Talent spotting time
Lantra Scotland opens nominations for Aquaculture Learner of the Year Award 2016
LANTRA Scotland is calling on tutors, trainers, teachers and employers to put forward nominations for its A uaculture earner of the Year Awards, which will be presented at a ceremony on March 3, 2016. dhe sought a er award goes to a modern apprentice or student who has excelled during their training, demonstrating an aptitude for hard work, high le els of skill and a dedication to their chosen profession.
Eow in its 13th year, antra s and-based and A uaculture earner of the Year Awards recognise and celebrate the achie ements of Scotland s rural and urban students, as well as encouraging employers to invest in training and skills development to ensure the industry is supplied with the best talent.
ast year s ceremony was the biggest in the e ent s history, with more than 220 industry representati es coming together to celebrate the successes of 29 talented winners and runners-up across 15 categories- the highest numbers since the awards began in 2003.
antra hopes to go one better next year and is asking the sector to make e ery e ort to put forward nominees for 2016 and ensure the 13th awards ceremony is one to remember.
As well as the a uaculture category, antra is welcoming submissions on behalf of modern apprentices, college students and ocational learners working in the agriculture, e uine, fisheries management, en ironmental conser ation, game and wildlife, horticulture, trees and timber and land-based engineering sectors.
e in Patrick, director of antra Scotland, belie es that recognising learners through the prestigious awards represents a critical step on the road to building a vibrant and successful rural economy in Scotland.
Scotland s land-based, a uaculture and en ironmental conser ation industries o er an incredibly di erse and rewarding range of career opportunities.
,elping to promote those opportunities, and ultimately raising the uality of new entrants through e ecti e learning and skills de elopment, are key acti ities for antra.
‘The awards celebrate the hard work and achie ements of the country s top learners, their employers and training providers.
‘We are proud to support those achievements, and really would encourage all land-based and a uaculture employers and training pro iders to consider nominating their learners for an award.
dalented young fisheries apprentice, Andrew Moore, current A uaculture earner of the Year, said tinning this award was fantastic and a great honour.
My interest in a uaculture was sparked a er landing a job at Nidderdale trout farm back in 2006. t was a land-based, raceway site, with multiple sites including a farm at och Eti e.
‘While working at Nidderdale, I soon realised this was the career for me. ha en t looked back since.
dhe closing date for the nominations is Eo ember 20, 2015. Finalists will be shortlisted in early in 2016, with the winners announced at the ceremony, to be held in the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro.
dhe ean s am Award will also be making a return next year. Donated by training instructor Elspeth tatson in memory of her friend ean Costello, the award recognises the most inspiring mentor for the and-based and A uaculture earner of the Year finalists.