A COMPUTING company in Glasgow's East End is to give youngsters without skills the chance to get a job in the sector.

OCD, based in Queenslie, is getting involved in the Scottish Government's NEET initiative.

It is the first time a computing firm has got involved in the scheme, which is designed to help young people "not in education, employment or training" develop skills and experience that will make them more employable.

The company will take on two local teenagers next month and OCD aims to make it an continuing process, creating jobs for some of the most successful youngsters.

Managing director Kevin Ashcroft, who left school with no qualifications, said: "It is a pleasure to be the first IT business in Scotland to take up this challenge.

"Almost one in five of our young people are destined to end up without the necessary education, employment or training and it is a privilege to be able to help.

"By giving young people exposure to the world of work, it is hoped they will gain an appreciation of the value of work and the benefits of shaping and determining their futures."

The Holyrood-driven initiative aims to develop the confidence and skills of a whole generation of people who have no interest in or no opportunity to work.

The number of those aged 16-19 and not in education, employment or training has remained at around 32,000 over the last decade, according to Government figures.

However, MPs believe around 24,000 of these could find jobs if allowed access to workplaces and given a motivation to learn.

Some prominent businesspeople have got behind the drive to break the NEET cycle in Scotland.

Jim McColl, an ex-apprentice and Scotland's 10th richest man with a fortune estimated at £435million, has got behind the launch of two technical centres in Clydebank and Johnstone for children expelled from school.

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown said: "OCD is getting into something worthwhile and which is particularly helpful in the East End.

"Offering hope and opportunity to young people not in education, employment or training is probably the single biggest challenge in Scotland.

"The Scottish economy needs to be able to use the talents of all young people."