A MAN with learning difficulties who lost his job at Cameron House Hotel after the devastating fire last Christmas has found new work.

James McKay is back in work at another hotel after seeking help from Fair Start Scotland, an employment support service managed by social enterprise, the Wise Group.

The 53-year-old, who finds it difficult to read or write, had been working at Cameron House, welcoming hotel guests for 14 years before the fire struck.

But with help from a work coach at the Clydebank-based Lennox Partnership, he’s now back in employment.

James said: “I really enjoyed working at Cameron House. I knew everyone in the team and they knew me.

“I had been looking for work since the fire, but found it hard to get my foot in the door.

“I heard about Fair Start at the Job Centre and thought I’d try it out.”

On his first Fair Start meeting in July, James arrived early, immaculately dressed with a huge smile on his face. His manager from Cameron House went with him to give moral support.

At the meeting, James was given a work coach, Jim, who started to approach local employers.

James said: “My work coach, Jim, took the time to get to know both me and my sister and together we started to find jobs that I could apply for.”

Within an hour of getting his CV, the owners of the Abbotsford Hotel in Dumbarton invited James to an interview.

His experience and friendly nature earned him a trial in the kitchen and, one week later, he was offered a job.

Now he is a well-kent face around the hotel and turning his hand to all sorts of tasks.

Wise chief Sean Duffy said: “The Group helps people build a better future.”