Gareth is our Employer Liaison Officer (ELO). He works closely with local employers across Highland to create meaningful work experience, placements, and job opportunities for young people aged. By building strong relationships and understanding the local job market, Gareth helps open doors to employment, apprenticeships, and lasting positive outcomes for young people who need extra support.
Gareth joined the team in April 2026.
Chloe is an Employability Project Worker within our All in Highland programme. She provides support and guidance to young people and parents, helping them move into employment or further education, as well as offering wellbeing support where needed.
Chloe is an Employability Project Worker within our All in Highland programme. She provides support and guidance to young people and parents, helping them move into employment or further education, as well as offering wellbeing support where needed.
Gigha is our Administration and Finance Officer, responsible for managing financial and admin support for the Barnardo’s Works Highland service. She supports the services delivered to have a positive impact on children, young people and families.
Gigha joined the team in April 2026.
Barbara joined the Highland ETS team in summer 2025 and brings a wealth of experience supporting young people and families across the Highlands. Before stepping into her current role, she managed services for Young Carers, helped students navigate school to college transitions, and even researched how to recruit and retain healthcare workers in the region. Passionate about making a difference, Barbara is all about creating opportunities and support that really matter.
Since 2019, Shay had been interested in stonemasonry and when his sister saw an advert for AB Masonry he took the opportunity to apply. Andrew Beattie, who started the company in 2014, heard about the support that Barnardo’s Works Highland could offer through SACO (Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities) and got in touch.
Through Barnardo’s, Andrew as an employer could get the support in ensuring that Shay had the employability skills to sustain employment. For Shay, he received support with skills, knowledge of the workplace as well as “scheduling and holding onto my money”.
When asking Shay what he enjoys about his job he said. “Everything. I enjoy working outdoors, everyone I work with is great and Andy is the best boss I’ve ever had”. Since starting Shay has perfected his pointing and has learned how to do blockwork. He hopes to stay at AB Masonry for as long as he can and work towards being a fully qualified stonemason.
On working with Barnardo’s Works, Shay says
Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities support is available through all 5 Employment Training and Skills Centres across Scotland
This Employability Day we are shining a light on Shay, a labourer and apprentice stonemason, at AB Masonry.
Since 2019, Shay had been interested in stonemasonry and when his sister saw an advert for AB Masonry he took the opportunity to apply. Andrew Beattie, who started the company in 2014, heard about the support that Barnardo’s Works could offer through SACO (Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities) and got in touch.
Through Barnardo’s, Andrew as an employer could get support in ensuring that Shay had the employability skills to sustain employment. For Shay, he received support with skills, knowledge of a workplace as well as “scheduling and holding onto my money.”
When asking Shay what he enjoys about his job he said: “Everything. I enjoy working outdoors, everyone I work with is great and Andy is the best boss I’ve ever had.” Since starting Shay has perfected his pointing and has learned how to do blockwork. He hopes to stay at AB Masonry for as long as he can and work towards being a fully qualified stonemason.
On working with Barnardo’s Works, Shay says: “Anyone that gets this opportunity should take it!”
Katie Roddam, Project Worker at Barnardo’s Works Highland.
SACO is supported by CITB.
Angela is one of our Project Workers based in Inverness. She currently works with young people assisting them into employment, further education, or providing wellbeing support. Her background is adult nursing until she took a career change and returned to university, completing a BA (Hons) in Child and Youth Studies. Seeing young people believe in themselves and their abilities is one of her highlights of the role.
Angela joined the team in 2021.
Andrew is a Project Worker for the Barnardo’s Works Highland service and is currently delivering support to young people transitioning out of school and those seeking support into employment. He is leading on the review of many of our programmes to create new and exciting opportunities for young people in Highland to build their confidence and skill set.
Andrew joined the team in November 2025.