A career success story has come full circle for one young woman, who is now helping others take their first step into the world of work.
Lauren Gibson, who works at M&S Braehead, has been recognised with the Young Change Maker Award at the King’s Trust Awards Scotland for supporting others into employment.
Lauren, 27, began her career with M&S when she was just 17 through the Marks & Start programme, an employability scheme run in partnership with the King’s Trust to help young people facing barriers to work.
She said: "I’d just finished school and I had no clue what I wanted to do.
"I was such a lost soul at that age – I didn’t know what path I wanted to follow, I had low self-esteem, and I felt very anxious about the world of work."
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Lauren learned about the programme at a King’s Trust job fair and completed a four-week placement at the former M&S Sauchiehall Street store.
She was then offered a contract and has remained with the company ever since.
Nearly a decade later, she now helps deliver the same programme in her role as a customer assistant learner based in Braehead, supporting young people across the West of Scotland.
Lauren said: "The world works in mysterious ways because I now support the young people coming into M&S through the very same programme that got me started all those years ago.
"It’s so rewarding to see the confidence grow in these young people as they go through the programme and come out of their shells, just as it did for me.
"The programme pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me back some confidence in myself.
"I love that I get to pay it back to the King’s Trust and M&S by coaching more people through the programme – it’s the best part of my job."
The Young Change Maker Award recognises young people who have overcome challenges and chosen to make a positive difference for others.
Lauren received her award at a ceremony in Glasgow last month.
Reflecting on her award, Lauren said: “It all feels a bit surreal.
"I feel proud of myself for getting this far.
"I’ve been in my current role with M&S for three years now, and I do give it my all, so it’s nice to have that hard work recognised.”
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Mark Lyons, regional learning partner at M&S and Ms Gibson's manager, praised Lauren for her dedication.
He said: "Lauren is an outstanding member of our team, and her award is very well-deserved.
"She is driven, tenacious and passionate about the Marks & Start programme and does everything she can to make sure these young people have a really growing experience in our stores and get the most out of their time with us."
Around 100 people in Scotland are accepted onto the Marks & Start employability programme every year.
The programme, run in partnership with the King’s Trust, aims to help young people gain vital employability skills and support them into work.
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