Ukrainian refugees complete careers in Scottish hospitality

Diageo is celebrating the graduation in the hospitality program Learning for Life of 14 students (seven of them Ukrainian refugees).

Seven refugees and seven other students have taken part in beverage company Diageo's Learning for Life programme.

Eight of the 14 school grads have taken jobs with local employers in Edinburgh including Apex Hotels and The George Hotel.

The pupils also completed the Johnnie Walker Journey of Flavour tour and toured the Glenkinchie Distillery.

Diageo has announced a three-year partnership with Springboard and the Prince's Trust to implement Learning for Life programmes across Britain.

Hanna Korneiko, a Ukrainian refugee who moved to Scotland in August, participated in the course, hoping that it would provide access to job.

Seven of the graduates are Ukrainian refugees, while pupils from Mexico and India were also part of the scheme as were locals living in Edinburgh.

Chris Gamm, chief executive of Springboard, said: "Every Learning for Life course has a huge impact on the lives of the trainees that take part, but none more so than this course, in which we've provided employability support to Ukrainian refugees with an interest in working in hospitality, many of whom have a language barrier, have experienced trauma and, understandably, suffer with low confidence.