NEWS RELEASE: £2.9 MILLION INVESTMENT IN LAND-BASED BUSINESSES

New Level 2 Fisheries Management Apprenticeship

£400 Available for Wales’ Land Girls

Women and Work 2011-12: Supporting Women’s Skills Across the UK

Time is ticking for Land-based and Aquaculture Learner nominations

With only two weeks left, Lantra Sector Skills Council is calling you to nominate your top Scottish Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year.These special awards aim to recognise and reward those learners who have demonstrated a real commitment to training and professional development – anyone can put forward a candidate: employers, training providers, colleges, schools and universities and can you nominate more than one learner. With a range of prize categories, why not nominate a deserving learner for one of these prestigious awards. Prize categories include: ‘Overall Winner

MPs targeted by food-supply skills EDM

MPs are being asked to sign an Early Day Motion calling upon the Government to address skills shortages in the food sector and recognise the importance of the food supply sector in its policy making. Andrew George MP and sector skills councils Lantra, Improve Limited and Skillsmart Retail launched the EDM following a parliamentary reception addressing the issue last week. Nearly 100 MPs, civil servants and industry leaders attended the event on the Terrace at the House of Commons. Speaking at the event Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Jim Paice said: “It’s important we get the

Skills councils warn MPs of threat to food security

Three Sector Skills Councils have joined forces today (12 October) in the Houses of Parliament to alert politicians and civil servants to gaps in the training and qualifications needed to maintain long-term food security. The event was staged after the three Sector Skills Councils, Lantra, Improve Limited and Skillsmart Retail, all reported worrying skills gaps impacting upon the UK’s ability to feed itself. As a result they have formed The Food Supply Network. Peter Martin, Chief Executive of Lantra said, “The contribution of our three sectors to the UK’s economy and food supply is much

Search begins for Scotland’s top Fisheries Management Learners

Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries is calling for nominations for its eighth Scottish ‘Lantra Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year’ awards.Lantra is urging employers, training providers, colleges, universities and schools to nominate employees or students who have shown outstanding commitment to training through their hard work and determination. Lantra’s National Director for Scotland, Willie Fergusson said: “Lantra’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year awards is a wonderful opportunity to show new entrants the rewarding and

OPENING DOORS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Current economic conditions are tough on businesses everywhere, so to help those working within Wales’ environmental and land-based industries, Lantra Sector Skills Council is throwing open the doors of its Builth Wells office during the Royal Welsh Show (July 19-22).Industry experts, training providers and staff from the Farming Connect Skills Development Programme are working together so that the show’s visitors can easily find out about the training and support that is available to the sector, or ask about the many rewarding environmental and land-based careers, some of which will be

Interested in the game and wildlife industry?

Set impressively in the grounds of Scone Palace, Perth the Scottish Game Fair is taking place from 2 - 4 July 2010.A three day celebration of the countryside with gundogs, shooting, falconry, fly fishing, educational exhibits, sport, entertainment and good country food and drink, the Scottish Game Fair is regarded as one of the main countryside events of the year, demonstrating the importance of game and other wildlife, and their contribution to the countryside and the Scottish economy. Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries represents the game and

WORLDSKILLS TO PROVE THAT NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

Groups of young people will search for solutions to the world’s environmental problems at this summer’s Environmental Science Challenge, being held 29 June – 2 July 2010 at Pembroke College.Developed to be a WorldSkills 2011 competition, groups of students will be provided with detailed information about a mythical island, its geology, potential sources of energy, expected population growth, available finances and various other statistics. After three days of planning, each team will present a report outlining how they will meet the energy demands of this island, including a plan for CO2

New Chair and Trustees Sought for Lantra Sector Skills Council

7 June PR 1369 New Chair and Trustees Sought for Lantra Sector Skills Council Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries, is seeking a new Chair to replace its outgoing Chair, Dr Gordon McGlone. Four positions on Lantra’s 13 member Board are also being sought. Lantra is particularly targeting its 17 environmental and land-based industries in its search to replace Dr McGlone, who completes eight successful years in post at the end of 2010. Lantra works with its 230,000 businesses to champion the sector as professional, hi-tech and essential to the UK

New opportunities beckon says Lantra’s outgoing Chair

“These are exciting times for the environmental and land-based industries. I sense a real feeling of energy and determination to succeed amongst the increasingly hi-tech and professional micro businesses Lantra represents through skills provision, and here at Lantra we’re making sure we are reflecting that.”The words of Lantra’s Chair Dr Gordon McGlone as he prepares to hand over the reigns of the Sector Skills Council after eight successful years at the helm. His reflective mood continues, “During my time as Chair, I’ve seen our sector develop enormously. Today we see more and more 21st

REVISED SKILLS STANDARDS NOW AVAILABLE FOR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Following an extensive review of the jobs, skills and activities people carry out within fisheries management, Lantra Sector Skills Council announced today (26 May) that newly revised National Occupational Standards are now approved and available for employers use.National Occupational Standards (NOS for short) accurately describe what a person needs to do, know and understand in their job to carry out their role in a consistent and competent way. NOS has 115 distinct uses which help ensure that industry has the skills it needs, and so Lantra carried out the year long review with employers

COUNTDOWN TO NEW QUALIFICATIONS FOR COLLEGES

With just four months to go before new qualifications in the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) are introduced to colleges, Lantra Sector Skills Council reports on the good progress being made in its work with awarding organisations and land-based training providers to ensure QCF is a real success.Twelve months so far in the making and it’s already clear that the new Qualifications and Credit Framework is proving to be a breakthrough in the way the skills of individuals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are recognised and accredited. QCF allows people to ‘pick and mix’ what

Lantra training grant helps women tackle challenges at work

A £450 training grant has been proven to boost an astounding 92% of women’s confidence, a key factor in helping them tackle the challenges they face at work, according to research released today (13 May).The research report investigated the effects of Lantra’s Women and Work programme, which is designed to help women progress in male-dominated environmental and land-based industries across England including fisheries management. Although worryingly 75% of participants believe it is harder for women to progress into senior roles in their industry than men, the report does show that after