Six agriculture trainees have been shortlisted in Lantra Scotland’s Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills (Albas).
The skills council’s awards recognise learners in agriculture, animal care, aquaculture, equine, environmental conservation, fisheries management, game and wildlife, horticulture, land-based engineering and trees and timber.
Lantra declined to reveal what awards category each finalist was in the running for in a bid to “preserve some mystery” for the finalists ahead of the awards ceremony on March 5.
It said the shortlisted agriculture trainees include 22-year-old Gavin Elrick from Westhill, near Aberdeen, who has been doing an SVQ in land-based engineering, with a focus on ground care machinery, at Fairways Groundcare through SRUC.
Mr Elrick said: “The great thing about land-based engineering is that you are always learning as the industry advances.”
Sutherland’s Michael McLeod, 19, who has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in land-based engineering with a focus on agricultural machinery with Robertsons of Tain, is also a finalist.
“I fancied doing a more varied form of mechanics, which this job has given me,” he said.
Shaun MacLeod from Urquhart, Elgin, is also in the running for an award. The 17-year-old has been doing an SVQ in Livestock with Matheson’s Ltd through SRUC.
The other three agriculture trainee finalists are 19-year-old Jack Young from Crossford, Carluke, who did an HND in agriculture with SRUC and now works at his family’s Overton Farm; 30-year-old Lawrence Martin from Tillicoultry, in Clackmannanshire, who did a Modern Apprenticeship in agriculture with Carbeth Home Farm, at Balfron, through SRUC; and 20-year-old Greig Lambie from Strathaven who has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in land-based engineering with a focus on agricultural machinery with Daniel Ross Engineering Ltd in Lanark through SRUC.