TWO trainees from Dumfries and Galloway were successful at the Lantra Scotland ALBAS (Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills).
Murray Henderson, above, from Newton Stewart won the much-coveted Game and Wildlife Learner of the Year award. He is doing an SVQ in gamekeeping through SRUC Elmwood while working for Forestry and Land Scotland as a modern wildlife ranger apprentice.
He also claimed the Tam Tod Trophy for outstanding young countryside learner.
Murray said: “Thank you to Lantra Scotland for this incredible award, to Victoria Pendry my tutor at SRUC Elmwood and, of course, Emma Staniforth at Forest and Land Scotland. It’s been a great night!”
Land-based Engineering (forestry) Learner of the Year Findley Reid from Dumfries has been doing an SVQ in land-based engineering through SRUC Barony while working for Jas P Wilson in Dalbeattie. Findley said: “It’s been a great experience completing my SVQ at Jas P Wilson. Thanks to my employers there and also Drew Easton from SRUC Barony.”
Over 200 finalists, event supporters, employers, training providers and industry leaders, including Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie, attended the glittering awards ceremony last week.
Dr Liz Barron-Majerik MBE MICFor, Scotland Director, Lantra, said: “It is a privilege to be part of the ALBAS and to help put the spotlight on some of the incredible people in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sector, while also encouraging employers to look ahead at their future workforce.
“Everyone who was nominated should be proud of that achievement, but with the standard of entries continuing to get better each year, it means our winners tonight are quite simply the best of the best from our sector.”
