The sixth annual Lantra Land-based Learner of the Year Awards were attended by some 150 guests, including new entrants, key stakeholders, employers, farmers, crofters, land managers, training providers and members of Scottish Parliament. Paul Carella, from Bellshill scooped the top prize. A total of 24 prize winners from ages 14-46 from across Scotland were recognised at the awards ceremony.
Top learner, Paul Carella of Bellshill, who completed a SVQ Level 3 in Amenity Horticulture with Gosta Training in June 2008, was presented with four prizes. In addition to the ‘Overall Winner’ prize, Paul was also awarded the ‘Scottish Enterprise Area Learner of the Year’ and ‘Modern Apprentice of the Year’ and ‘Horticultural Learner of the Year’ titles, receiving £550 cash prize and the Peter Alexander Perpetual Trophy.
Attending the event, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead said:
“Skills are high on the Scottish Government agenda. We recognise the clear link between a highly skilled, well motivated workforce and a strong economy.
“I am determined to do all that I can to help and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs and craftspeople and I applaud organisations such as Lantra in providing training and skills improvement for the land based sector.
“We cannot ignore the economic downturn, but the upturn will come and we will need to be able to call on a ready supply of skilled people. That means nurturing young talent and doing all we can to encourage our workforce to improve and develop their skills throughout their employment.”
William Fergusson, Lantra’s National Director for Scotland, said: “It is vital for the future of these industries that we continue to attract the high calibre of candidates demonstrated this evening. To do this, we must raise awareness of the many challenging and diverse career and training opportunities across Scotland. There are highly skilled jobs with real career progression on offer to new entrants of all ages.”
Skills Development Scotland with learndirect scotland for business were the principal sponsor of the awards this year with major sponsorship also provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Cadogan Trust. The annual awards are also sponsored by key stakeholders, training providers, employers, farmers and land managers, demonstrating the commitment of industry to training and the awards.
Danny Logue, Operations Director of Skills Development Scotland presented the top three prizes. He said: “These awards highlight our very successful partnership with Lantra which I am confident will go from strength to strength - responding effectively to the needs of both learners and employers in this industry. All of winners are to be congratulated on their success.”
Colin Smith, an Amenity Horticulture student from Oatridge College, was Overall Runner-up. Out of the two regional prizes awarded Ross Blackwell was awarded the ‘Highlands and Islands Enterprise Area’ prize and Paul Carella was awarded the ‘Scottish Enterprise Area Learner of the Year’ prize.
The ‘Higher Education Learner of the Year’ prize reflects the numbers of new entrants opting for the higher education route into the sector. This prize was awarded Kenneth O’Connor from Isle of Skye who is studying for a Higher National Diploma in Agriculture with Oatridge College.
Johanna Bruce from Alford and Blaine Willison from Hawick, were the youngest winners, taking home the ‘Land-based Curriculum for Schools Learner of the Year’ and ‘Land-based Curriculum for Schools Learner of the Year – runner-up’ prizes respectively. Anne Mearns of Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), sponsors of the Land-Based Curriculum for Schools Learner of the Year Award presented the prizes.
“SQA is delighted to be sponsoring the at tonight's ceremony. This award recognises the skills and knowledge the nominees have gained through work placement or work experience. We congratulate all nominees in this category for their outstanding achievements”.
The winners:
Overall Winner Land-based Learner of the Year: Paul Carella from Bellshill, Lanarkshire
SVQ Level 3 in Amenity Horticulture with Gosta Training
Overall runner-up Land-based Learner of the Year: Colin Smith from Eccelsmachan
By Broxburn. Modern Apprenticeship in Amenity Horticulture with Oatridge College
Highlands and Islands Area Learner of the Year: Ross Blackwell from Lochgilphead, Argyll. Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber with Forestry Commission Scotland
Scottish Enterprise Learner of the Year Paul Carella from Bellshill, Lanarkshire
SVQ Level 3 in Amenity Horticulture with Gosta Training
Modern Apprentice of the Year Paul Carella from Bellshill, Lanarkshire
SVQ Level 3 in Amenity Horticulture with Gosta Training
Agriculture Learner of the Year: Craig Connell from Lauder. SVQ Level 2 in Mixed Farming with Borders College
Agriculture Learner of the Year Runner Up: Ross Anderson from Hawick
Modern Apprenticeship in Mixed Farming with Borders College
Aquaculture Learner of the Year: Iain Clerk from Lochgilphead, Argyll.
