A Gourock man who went to an employment and training agency for career advice over 15 years ago has now been appointed as its new chief executive.
Ross Ahlfeld, 46, has been named the new boss at Inverclyde Community Development Trust, becoming the youngest person to take on the role.
The former trust projects and programme manager says he is delighted to be given the opportunity, as his appointment takes him full circle.
Ross said: "We offer help to people in updating their CVs, upskilling and getting them into the labour market. We are going through difficult times but I am very optimistic for the future.
"The Trust continued to work throughout the pandemic, setting up the community pantry, and there is still a lot of work for us to do.
"It is always a privilege to do this job, community work is an honour.
"It is vital work, responding to the needs of the community.
"That is something we have always done and will continue to do."
Ross says he can still recall the day he came to the Trust looking for help. Little did he know he would end up working there for 16 years before taking the top job.
He continued: "I came looking for a change of job, so I was a beneficiary of the Trust.
"I started as a community link worker and used to go around the doors getting people to sign up for training courses.
"Then I was a placement co-ordinator, employer, engagement worker, trainer, centre coordinator at Port Glasgow Training Centre and projects and programme manager."
Ross feels that living locally is an advantage for the key role, as he knows the community and its people.
He said: "Staying locally is a big thing, seeing some of the challenges but also the skills and talent we have here."
The Trust was established in the mid-1980s amid the closure of the shipyards.
Its training centre offers paid work and equips people with skills in manufacturing, basic assembly and joinery, selling their work through the social enterprise.
Ross admits he is taking on the role during an extremely difficult time for charities with budget cuts.
He said: "It is a massive challenge.
"The main priority is to keep us going and attract more funding, but there are lots of positives too.
"We are developing a planning centre in Greenock, our social enterprise continues to do well and we are also working with the New Scots who have come to Inverclyde."
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This article appeared in The Greenock Telegraph.
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