Meet The Winners
North Highland College UHI’s Gamekeeping Department
North Highland College UHI has been offering Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management courses for more than 30 years. These courses were the first of their kinds in the Highlands of Scotland, and are now widely recognised as the access route into the gamekeeping profession. It all began with just a few young trainee gamekeepers gaining work experience on estates in Caithness and Sutherland. The curriculum has developed over the decades, and North Highland College UHI’s Gamekeeping Department now enrols over 70 students each year on SVQ Level II, Practical work experience is key, but placements are not limited to Scottish estates. Students have undertaken exchange programmes with partners in Sweden, and recently the college has begun developing an exchange programme with Hedmark University in Norway. Approximately 97 per cent of students who complete their course achieve full time employment in the land based industry. It’s important to make sure that the positive aspects of wildlife management are embedded in all programmes. That’s why North Highland College UHI works in partnership with bodies including Scottish Natural Heritage, the RSPB and the Cairngorms National Park.