LAND-BASED PRE-APPRENTICESHIP

The Land-Based Pre-apprenticeship is a recognised progression route for young people and new entrants into the rural industry. From 2019-2021 the program was funded by Scottish Government, supporting a pilot roll-out to other regions in Scotland.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

• To identify suitable candidates who have a desire to work within the rural industry. • To provide practical experience, training and knowledge allowing youngsters to make informed decisions as to how they would like their career to progress. • To provide on-going mentoring and support to maximise the potential of the young person. • The ultimate aim is to help prepare young people for employment in agriculture and the wider rural sector.

PLACEMENT OVERVIEW

• 26 weeks fully paid work placement, 40 hrs per week on a farm or suitable rural business. • An upfront training induction commences in June with our partners SRUC, Aberdeen. • Up to £1500 of training will be offered to each candidate. • In addition, there will be input from industry professionals. • Payment for time worked is in accordance with the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB). • All candidates who successfully complete the programme will receive a certificate of completion awarded from Ringlink. • Holidays will be accrued over the 6 month work placement in accordance with SAWB.

I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THE PROGRAMME TO OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE NOT FROM A FARMING BACKGROUND MORGAN CRIGHTON (2019)

IT’S THE BEST WAY TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY! JUST DO IT!

HOLLY KENNEDY (2019)

THE PROGRAMME HAS PROVIDED ME WITH THE SKILLS I NEED FOR MY FUTURE CAREER.

EWAN HODGSON (2019)

Successful applicants undertake an upfront induction period starting in June which will involve a range of activities including training and industry related visits. • Health and Safety induction - Risk Assessment. • First Aid Training. • Manual Handling Training. • Three day Tractor Driving. • Three day Forklift Operator Training. • Introduction to Agriculture. • Certificate of Work Readiness (CWR - SCQF level 4)

I WOULD RECOMMEND THE PROGRAMME TO OTHERS AS IT’S HELPED ME CHOOSE MY CAREER FOR THE FUTURE.

JOSH FORDYCE (2019)

THE WORK PLACEMENT

• On successful completion of the upfront induction, pre-apprentices commence their placement with a predetermined Mentor. • The mentor will play a vital role in identifying the capabilities of the individual and will offer both encouragement and support to promote progression and development. • Through the placement period, pre-apprentices will be expected to contribute fully to the business by actively engaging in their allocated tasks. • Opportunities for further development will be made available through arranged visits to a variety of rural businesses. • Additional training courses will be made available through the placement period dependent upon the requirements of the business and the pre-apprentice.

PROGRAMME PARTNERS

• SRUC: Deliver and assess the Certificate of Work Readiness (CWR) qualification for the trainees along with providing additional support and training as required. • Ringlink Scotland: Provide the day-to-day management of the programme, recruit and support mentors, and co-ordinate the training courses for the pre-apprentices. For full details of the programme or if you are interested in becoming a Mentor see:

www.ringlinkscotland.co.uk/pre-apprenticeship

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

@preapprenticeship @preapprenticeship @RinglinkScotlandLtd

PRE-APPRENTICESHIP CLASS OF 2021

The third year of the Land-based PreApprenticeship pilot programme got underway in June 2021. With a total of forty-seven participants shared between the employers Ringlink Scotland, Borders Machinery Ring and Tarff Valley Ltd, from the outset we were committed to ensuring that the programme would continue to operate throughout the pandemic, albeit in a slightly different format to comply with Covid-19 guidance. For the second year, the recruitment and selection process had to be conducted via virtual interviews and whilst our preferred method will always be face-to-face interviews, Ringlink still managed to recruit 30 pre-apprentices for the 2021 intake, our largest cohort to-date. Instead of the usual 3-week upfront training induction at Scottish Rural College (SRUC), our trainees attended a 4-day residential induction which was touch and go for a while due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions but thankfully we managed to pull it off. The delivery of the practical short courses was arranged on local farms and with certified training instructors, for the Forklift Telescopic and Tractor Driving during July–August. Sourcing suitable mentor businesses for the trainees proved to be extremely challenging, our toughest year yet and as a result four candidates withdrew from the program in the early stages due to the lengthy delays in securing a mentor business for them. However we are delighted that 21 trainees successfully completed the program in 2021. Unfortunately due to Coivd-19 we are unable to host our graduation lunch for the Class of 2021 but we extend our congratulations and best wishes to all graduates as follows: Bilal Benhach, Lee Bradley, Abby-Leigh Doig, Aiden Easton, Greg Fowlie, Ben George, Alex Grant, Angus Gurr, Archie Johnston, Scott Littlejohn, James-Gordon Lynch, Michael Matheson, George MacEachen, Aiden Mackay, Alexander McHardy, Ryan Michie, Ross Scott, Robert Sweetland, Lewis Taylor, Callum Thomson and Kieran Young. Recruitment for the 2022 intake is underway, with 25-30 places on offer this year, subject to securing continued funding from Scottish Government. Interested in Mentoring?... please get in touch, mentors are fundamental in offering opportunities for the next generation and to allow new blood to enter the land-based sector. Enquiries to:gail@ringlinkscotland.co.uk or 01561 376022

PRE-APPRENTICESHIP OUTCOMES

After nine successful years of running the programme, from 2013-2021 the following outcomes have been achieved:

50%

OF CANDIDATES

OFFERED JOBS ON COMPLETION OF TRAINING BY MENTOR BUSINESSES

80%

COMPLETION

OVER 9 YEARS OF THE PROGRAMME

58%

OF PARTICIPANTS

ARE FROM A NONAGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND & NEW ENTRANTS TO THE SECTOR

33%

OF CANDIDATES

HAVE PROGRESSED ONTO FURTHER EDUCATION (MA’S, COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY) 17%

OF CANDIDATES

SECURED OTHER EMPLOYMENT

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