ALBAS Overall Winner Niall Provan Rising star apprentice Niall Provan was the success story from last week’s ALBAS (Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills), picking up a number of top accolades during the special virtual ceremony. Lantra Scotland’s annual awards evening celebrates the achievements of the country’s top land-based and aquaculture trainees, many of whom have continued to navigate new ways of working over the last year despite the challenges of the pandemic. Perthshire farmer and stand-up comedian, Jim Smith hosted the online event, alongside Lantra Scotland Director, Liz Barron-Majerik. The awards were officially opened by Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes, who praised the nominees for continuing to develop their skills and for helping to drive forward their rural communities, making them sustainable places to live, work and thrive.
AT WORK in the woods FORESTRY COMPANIES are being encouraged to take on new young staff through generous subsidies. The Growing Rural Talent initiative was highlighted in the recent Forestry Jobs Summit, organised by the Industry Leadership Group and attended by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing and key forestry organisations. Forestry companies Tilhill, Egger and James Jones and Sons are already providing young recruits with a first step into forestry, and during the summit, a further two companies confirmed their plans to offer opportunities for new starts. Mr Ewing said: “The forestry sector in Scotland is a success story. It generates around £1 billion to the economy each year and supports around 25,000 jobs. Timber production levels are increasing and in the years to come we will need to have a young skilled workforce in place to meet demand.
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Article
New initiative highlighted at forestry jobs summit will be a catalyst for job opportunities , believes Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing; Mr Ewing was speaking as the Scottish Government s cabinet secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity By Philip Murray
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Updated: 09:43, 21 December 2020
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The new intiative is expected to boost employment opportunities in forestry. Picture: www.forestry.gov.uk/pictures
A BRAND new jobs initiative aimed at generating employment within the forestry sector will help fuel opportunities for young people in the industry, a Highland MSP believes.