unemployed for more than a year after the company he was serving his electrical apprenticeship went bust.
He is now training to become a fork lift truck driver.
He said: "I wasn't that confident, the course helped me work with a lot of people.
"I want to stay in the job and go higher in the company."
Former trainee chef Stephen, 21, from Balornock is now working towards a supervisory role at the Blochairn plant.
He said: "I found if you stick in and work hard, then you'll get rewarded for it."
Mark Cowan, of Shanks, added: "We are keen to encourage local young people to establish a career at Shanks and The Prince's Trust Get Into Recycling programme has given us the opportunity to do so.
"I am proud of all the youngsters who have secured full-time positions with us. It's a real testimony to their hard work."
maureen.ellis@ eveningtimes.co.uk