Three electrical engineers and four mechanical engineers will receive a salary partly supplemented by the initiative during their first year of modern apprentice training at Adam Smith College.
After the full-time college year, the seven recruits will join Tullis Russell’s in-house team at the Makinch facility near Fife four days a week and remain in college one day a week to continue studying for two years.
By the fourth and final year of the course, the recruits will become full-time members of staff at Tullis Russell and qualify in their chosen profession.
As well as the engineers, Tullis Russell has taken on a joiner who will work on a two-week rotation between Adam Smith College and the Fife facility.
Five trainees have also joined the Scottish team since September, whose minimum wage salaries will be paid in full by FYIP for the first six months of employment.
This is the first year that Tullis Russell has worked with the Fife Young People's Initiative although not the first time it has taken on apprentices. It has recruited both an electrical and mechanical engineer for the modern apprenticeship for a number of years as part of a commitment to enhance its skills base.
The thirteen young men are all aged between 16 and 24 and hail from the surrounding area.
Shauna Dunn, senior HR officer at Tullis Russell, said: "As an organisation that has operated at the heart of the community for more than 200 years, the support and development of our community’s youth is very important to the business.
"By working with Fife Council’s Opportunities Fife partnership this year, we have been able to create so many more opportunities."
Councillor Kay Carrington, chair of Fife Council’s business, enterprise, economy & planning policy advisory group said: "Through the 16-24 Young People’s Initiative we are able to help fund the necessary training period, which has proved to be an invaluable asset for local businesses."
