IT may not be quite as glamorous as the Apprentice, but a group of teenagers were put through their paces to ready them for work.

The seven teens took part in a 15-week employability course, which saw them fundraising, carrying out team-building tasks, completing a project and getting work experience.

Like, BBC’s Apprentice, the youngsters were given a different task to complete each week – but sadly there was no guaranteed job at the end of it.

Instead, the course Youth East Works aims to give people a taste of working life and the chance to get something good on their CV.

Youth East Works was run by Groundwork South Essex, based in Kiln Road, Thundersley.

The project sent the teenagers to spruce up Ghyll Grove Nursing Home, in Ghyll Grove, Basildon , which needed work done to its garden.

The first challenge for the team of 16 to 19-year-olds was to raise money for the project by bag-packing at Asda in Basildon.

They managed to raise £253 for tools, and also bought a water feature to use as the centrepiece of the garden.

Dean Cotterill, Jason Walker, Courtney Busby, Frank Ellis, Zarha Muneer, Louise Smith and Andrew Hayes said they decided to take part in the scheme after being uncertain about their plans for the future and said they were thankful for the opportunity to help local people.

Event organiser Charmaine Chalkey-Grier, from Groundwork South Essex, said she was really pleased with the response from the volunteers, and said their work had been a “shining example” of how to complete the course.

She said: “The garden looks wonderful and I’m very proud of what the guys have done here.

“They worked really hard in raising the money and some have even gone on to get jobs.

“The course was challenging, but they have all risen to it. The residents at Ghyll Grove can be very happy with their nursing home’s new garden.”

Carol Martin, activity co-ordinator at Ghyll Grove, said: “We are so appreciative of all that has been done. They have worked very hard and are very pleased they chose to help us.

“The garden is where the residents will bring their families, and I am sure everyone will love it. It will be very well used, and it is very warm and welcoming.”