Lantra Scotland reveals finalists for Learner of the Year Awards

James Rose
Wednesday 23 January 2019 - 15:49

A select group of the country’s top trainees have been named as finalists in Lantra Scotland’s much-anticipated Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards. The 24 talented apprentices and trainees who have made the shortlist will find out if they have won at a prestigious gala dinner and award ceremony on Thursday 7th March at the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro.

Lantra Scotland is the sector skills council for land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation industries, and the awards play a vital role in promoting careers within the rural sector, celebrating the achievements of learners and highlighting the importance to employers of investing in skills.

MC and host for the evening will be well-known Perthshire farmer and stand-up comedian, Jim Smith.

The finalists for the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards 2019 are:

  • Aimee MacRae, aged 19, from Bothwell near Glasgow, has been doing a Level 4 Equido qualification with Ross Dhu Equestrian Ltd;

  • Amy Park, aged 19 from Hawick, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Mixed Farming with JA Park through Borders College;

  • Andrew Richardson, aged 25 from the Isle of Lewis, has been doing an Erasmus Mundus joint masters degree in Aquaculture, Environment and Society through the Scottish Association for Marine Science;

  • Andy Oldham, aged 45 from Aberfeldy, has been doing an HNC in Game and Wildlife Management with North Highland College UHI while working at Meggerine Estate;

  • Billy Welsh, aged 24 from Stromness in Orkney, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture with Scottish Sea Farms through NAFC Marine Centre UHI;

  • Calum Melrose, aged 22 from Livingston, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Horticulture with West Lothian Council through SRUC;

  • Cameron MacLean, aged 19 from Islay, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Gamekeeping with Dunlossit Estate through North Highland College UHI;

  • Ceara-Marie Law, aged 26 from Manchester, has been doing an SVQ in Environmental Conservation with the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland;

  • Don Martin, aged 33 from Blairgowrie, has been working at GRN Tractors and doing an NC in Land-based Engineering with SRUC;

  • Erica Taylor, 20 from Kellas by Dundee, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture at JG Orr Ltd through SRUC;

  • Harry Hamlin-Wright, aged 29 from Perth, works for Dawnfresh Farming Ltd and did an MSc Aquatic Veterinary Studies with the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture;

  • Isla Campbell, aged 21 from Strathpeffer, has been doing a BSc in Forest Management with Arboriculture and Urban Forestry at the Scottish School of Forestry;

  • Jack Burton, aged 20 from Windygates in Fife, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber with the Falkland Stewardship Trust through SRUC;

  • Janis Brivkalns, aged 34 from Dunoon, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture with The Scottish Salmon Company through Inverness College UHI;

  • Kyle Baker, aged 19 from Glenrothes, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber with the Falkland Stewardship Trust through SRUC;

  • Lauren Attwood, aged 34 from Auchterarder, has been doing a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing with Struthers and Scott through SRUC;

  • Lauryn Penman, aged 18 from Lochgelly in Fife, has been doing an Advanced Certificate in Horse Care through SRUC;

  • Louise Main, aged 18 from Dumfries, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture at Crochmore Farm through SRUC;

  • Luke Taylor, aged 18 from Livingston, has been doing an SVQ in Environmental Conservation and Rural Skills with West Lothian Council Ranger Service through SRUC;

  • Ross Yuile, 24 from Glasgow, has been doing an NC in Horticulture with Glasgow Clyde College;

  • Stuart Hynds, aged 28 from Edinburgh, has been doing a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing with Vets4Pets through SRUC;

  • Toni Lamont, aged 19 from Ardrossan in Ayrshire, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Rural Skills with the North Ayrshire Ranger Service through SRUC;

  • Tyler Tovey, aged 23 from East Calder, has been doing an SVQ in Horticulture with Jupiter Artland through SRUC;

  • William Muir, aged 18 from Stewarton in Ayrshire, has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Land-based Engineering with Kerr Farm Engineering through SRUC.

Tickets for the evening are available from Lantra on 01738 310164 or scotland@lantra.co.uk. See www.lantra.co.uk/Scotland/tickets.