TOP business figures will form a new National Advisory Group to help expand a mentoring scheme for pupils in the care system.

Industry leaders from The Wheatley Group, Strathclyde University and Glasgow City Council are among those who will now support MCR Pathways’ ambition to expand nationwide the ground-breaking mentoring and talent development programme.

Founded in Glasgow in 2007, MCR Pathways supports young people in or on the edges of the care system through a model of weekly one-to-one mentoring.

The new group, from the fields of education, business, the third sector and the local government, will also help to fully embed the programme within the Scottish education system.

MCR Pathways founder Iain MacRitchie said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to announce and to warmly welcome our new National Advisory Group for MCR Pathways.

“We’ve been able to attract the support of some of the very sharpest minds in Scotland but, more than that, we’ve enlisted people who absolutely buy in to the MCR model and who are as committed as we are to the expansion of the work we do across Scotland.

"Their skills and experiences are simply world class and will have a huge impact on both practice and policy matters.

"We have some fantastic plans and individuals who get things done.

“We all want to live in a Scotland where every disadvantaged young person is defined by his or her potential and talent and never their circumstances."

Over the last 18 months, MCR Pathways has doubled the number of young people it supports to more than 1300 and currently operates it’s Young Glasgow Talent programme in all 30 secondary schools within Glasgow City Council.

Professor Sir Harry Burns FRSE added: “ I am honoured to be asked to be part of the Advisory Group and look forward to supporting it and the young people of MCR Pathways in any way I can.”

Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education at Glasgow City Council, said: “The advisory group is an opportunity for us to come together to build on the great work in Glasgow schools that has such an impact on the attainment and destinations of some of our most vulnerable young people.

"By sharing experiences and skills the hope is to make this a national success story and available to every child who needs that extra support.”