SRUC students take the treble at the LANTRA Awards!
Three students from Scotland’s Rural College took home top prizes at the LANTRA award ceremony held at the Dunblane Hydro.
SRUC LANTRA Award Winning Students (L-R): Daniel Brown, Cameron Smith, Kirsten Porteous, Bryan Gove, Douglas Dowling
Three students from Scotland’s Rural College took home top prizes at the LANTRA award ceremony held at the Dunblane Hydro. A total of 26 awards were presented across 13 categories, prizes which recognise and promote the talent and effort of students and apprentices in the land-based sector.
David James, SRUC Assistant Principal Further Education, said: “Once again the quality of SRUC nominees and winners this year has been outstanding, with representation across most industry sectors. We know that the demand for highly skilled land-based workers is only growing, and SRUC is fundamental to the training of these young people, who will move the sector forward in these challenging times.”
The coveted Agriculture Learner of the Year Award went to Cameron Smith, a farming modern apprentice from Doune. Shortly after his 18th birthday, he gained an HNC in Agriculture at SRUC’s Oatridge Campus and is now finishing a SVQ level 2 modern apprenticeship in agriculture with employer J.H. and N.T. Turnbull, of Meadowend, Clackmannan.
SRUC Oatridge apprentice Bryan Gove, 18, of Glenrothes, won the Modern Apprentice of the Year title. He is working as a service engineering apprentice with Netherton Tractors, of Glenrothes, while studying for his SVQ level 3.
The Council of Award of Royal Agricultural Societies Award (Caras) was shared by four winners, including Douglas Dowling, an SRUC Oatridge apprentice working at West Lothian Council. This award provides funds to help students further their studies and it’s the first time it has produced four winners.
Several other SRUC students were also runner ups in their categories. Kaleem Shaikh (SRUC Oatridge) was named runner up in the Agriculture Learner of the Year category and Kirsten Porteous (SRUC Barony) was runner-up in the Equine Learner of the Year section. Daniel Brown who was nominated for Land-based Engineering (SRUC Barony) was presented with the runner-up title in the Higher Education Award and Bryan Gove (SRUC Oatridge) was also runner up in the Land-based Service Engineering Learner of the Year category.
Scotland Food and Drink CEO James Withers, who was a keynote speaker at the awards, said: “The Lantra Awards recognise the best talent in the land-based and aquaculture sectors and I would like to congratulate all the finalists. As an industry we are committed to investing in the skills training and development of our people and it is crucial that we continue to support and encourage new entrants.”
