LANTRA INSPIRES TEENS AT UK’S BIGGEST CAREERS EVENT

Lantra highlighted the diverse range of land-based and environmental careers available at Skills London 2010, held from 7 – 9 October at the London ExCel.

Lantra Sector Skills Council attended the hugely successful event with KEITS, one of the country’s premier private training provider specialising in Apprenticeships and NVQs. Teens aged 14-19 discovered more about the of the multitude of careers, training schemes, educational options and skills opportunities available to them. Chris Catchpole, Sector Entry and Careers Manager at Lantra, said: “Skills London was interactive, exciting and fun and was the perfect place for us to interact with young people, their parents, carers and teachers. With the help of KEITS, we showcased the large variety of career options available in the sector. It was a great experience to interact with a whole host of visitors.” The land-based and environmental sector has, in the past, suffered from a lack of accessible and accurate careers information and from this, many misconceptions have been born. 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 to managing the home turf of football clubs or looking after the planet in environmental conservation. “We have just launched a new careers website to combat any misconceptions while offering essential careers information and the latest industry information. Our new site enables everyone to access services that are accurate, helpful and relevant.” Jamie Stevenson, Director of Contracts and Business Development at KEITS, joined Lantra on the exhibition stand. KEITS gave demonstrations in floristry skills, including button hole making, and equine skills, with hands-on demonstrations in building horse bridles, to eager event goers. Jamie said: “The three day 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 training provision KEITS provides. I wanted to show that the land-based sector is an exciting place to have a career and that KEITS is a great private training provider, 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 KEITS, visit www.keits.co.uk, email info@keits.co.uk or call 01923 854 586. -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 London 2010 event, visit www.skillslondon2010.co.uk About Lantra • Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector, is licensed by the UK government to drive forward the new skills, training and business development agenda for the sector • Lantra represents 17 industries and 1.5 million workers and volunteers in agricultural crops, agricultural livestock, animal care, animal technology, aquaculture, environmental conservation, equine, farriery, fencing, fisheries management, floristry, game and wildlife management, land-based engineering, landscape, production horticulture, trees and timber and veterinary nursing. For more information see www.lantra.co.uk

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