Supporting the Skills of Scotland’s Women
7/26/2011 10:38 AM EST
For immediate release
Women working in Scotland’s land-based industries will benefit from a £400 training grant from Lantra’s Women and Work 2011-12 Funding Project, which is being offered in Scotland for the first time.
Over the past four years this project has proven successful in England, where it has helped 1,212 businesses and 3,250 women increase their skills in industries where women are under-represented. Because of the positive impact, Lantra has extended the funding UK-wide, so women in Scotland can participate in this valuable funding project.
Lyndsay Bird, Women and Work Project Manager, said, “This project is unique as it requires the support of the employer, so it is a way to show your female employees that you believe in them and want them be successful. Not only can participants undertake technical skills, they can also benefit from leadership and management courses.”
Women and Work funding is available to those working in industries where women are statistically under-represented. These industries include agriculture, aquaculture, environmental conservation, farriery, fencing, fisheries management, game and wildlife, horticulture, landscaping and sports turf, production horticulture, land-based engineering and trees and timber.
For Ashleigh Miller-Kirkpatrick, who lectures for the Northern School of Game and Wildlife at the University of Cumbria, Lantra’s Women and Work programme meant she was able to extend her knowledge of game and shooting.
“A colleague mentioned the Women and Work programme to me last year,” says Ashleigh, “and so I looked into it and realised it could help me with my own continuous professional development.
“The game and wildlife industry is becoming wider and more diverse in terms of technical skills and so doing these courses means I’m up to speed with what’s current. Continuous professional development is important to me so when the chance to gain more practical skills came along I jumped at it.”
Lyndsay said, “Women have been registered for some time, waiting for a spot in this year’s Women and Work project. If you want to get involved, I urge you to act now, as spaces are exceedingly limited. Don’t delay or you might be disappointed.”
To find out more about Women and Work, contact Regional Partnership Managers
Mary Mitchell 07867 908183 /
and Ishbel Crawford on 07867 908198 /
or visit
www.lantra.co.uk/women-and-work.
ENDS
ISSUED BY
Lantra Press Office
Samuel Zelmer-Jackson, PR Co-ordinator
Tel: 02476 858 418 or email
CREDIT FOR PHOTO
Ashleigh Miller-Kirkpatrick – Lantra’s Women and Work Game and Wildlife Management Winner 2010/11
NOTES TO EDITOR
About Women and Work
• The Women and Work: Sector Pathways Initiative is about raising skills and unlocking potential. The project aims to raise recruitment levels in sectors where women are under-represented; increasing earning potential and aiding career progression. The initiative is in response to recommendations by the Women and Work Commission’s report ‘Shaping a Fairer Future’ and receives government funding, matched by employer contributions.
• This project encourages employers to invest in their female employees
• You can get funding for courses in all sorts of areas including:
1. Legislative - e.g. chainsaw, pesticide, manual handling, first aid, forklift truck
2. Work-based learning – e.g. SAGE farm packages, marketing, excel spreadsheets, personnel skills.
3. Technical – e.g. DIY AI, Stock management, grassland and nutrient management
4. Leadership and management – e.g. Institute of Leadership and Management.
• Women and Work funding is available to those working in agriculture, aquaculture, environmental conservation, farriery, fencing, fisheries management, game and wildlife, horticulture, landscaping and sports turf, production horticulture, land-based engineering and trees and timber.
• For more information:
www.lantra.co.uk/women-and-work/ About Lantra
• Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for land-based and environmental industries, working to ensure these businesses access the training, qualifications, skills and knowledge they need.
• Lantra represents 17 industries: agricultural livestock and crops; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; environmental conservation; equine; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land-based engineering; horticulture, landscaping and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber and veterinary activities.
• By working together with the sector, Lantra leads research on skills issues and business needs, sets national standards and develops qualifications to meet modern business needs and help businesses grow through skills.
• For more information see
www.lantra.co.uk.