It could be you! Get the ‘good life’ you always wanted

As the weather hots up and the days get longer, we often long to swap the hum-drum of the nine-to-five for the great outdoors. But is the ‘good life’ just a dream? With over 110,000 opportunities in the environmental and land-based sector it doesn’t need to be.

Lantra Sector Skills Council will be on hand at the Smallholder and Garden Festival at Builth Wells (15-16 May) to show you how you can take the next crucial step in finding that fulfilling career and lifestyle. Kevin Thomas, Lantra’s National Director for Wales, said, “There are huge opportunities out there whether you want to want work outdoors, care for animals, manage the home turf of your favourite rugby club or look after our planet through environmental conservation. The festival is a great way to explore the ‘good life’ and at Lantra’s stand you chat to our staff and see what working in the sector could be like.” At Lantra’s stand a range of experts will demonstrate some of the exciting roles available and offer you a chance to try your hand. On Saturday wielding a pair of scissors will be Claire Hyde, from Classic Canine Cuts Dog Grooming, Andy Kehoe will be gate-making and Mary Zammitt will be giving willow hurdle and garden furniture-making workshop. On the Sunday Stuart Fry will be displaying the traditional craft of dry stone walling, while getting creative will be florist Sian Davies of Cwtta Inspirations and Julie Robinson, from Beacons Nursery, who will be creating hanging baskets and planters. These demonstrations and that organised by Diana Lavers of the British Wool Marketing Board, to show shearing sheep elsewhere on the showground Saturday, are jointly funded by Lantra, NIACE Dysgu Cymru and the European Social Fund 2007-2013 via the Welsh Assembly Government. For those who already have a foot firmly in the sector, Lantra will also be providing a range of business advice and support to help maximise potential. Kevin Thomas continued, “We can help you identify what training you need and find the right training course for you, with training providers on hand for you to talk to directly. What’s more, farmers and foresters may have the chance to access up to 80% subsided training through the Farming Connect’s Skills Development Programme.” Through Lantra, Farming Connect supports accredited short courses delivered by approved colleges and training providers across Wales. Courses available range from environmental conservation and countryside skills, to vehicle operation, mole and rodent control or pesticides. Also chainsaw use, livestock husbandry and enterprise skills, such as butchery, ice cream or cheese making. For more information and to find out when various demonstrations take place, visit www.lantra.co.uk/wales or email wales@lantra.co.uk. Farming Connect is funded through the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013, which is financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Assembly Government – ENDS – For more information please contact: Mhairi Aikman, Communications Co-ordinator Tel: 02476 858 418 or email mhairi.aikman@lantra.co.uk. Editor’s notes Smallholders and Garden Festival (www.rwas.co.uk/en/garden-festival) • Gates are open to the public from 9.00am – 6.00pm on the weekend of 15 and 16 May 2010. About Farming Connect • Farming Connect is funded through the Rural Development Plan 2007 – 2013, which is financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Assembly Government. • The Farming Connect’s Skills Development Programme, managed by Lantra Sector Skills Council, has the aim of improving the performance and prospects of farming and forestry businesses throughout Wales. It provides up to 80% funding of short accredited training courses. • Further information about Farming Connect can be found on the Welsh Assembly Government’s website: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingconnect/?lang=en About Lantra  As of 1 January 2010, all eligible businesses registered with Farming Connect became able to access 80% funding towards the cost of training through the Skills Development Programme managed by Lantra. The additional 30% contribution should encourage more farmers to take up the short accredited courses and free business skills assessment available to them.  Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based industries, is licensed by the UK government to drive forward the new skills, training and business development agenda for the sector. In Wales, it represents over 18,500 businesses, across 17 industries, 99% of which are micro-businesses employing less than ten people, with 94% employing four or less. Their 85,000 employees represent 7.5 per cent of the UK’s total environmental and land-based workforce. For more information see www.lantra.co.uk.  The sector is vital to the Welsh economy as tourism associated to the Welsh environment is estimated to be worth £821million and support 23,600 jobs. Another 117,000 jobs are required to manage our natural environment in Wales.  Much of the land-based workforce is highly skilled in technical areas, with years of vocational experience and, often, family tradition, behind them. However, their skills are often unaccredited and their valuable experience not recognised. Lantra works to ensure that these skills and experience are recognised alongside formal qualifications and professional development and helps employers access “bite-sized” units of learning.  The 17 industries Lantra represents are clustered around: land management and production; animal health and welfare; conservation and management of the natural environment.

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