LANTRA INSPIRES TEENS AT COUNTY’S BIGGEST CAREERS EVENT
The varied, distinct and sometimes creepy crawly careers offered by the land-based and environmental sector was showcased this week, 13-14 October, by Lantra Sector Skills Council at Skills Cambridgeshire 2010, Wood Green Animal Shelter, Godmanchester.
Teens aged 14-19 discovered the huge number of careers, training schemes, educational options and skills opportunities available to them as a team of reptiles and large insects, courtesy of the College of West Anglia, enlightened the eager event goers to just who they could be working with. Chris Catchpole, Sector Entry and Careers Manager at Lantra, said: “Skills Cambridgeshire was a brilliant place for us along with the College of West Anglia to interact with young people, their parents, carers and teachers. By bringing along our reptile and insect friends, we encouraged them to come and see more, which gave us the chance to challenge people’s perceptions and open them up to the truly exciting and different opportunities there are in this sector.” In the past, the land-based and environmental sector has suffered from many misconceptions but this is something Lantra is keen to address, as Chris explains: “The sector is not all about muddy wellies, unsocial hours and manual labour. There is actually a whole range of exciting jobs available from caring for animals and wildlife (including those insects) to managing the home turf of football clubs or looking after the planet in environmental conservation.” “So to help people get to the truth, we have just launched a new careers website which offers essential careers information and the latest industry information that’s accurate, helpful and relevant.” Lisa Prescott, Programme Manager for animal care and equine studies at the College of West Anglia, shared the exhibition stand with Lantra and said: “The event went very well and I really enjoyed it. I think that it‘s really important to interact with young people as it gives them an insight not only into the sector but into the courses our college provides. I wanted to show that the land-based sector is an exciting place to have a career and that the college is a great place to study, which offers learning programmes available to all.” Chris concludes: “I think that the sector needs really well-rounded and well-informed people and so that’s why attending this event was essential for us to highlight our new website and emphasise potential career choices to young people.” To find out more about careers in the land-based and environmental sector, visit www.lantra.co.uk/careers or email careers@lantra.co.uk. To find out more about the College of West Anglia, visit www.cwa.ac.uk, email enquiries@col-westanglia.ac.uk or call 01553 761144. -ENDS- ISSUED BY: Caroline Judd, Lantra Press Office – contact media@lantra.co.uk or call 02476 858 407. NOTES TO EDITOR: For more information about the Skills Cambridgeshire 2010 event, visit www.skillscambridgeshire.co.uk About Lantra • Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for land-based and environmental industries, working to ensure these businesses access the training, qualifications, skills and knowledge they need. • An independent UK organisation, Lantra works with employers and the UK’s governments to address the skills and productivity needs of approximately 230 businesses (one in every ten UK businesses) in: agriculture; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; environmental conservation; equine; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land-based engineering; horticulture, landscape and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber and veterinary nursing. • By working together with the sector, Lantra leads research on skills issues and business needs, sets national standards and develops qualifications to meet modern business needs and help businesses grow through skills. • For more information see www.lantra.co.uk.
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