Two Mull trainees land top Lantra awards
TWO trainees from Mull have been successful at Lantra Scotland’s annual Landbased and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards.
Alan Tangny, 30, won the Aquaculture category and Claire Simonetta, 26, was runner-up for Higher Education Learner of the Year.
Caitlin Ross, 21, from Loch Lomond won the HND-level Higher Education Award.
Alan is doing a modern apprenticeship in Aquaculture through Inverness College UHI, while working for Scottish Sea Farms Ltd.
Alan actively promotes aquaculture at major rural events, including the Mull Highland Games. He has given a number of talks promoting the opportunities, products and economic benefits the industry offers.
Alan said: ‘It’s a proud feeling winning this award and it has confirmed my belief that anything is possible if you work hard and have the right attitude. I’m probably not your typical winner, fresh out from school or college. I was in a bit of a rut and needed a change of career. The aquaculture modern apprenticeship gave me a new start and winning this award has made it all worthwhile.’
Claire recently completed a BSc (Hons) first class in Agriculture at SRUC and is now working as a farmer and agricultural consultant.
While at college, she won the RHASS silver medal, a prize for being the best agriculture honours degree student at SRUC across all campuses, and the Watson Peat Trophy for best honours student at the Ayr campus.
Caitlin has completed an HND in Agriculture with SRUC and is now working full-time on the family farm. She has had to juggle family life with working on the farm and studying at college.
She recently featured in the Scottish Government video Women in Agriculture.