THE UK Government’s work and pensions secretary visited Barrhead this week to celebrate the expansion of a community café to the town.

Barrhead’s own Greenhouse Café received a visit on Monday from Secretary of State Esther McVey and the town’s MP Paul Masterton as the facility got the “thumbs up” from the UK Government.

The Greenhouse Café provides training and employment opportunities for those with additional support needs and has recently expanded its service to Barrhead after its successful launch at Eastwood Health Centre.

The café runs a successful partnership with the Isobel Mair school in East Renfrewshire, training up graduates and allowing them to take on further qualifications through the SQA.

Mr Masterton said: “It was fantastic to be able to show the Secretary of State around Barrhead, and to introduce her to the employees at the Greenhouse Café.

“The future expansion of the facility is testament to the team’s hard work, and their determination to ensure that everyone is able to fulfil their potential is clear to see.

“The Secretary of State was rightly impressed, and I am sure will be inspired to think about how the Government can help similar disability employability programmes to be rolled out across the UK.”

Ms McVey expressed her delight for the scheme and credited the café with giving employees the skills they need to gain further employment.

Ms McVey also visited Barrhead’s Jobcentre Plus to meet work coaches and learn about recent success stories.

She said: “It was great to meet some of the Jobcentre Plus work coaches who are working tirelessly to help people find permanent, meaningful work to provide for themselves and their families.

“Jobcentres are at the heart of our towns and cities, and I certainly felt a strong community spirit in Barrhead.

“The Greenhouse Café is doing some phenomenal work to support people with specific needs, so they too can meet their full potential.”

Mandy Harris, community development director at the cafe, added: “Employability through enterprise is at the heart of Greenhouse.

“This was a positive visit and we were happy to introduce her to some of our trainees.”