For the first time in the 11-year history of Lantra’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year awards, the top place has been taken by a forestry trainee.
Andrew Roberts from Aberfoyle is currently undertaking a Modern Apprenticeship SVQ Level 3 in trees and timber with the Forestry Commission Scotland.
He was also presented with the Trees and Timber Learner of the Year Award at a gala dinner held at Dunblane Hydro on Thursday evening.
Andrew, 19, has forestry in his blood, with his mother working as an administrative officer with FCS and with one of his grandfathers having worked as a forestry ganger.
He had to compete hard, however, to gain a place on the Forestry Commission’s Skills programme which is estricted to only 30 placements annually.
Ashley Woodhouse, manager of the skills programme, said: “ I am really delighted.
“Andrew typifies someone who has acquired the skills we need in our industry.”
The overall runner-up in an evening which saw 26 awards made over 13 categories was Gary Kilbride, who had already collected the Horticulture Learner of the Year Award 2013.
Gary is undertaking a Modern Apprenticeship SVQ Level 3 in parks, gardens and greenspace with Glasgow City Council.
The title of Modern Apprentice of the Year went to Bryan Gove, 18, from Glenrothes.
He has just started his third year as an apprentice service engineer with Netherton Tractors at Glenrothes under the supervision of SRUC Oatridge.
Bryan said: “I have no farming background but I enjoy the work and am keen to progress as an agricultural engineer.”
The prestigious Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies Award (CARAS) was presented by Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland chief executive Stephen Hutt.
Due to the high quality of finalists short-listed for the award, the judging panel chose four joint winners: Lynn Munro, Simon MacLellan, Gary Kilbride and Douglas Dowling.
The CARAS award provides funds to help students further their studies, and this is the first time it has produced four winners.
Cameron Smith, a farming Modern Apprentice from Doune, won the coveted Agriculture Learner of the Year Award 2013.
Shortly after his 18th birthday, he gained a Higher National Certificate in agriculture at the SRUC’s Oatridge Campus, and is currently embarking on an SVQ Level 2 Modern Apprenticeship in agriculture with employers JH&NT Turnbull, of Meadowend, Clackmannan.
His ambition is not simply to work on the land, but to run his own agricultural business.
James Withers, chief of Scotland Food & Drink and the awards ceremony key-note speaker, commented: “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.”