Inverness Castle Experience Work Experience Week: DYWICH Delivers Day of Retail Insight and Customer Service Skills
30 May 2025
As part of the first-ever Inverness Castle Experience Work Experience Week, Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland (DYWICH) was proud to support a group of S4–S6 pupils from across the Highlands to explore future careers in retail, customer service, hospitality and marketing.
The exciting week-long programme is designed to help young people prepare for upcoming job opportunities at the soon-to-open Inverness Castle Experience, with work placement days hosted by High Life Highland across a variety of public venues.
On Day two of the experience, DYWICH joined forces with Cornerstone Training’s Julie Brady to deliver a dynamic day of learning focused on customer service and the retail environment. The day took place at the Eastgate Centre in Inverness and was generously supported by local retailers, giving students valuable first-hand insight into one of the region’s key employment sectors.
The morning began with an interactive session with Julie from Cornerstone Training on customer service skills, with students exploring how to handle enquiries, respond to special requests, and create a positive customer experience.
This was followed by a visit to Chisholm Hunter, where store manager Euan Gunn offered an engaging introduction to careers in retail, sharing his own professional journey and insights into what makes a successful team member.
Pupils then took part in a practical merchandising task at Clintons Inverness, supported by manager Gill Mackenzie, giving them the chance to put their learning into action by considering product placement and visual display techniques.
In the afternoon, attention turned to food safety and quality, a vital area for anyone considering a career in hospitality. Led by Julie, the session highlighted how these elements are key to maintaining both customer satisfaction and a strong business reputation.
Reflecting on the experience, Liz Fletcher, Programme Lead for DYWICH, said, “It’s brilliant to be part of this unique opportunity that helps young people see the practical skills needed in different roles, while growing their confidence and career ambitions. We’re really grateful to Eastgate Centre, the store managers and Julie Brady for making it such a hands-on and inspiring day.”
Julie Brady from Cornerstone Training, added, “I thoroughly enjoyed my day with the students, helping them to gain the essential food hygiene knowledge and customer service skills employers are looking for. The young people were enthusiastic and engaged well with everything. It was great to work with DYW and employers like Eastgate, Chisolm Hunter and Clintons to deliver this valuable programme for young people.”
The wider week also included time with the Inverness Castle Experience team, featuring a behind-the-scenes tour of the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery and a marketing session focused on promoting visitor experiences. Students spent time at key High Life Highland venues including Inverness Leisure, the Botanic Café, the Inverness Library, and the Archive Centre, developing workplace skills while working towards their SCQF Level 4 Work Placement Unit.
This pilot programme is a great example of how schools, employers and regional partners can come together to help shape the workforce of the future - right here in the Highlands.
