A group of youngsters have recently embarked on a six-month placement with various employers across the North-east, Perthshire and Angus, as part of the land-based pre-apprenticeship programme offered by Ringlink Scotland.

Thirteen young people aged 16-18 are taking part in the programme after completing three weeks of induction training at the Scottish Rural College at Craibstone, Aberdeen, before being assigned to a mentor business for six months.

The programme provides the youngsters with hands-on experience working full-time, in a local business, as well as additional certificated training courses throughout the pre-apprenticeship scheme, which will see them receive a vocational qualification at SCQF level 4. The programme will also provide the grounding for those who wish to go on to pursue a modern apprenticeship afterwards.

Most placements will be within a 10-mile radius of where the pre-apprentices live, in order to accommodate those who are not independently mobile. Ringlink continues to look for support from willing mentor businesses throughout the land-based sector, in order to be able to offer more youngsters the opportunity to take part in the scheme.

Ringlink managing director Graham Bruce said: “I am delighted with the success of the programme to-date and with 50 applications received this year for only fifteen places available we know there is a demand for the programme.

"A proposal has recently been submitted to Scottish Government seeking a sustainable funding model that will allow the existing programme to continue and to grow nationally,” he continued. “In partnership with SRUC, the pre-apprenticeship offers new entrants a recognised route into the rural industry whilst also meeting the needs of agricultural employers, as it was designed to do.”

As a new addition for 2018, Ringlink have introduced a winter intake for the pre-apprenticeship. Applications open in September 2018 and eight places will be up for grabs, with placements due to begin towards the end of January/early February through to end of July/early August 2019.