The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Event encouraging women to enter rural fields
An event encouraging young women to consider pursuing careers in the rural sector is taking place later this month.
Organised by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), Women in Wellies is intended to increase awareness of the wide range of jobs available with land-based companies and organisations.
The event, at Boat of Garten Community Hall on Tuesday October 30, will involve presentations from women who are already making a living in forestry, farming, gamekeeping, recreation, conservation and academia.
The speakers will be followed by an opportunity for those attending to learn more from other women at A Day in the Life work stations covering a wide range of rural pursuits.
Official statistics for Scotland indicate that the rural workforce is predominantly male, at around 74%, and across the country there is a deficit of young people entering land-based careers.
Anna Fleming, CNPA education and inclusion officer, said: “Whether it’s farming and crofting, gamekeeping, forestry, conservation or recreation – and everything in between – we are keen to see more young women consider a rural career.
“The land-based sector is very important to the economy of the Cairngorms National Park, and with fewer young people pursuing jobs in this industry we think that by inspiring women we might be able to reverse that trend.
“We really hope that the Women in Wellies event may give some young women the confidence and encouragement to think about a rural career.”
Among the speakers will be Jo O’Hara, from Forestry Commission Scotland.
She said: “With so many interesting, vital and rewarding opportunities in the rural sector, I’m constantly surprised at the low numbers of women who make their careers in land-based businesses.
“I’ve spent almost my entire career in work that has been associated with land management and I want other women to see just how rewarding and diverse rural job opportunities can be.
“That is why I am so pleased to be speaking at the Women in Wellies event. It’s a great idea to showcase and bring to life the reality of land-based careers, and to encourage more women to seriously consider what these exciting sectors have to offer.”
The CNPA has invited young women from Grantown Grammar and Kingussie, Aboyne, Alford and Speyside high schools to the event, as well as targeting colleges and universities. It is also open to anyone with an interest in finding out more about a land-based career.