Two talented agriculture trainees have both been short-listed for Lantra Scotland’s prestigious Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards 2015.
Ruairidh MacKinnon, 19, from Oban in Argyll, and Ryan Paxton, 20, from Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, were chosen by an independent judging panel from what’s been called an exceptionally talented pool of nominees, with judges praising the quality of entrants across all categories.
Ruairidh has recently completed a level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture with SRUC Oatridge whilst working with D&J MacGillivray on the Isle of Mull, and Ryan has completed a level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture with Borders College whilst employed at Buccleuch Estates.
Agriculture is one of eight industries represented at Lantra Scotland’s Learner of the Year award ceremony and gala dinner, which celebrates the achievements of employees of all ages across the country.
Winners will be announced at the event on Thursday 5th March at the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, and along with the finalists, guests will include industry trainees, training providers, employers and key representatives from across the sector. The main sponsor for this year’s event is The Scottish Salmon Company.
Lantra Scotland is the sector skills council for land-based, aquaculture and environmental industries and every year invites industry, training providers and schools to put forward nominations for the awards.
This year there are 15 award categories - the highest number since the awards began in 2003 – including the prestigious CARAS Awards, the Overall-Winner Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Award and the Modern Apprentice of the Year Award. There are also industry awards covering the key sectors of agriculture, aquaculture, equine, horticulture, game and wildlife, trees and timber, land-based engineering, fisheries management and environmental conservation. The highly successful Urban and Rural Schools Awards make a return, as does the Higher Education Award and School Pupil Award.
The independent panel of judges is chaired by Ray Jones, former Chairman of Scotland Food and Drink, and comprises: Erika Hay, agriculture and rural affairs journalist; Keith Paterson, Learning and Development Manager at Forestry Commission Scotland; Keith Redpath, of Redpath Farms; Lisa Connell, Training & Development Manager with The Scottish Salmon Company and Rebecca Dawes, Communication & Rural Affairs Manager with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs. Peter Alexander, a Blairgowrie farmer and Non-Executive Director of Algo, recently retired from the judging panel after eleven years involvement in the awards.
Kevin Patrick, Interim Director Lantra Scotland comments: “We are delighted to announce our finalists for the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards 2015 and are extremely grateful to the independent panel of judges for all their hard work. These awards continue to play an important role in communicating and celebrating the value of gaining qualifications, developing skills and improving standards.
"This year the standard of award entrants was exceptionally high, which is making the process of choosing our finalists an increasing challenge for the judges. We are also receiving nominations from a growing pool of employers and training providers, which suggests an increasing realisation of the importance of supporting and celebrating our future generation of talent. All of the nominees, whether selected as finalists in 2015 or not, should be extremely proud of their work and I really look forward to celebrating their achievements in Dunblane on 5th March”.
Ray Jones, Chair of the judging panel, comments: “Winning a prize in the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards puts a person in the best of the best category.”
“The judging this year has been extremely challenging due to the high quality of modern apprentices coming through the system. This is a tribute to the individuals, their employers and the staff at various colleges throughout Scotland.”
Craig Anderson, Managing Director at The Scottish Salmon Company, the awards main sponsor, said: “We have been involved with LANTRA for the past number of years and we are very proud to be the main sponsor of this year’s event. Training and development of staff is an integral part of The Scottish Salmon Company and, we believe, that by improving the quality of training offered to those in the land-based and aquaculture industries LANTRA helps to reduce the current skills gap.
“The standard of this year’s finalists is particularly high and is reflective of the strength and talent of the workforce across both the land-based and aquaculture industries in Scotland. Best wishes to all finalists for this year’s awards.” said Craig Anderson, Managing Director at The Scottish Salmon Company.”
“We have been involved with LANTRA for the past number of years and we are very proud to be the main sponsor of this year’s event. Training and development of staff is an integral part of The Scottish Salmon Company and, we believe, that by improving the quality of training offered to those in the land-based and aquaculture industries LANTRA helps to reduce the current skills gap.
“The standard of this year’s finalists is particularly high and is reflective of the strength and talent of the workforce across both the land-based and aquaculture industries in Scotland. Best wishes to all finalists for this year’s awards.” said Craig Anderson, Managing Director at The Scottish Salmon Company.”
