Businesses Should ‘Love Apprenticeships’

£400 Available for Wales’ Land Girls

New Beekeeping Qualification Up and Flying Soon

Utility Arboriculture Courses

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY

For Immediate Release England’s land-based and environmental businesses must cultivate world-class skills in order to thrive and fully support the nation’s supply of food, fuel and water, according to new research, published today (6 April) by Lantra Sector Skills Council. The land-based and environmental sector touches all our lives wherever we live. The sector feeds our nation and is indispensable for our current and future economic prosperity. Land-based and environmental businesses safeguard England’s natural environment and natural heritage and are in the front line in the drive for

MASTERING A CAREER IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Support from Lantra’s Women and Work award has not just helped environmentalist Annabel Foskett embark upon a masters degree. It’s also led to a sought-after scholarship and landed her as the Women and Work Environmental Conservation joint-winner of the year. Since 2006, the Women and Work programme has worked with over 1212 companies in England to support 3,250 women develop their skills and progress their careers in industries where women are under-represented. To celebrate the end of the 2010/2011 training programme, the nine top learners were recognised at the second annual Lantra Women

Inflexible apprenticeships place rural skills agenda at risk

Apprenticeships need to be more flexible if they are to meet the needs of business and hit government targets – Sector Skills Council Lantra reveals during Apprenticeship Week (7-11 February).Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for Land-based and Environmental Industries - representing industry and lobbying Government to support appropriate sector-based training. Its research has highlighted a range of problems with publicly funded Apprenticeship Frameworks. These include insufficient funding for over 19s, a bias toward non-work-based testing, over-stretched colleges and too much red-tape.

Lantra hosts conference for Training Providers

A stimulating and informative conference to raise awareness of the roles and responsibilities of Lantra Sector Skills Council, training providers and key government stakeholders in developing National Occupational Standards, qualifications and learning was hosted at Crieff Hydro.During the event attendees heard from a range of people involved within training and the development of qualifications; this included John Gillan, proprietor of Premier One Land Services Ltd; Iain McCaskey, Qualifications Manager at the Alliance Sector Skills Council who gave an overview of the Modern Apprenticeship

Lantra database aids Foundation learning agenda

Following trials in UK colleges a National Student Database is being adopted by lecturers to help complete the new Foundation Learning Tier it was announced today. In the coming academic year all colleges are expected to deliver the Foundation Learning Tier which aims to prepare 14 to 19-year-olds for further study or the world of work. Testing has shown Lantra’s online National Student Database helps students record and present their skills for qualifications in areas such as employability and interpersonal skills. Lantra’s Rob Lloyd-Jones explains: “The National Student Database maps the

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

Firm ground for the future

As world cup fever continues to captivate the nation, many followers eagerly wait with baited breath to see who will make it through each round and ultimately to the final in Johannesburg on 11 July.Unfortunately Scotland did not make it to the competition, but perhaps we should stop and think about the pitches on which teams practice faithfully week after week, and those who work every week of the year to ensure our sports grounds are looking, and performing, at their best. As Willie Ferguson, Lantra’s National Director for Scotland explains: “To turn out a top quality pitch, in spite of

OPENING DOORS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Current economic conditions are tough on businesses everywhere, so to help those working within Wales’ equine and veterinary 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 Welsh Assembly Government representatives are working together so that the show’s visitors can easily find out about the training and support that is available, or ask about the many rewarding environmental and land-based careers. Among those joining Lantra will be Lantra Skills Ambassador and

New Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture now available

After close liaison with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), farmers, employers, colleges and training providers across Scotland, a new Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture is now ready for delivery.Lantra’s National Director for Scotland, Willie Fergusson said: “Research highlighted a high demand for a Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship in Agriculture, and the announcement that this qualification is now available has been widely welcomed by the agricultural industry. The introduction of this new qualification will provide more work-based learning, which will be supported by an approved

OPENING DOORS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Current economic conditions are tough on businesses everywhere, so to help those working within Wales’ equine and veterinary 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 Welsh Assembly Government representatives are working together so that the show’s visitors can easily find out about the training and support that is available, or ask about the many rewarding environmental and land-based careers. Among those joining Lantra will be experienced equine nurse and

A passion for golf ....ever considered a career as a greenkeeper?

Northern Ireland has played host to some of the top golf tournaments, both at professional and amateur level.While a small country, Northern Ireland is a big player in the world of golf and has attracted attention worldwide. Not only do we have world class professional golfers in Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, but the northern region of Ireland has the two top-ranked golf courses in Ireland, Royal Co Down and Royal Portrush. Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries represents the horticulture, landscaping and sports turf industry, and helps ensure

BUSINESSES ENCOURAGED TO SIGN UP TO VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based industries, encourages businesses to invest in the skills of their staff in line with National VQ Day (23 June 2010).In today’s economic climate, training is more important than ever and research shows that businesses with trained staff are in a strong position. With 96% of environmental and land-based businesses employing fewer than 10 staff, vocational training is a great way for individuals to develop skills and gain nationally recognised qualifications. Vocational qualifications in the sector are undergoing a significant

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