INDUSTRY CHAMPIONS INITIATIVE
Inspiring the next generation
Lantra Industry Champions: Shaping the Future
Why Be A Champion ?
As a Champion you will step into a leadership position, becoming a positive role model for young people. By doing this you will also:
Enhance your own skills
Expand your professional network
What is an Industry Champion?
Our Industry Champions are former finalists of our annual awards, the ALBAS, Awards for Land-Based and Aquaculture Skills. Through this initiative we empower these exceptional finalists to inspire the next wave of talent and drive skills development in the nature-based industries.
Ignite Your Passion and Empower the Next Generation
Behind The Scenes: What Have We Been Up To?
Inspiring Young People
Inspiring Young People Across Scotland
Over the past year our incredible Industry Champions have been unstoppable. They have been working hard, attending numerous different careers events spanning the length and breadth of Scotland. From the Scottish Borders all the way up to the Scottish Highlands, they’ve passionately engaged with countless young people at a multitude of careers events. Their unwavering commitment and dedication have been nothing short of phenomenal, allowing us to reach and inspire a truly vast audience across such a wide geographical area.
Events Highlights 2024/2025
DYW Borders Events
Our Industry Champions Susan, Alicja and Aoife have represented Lantra at numerous School Career Event throughout the Scottish Borders.
“There were great interactions all round, and I handed out lots of informational leaflets.”
-Aoife
Cowburgh
Hill To Grill
This year our Industry Champion Jon and his pup Ace, delivered an interactive session for the Hill to Grill programme in 4 Secondary Schools across Perth and Kinross.
“I demonstrated deer species identification and management to the students, discussing the practical applications of these skills in countryside management.”
-Jon O’Connor
Smart STEM Event at Abertay University
Our Industry Champion Niall delivered a hands-on STEM activity to young people on the lifecycle of a salmon and the importance of the Fisheries Management industry.
“ The Salmon activity went really well, I had about 60 young people take part over the course of 45 min, lots of engagement.”
-Niall Provan
Events Highlights 2024/2025
Your Future Here Event
Mary, Isla and Lawrence delivered engaging STEM activities and provided career insights, sparking interest in nature-based careers within the Cairngorms area.
Mary delivered an inspirational talk following her own diverse and exciting career journey.
As part of the event Isla and Lawrence were interviewed by well-known podcaster and founder of Rural 2 Kitchen Wallace Curry, about their own careers and what advice they might give future generations.
What Our Champions Think About The Events They Attended
Susan Turner Industry Champion
“It was really interesting to chat to those attending and hear about their dream jobs and aspirations for their futures, it was amazing that so many of them had their parents encouragement and support.”
- Isla Campbell
“It was a good chance to educate and change the young people’s perspective on the industry.”
- Lawrence Martin
“It was great to see how many were interested in careers.”
- Cameron Murray
Knowledge Exchange Event
Day 1
It’s always a really fun event when we get a group of our Industry Champions together. They come with an eagerness to get stuck in, infectious enthusiasm, and a genuine desire to share their hard-earned knowledge. This year’s Knowledge Exchange Event once again proved to be a vital platform for growth and development.
Events Training
We kicked off the event with some events training For some this was a refresher and an opportunity to share their experiences of delivering at career events to the newer Champions. For others this was their first time taking part in this kind of training. You have to be careful putting up those pop up banners, they can be a bit tricky at times. But check out Naomi doing it like a pro.
The ALBAS
We rounded off the first day of this exciting two-day event with a night at the ALBAS
Our awesome Champions came along and inspired and empowered the finalists of the night, sharing with them their own experience of attending the ALBAS and what it’s like to be an Industry Champion.
Knowledge Exchange Event
Day 2
After a fun night at the ALBAS our Champions were up bright and early the next morning to take part in two industry visits across Perthshire.
Our first stop of the day was the legendary Scone Palace, where the Head Gardener Brian Cunningham led a captivating tour, weaving tales of botanical wonders and sparking lively debates amidst the breathtaking landscapes.
After a hearty lunch to refuel, our Industry Champion Niall Provan of Forth Rivers Trust took the group on a guided tour of the Allan Water. Here they plunged into the intricacies of river restoration, exploring the challenges of re-meandering and fisheries enhancement, all while navigating the diverse perspectives of landowners, managers and the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Benefits Of Being An Industry Champion
There are a range of benefits and opportunities for the Industry Champions which support their personal development, their industry and the wider sector. Examples include:
Being part of an exclusive club
Opportunities to meet with likeminded individuals and widen their network of contacts
Continuous personal development opportunities which have included presentation skills, social media training and leadership development
Ongoing support from Lantra
Invitations to speak/represent industry at events across Scotland
To become recognised as a positive role model to new entrants
To increase awareness of their industry by sharing working/study experiences with new audiences
Supported by the:
To support their industry by demonstrating it is a positive and rewarding career choice as well as promoting their learner journey at business events to employers, encouraging them to take on new entrants
Sharing their knowledge and experience to add value to skills development within their industry
Inform career information related to their industry
Presenting at Parliamentary Receptions and meeting with key Government stakeholders
Opportunities to contribute to skills consultations to help influences policies, funding and provision
Employers
The success of our Industry Champions initiative relies entirely on the generosity of employers in supporting their staff as Champions. Lantra very much values this support, as it has helped raise the profile of the sector, skills development activities and increased opportunities for further engagement with partners.