North housebuilder Tulloch Homes has marked its 90th anniversary by taking on eight new apprentices.
The Inverness firm now has 22 apprentices, its highest total since before the global financial crash of 2008.
Chief executive George Fraser said:”We’re delighted to further expand our grow-your-own policy and the intention is to make additional apprentice recruitment in the first half of 2016.
“In addition to the apprentice intake, we have found success with a policy of training and creating new site managers from within our existing ranks.
“We’re always keen to invest in Highland young people. That approach has served the business very well since it was started up in Nairn in 1925. It has also provided the skills and career opportunities for so many.”
Mr Fraser added: “The construction workforce in Scotland is a relatively ageing one and our strategy is to counter that by ensuring a pipeline of a steady stream of talent coming through. We think it’s a very worthwhile investment.”
The eight new faces are joinery trio Corran MacDonald (16), Blair Morrison (17) and Brandon MacPhee (16) plus painters Scott Macintosh and Connor Newman, both 17, with plumbers Taylor Sutherland (18), Nathan Lawson (17) and Regan McAllister (16).