SVQ Level 2 in Aquaculture with Inverness College
Fisheries Management Learner of the Year: Aiden Purcell from Muir of Ord Invernesshire. SVQ Level 2 in Fisheries Management with Inverness College
Fisheries Management Learner of the Year Runner Up: Martin Mitchell from Peebles.
SVQ Level 2 in Fisheries Management with Barony College
Equine Learner of the Year: Sheli Jane McCoy from Auchtermuchty, Fife. Modern Apprenticeship in Horse Care and Management with Elmwood College
Equine Learner of the Year Runner Up: Stacey Ann Hall from Newburgh, Fife
Modern Apprenticeship in Horse Care and Management with Elmwood College
Game and Wildlife Learner of the Year: Malcolm Downie from Tayport, Fife
National Certificate in Gamekeeping with North Highland College
Game and Wildlife Learner of the Year Runner Up: Leslie Dingwall from Tomintoul, Moray. Higher National Certificate in Gamekeeping with North Highland College
Horticulture Learner of the Year: Paul Carella from Bellshill, Lanarkshire.
SVQ Level 3 in Amenity Horticulture with Gosta Training
Horticulture Learner of the Year Runner Up: Colin Smith from Eccelsmachan
By Broxburn. Modern Apprenticeship in Amenity Horticulture with Oatridge College
Higher Education Learner of the Year: Kenneth O’Connor from Isle of Skye. Higher National Diploma in Agriculture with Oatridge College
Higher Education Learner of the Year – runner-up: Lindsay Reynolds from Stewarton, Ayrshire. BSc in Agriculture with Scottish Agricultural College
Land-based Curriculum for Schools Learner of the Year: Johanna Bruce from Alford, Aberdeenshire. Skills for Work Rural Skills with the Alford Academy.
Land-based Curriculum for Schools Learner of the Year – runner-up Blaine Willison from Hawick, Borders. Skills for Work Rural Skills with Hawick High School
Trees and Timber Learner of the Year: Ross Blackwell from Lochgilphead, Argyll.
Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber with the Forestry Commission Scotland
Trees and Timber Learner of the Year Runner Up: Thomas Blythe from Llanbydder
Wales, previously at West Argyll, Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber with the Forestry Commission Scotland
Special Awards:
Chair of the Land-based Learner of the Year Endeavour Awards
Michael Balmain SVQ Level 3 Amenity Horticulture. Elmwood College
Mark Mckenzie HNC in Landscape Management with Oatridge College
This year's sponsors were:
Skills Development Scotland/learndirect scotland for Business – Principal Sponsor www.lds4b.com
Highlands & Islands Enterprise - major sponsor www.hie.co.uk
Forestry Commission Scotland – major sponsor www.forestry.gov.uk
Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation www.scottishsalmon.co.uk
Rural Development Initiatives
SQA www.sqa.org.uk
The Scottish National Equestrian Centre
NFU Scotland
Scottish Agricultural College www.sac.co.uk
Quality Meat Scotland www.qmsuk.com
Horticultural Trades Association www.the-hta.org.uk
Oatridge College www.oatridge.ac.uk
Lorna Davies Florist www.lornadaviesflorist.co.uk
Horse Sense www.cartney.com
British Horse Society, Scotland www.bhs.org.uk
David Houstoun, Glenkilrie Farm
Cadogan Trust
G C Taylor Farms www.taypack.com
Easterton Stables www.eastertonstables.co.uk
Corrour Estate www.corrour.co.uk
George Linton Memorial
Sandy Thomson, West Park Farm
Institute of Fisheries Management www.ifm.org.uk
Scottish Equestrian Association www.s-e-a.org.uk
Barony College
North Highland College
Algo (Blairgowrie) Ltd
Canterbury Bells, J Dempster
Dundee College
Sellars
The winning categories were as follows:
Agriculture
Trees and Timber
Aquaculture
Fisheries Management
Equine
Game and Wildlife
Horticulture
Environmental Conservation
Modern Apprentice of the Year
Regional Winners:
Highlands and Islands
Scottish Enterprise
Overall Runner Up
Overall Winner
Additional awards:
Higher Education
Scottish Progression / Skills for Work
Chair of the Land-based Learner of the Year Endeavour Awards
For general press release click here
For Shetland press release click here
For Horticulture press release click here
For Aquaculture press release click here
For Galloway Forest Project press release click here
