Winners celebrate at Lantra Scotland's ALBAS 2025

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Finalists have been named for Lantra Scotland’s Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills (the ALBAS), which will take place at Crieff Hydro Hotel on Thursday 5 March 2026.

Lantra Scotland is a charity working to increase the number and diversity of employees in the land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation sector, as well as drive their skills development.

The ALBAS play a vital role in promoting careers within the rural sector, celebrating the achievements of learners and highlighting the importance to employers of investing in skills.

The evening will be hosted by horticultural magazine publisher, writer and podcaster MT O’Donnell.

Industry categories in the ALBAS cover animal care, aquaculture, equine, environmental conservation, game and wildlife, horticulture, land-based engineering, veterinary nursing and trees and timber.

As well as prizes for Overall Winner, Runner-up and Modern Apprentice of the Year, there are awards for Higher Education, School Pupil, Secondary Schools, Research Project, the Carstairs Mentor Award, the Tam Tod Trophy for outstanding young learner, and the Anna Murray Award for Partnership Working.

Finalists for ALBAS 2026 were selected by an independent judging panel made up of influential figures from across the land-based and aquaculture sector, comprising: Alix Ritchie, Programme Director of Farmstrong Scotland and a farmer in Perthshire; David Knott, Curator of Living Collections, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; Emma Staniforth, Work-Based Learning Manager with Forestry and Land Scotland; Jennifer Allison, Senior HR Business Partner with Bakkafrost Scotland and Scott Mason (Chair of the panel), Land Services Officer with Stirling Council.

ALBAS 2026 finalists:

  • Aaron Roberts from Ardgour, Fort William completed an NC in Gamekeeping through UHI North, West and Hebrides while working as a Trainee Stalker on Laudale Estate;
  • Abi Skidgmore from Auchleven, Aberdeenshire, completed an SVQ in Trees and Timber through the Scottish School of Forestry at UHI Inverness, while working as an Apprentice Craftsperson with Forestry and Land Scotland;
  • Amelia Radford from Insch in Aberdeenshire, is doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Equine through SRUC, while working as an Apprentice Stable Hand at Strathorn Farm Stables Pitcaple, Inverurie;
  • Anna Johnson from Selkirk in the Scottish Borders works in the Horticulture and Outdoor Learning Unit at Selkirk High School as a Youth Worker for outdoor learning;
  • Beth Millar from Jedburgh in Roxburghshire has been doing an SVQ in Mixed Farming through Borders College while employed as a Farm Worker and Attraction Manager at Kersheugh Farm in Jedburgh;
  • Bex Chirnside from Galashiels in the Scottish Borders did an HNC in Animal Care at Borders College;
  • Billy Anderson from the Isle of Harris has been doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture with UHI Shetland while working as a Site Manager with Bakkafrost;
  • Craig Findlay from Strathcarron in the Highlands, completed a Diploma in Aquaculture through UHI Shetland while working as a Senior Marine Technician with Scottish Sea Farms;
  • Curtis Donnachie from West Calder in West Lothian did an NC in Countryside Management at SRUC;
  • Daniel Needham from Fort William did an SVQ in Trees and Timber through the Scottish School of Forestry at UHI Inverness while working as Apprentice Craftsperson with Forestry and Land Scotland;
  • Danielle Newlands from Elgin in Moray did an SVQ in Land based Engineering – Agriculture through SRUC while working as an Apprentice Land-based Engineer with Ravenhill;
  • Finley Forwood from Shetland did a Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture through UHI Shetland while working as a Fish Health Specialist with Scottish Sea Farms;
  • Fiona Basford from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, did an HND in Wildlife and Conservation Management at SRUC;
  • Hailey Anderson from Duns in Berwickshire, did a Modern Apprenticeship in Gamekeeping (Lowland Route) through Borders College while working as a trainee gamekeeper at the Chirnside Hall Hotel;
  • Hannah Thomson from Oban did a Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber through the Scottish School of Forestry at UHI Inverness while employed as a Craftsperson Modern Apprentice with Forestry and Land Scotland;
  • Iona McVey from Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, is a pupil at Wallace Hall Academy and has been doing an NPA Rural Skills – Agriculture;
  • Jack Ritchie from Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway has been doing an SVQ in Land Based Engineering for Forestry through SRUC Oatridge Campus while working as an Apprentice Mechanic with Forestry and Land Scotland
  • Karen Keegan from Edinburgh is doing a PhD on evaluating and implementing Nanopore sequencing to investigate zoonosis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the wildlife-livestock interface through the Moredun Research Institute;
  • Kristie King from Cupar in Fife has been studying for a Lantra Diploma in Veterinary Nursing - Small Animal through SRUC while working as a Student Veterinary Nurse with Wilson and Partners in Cupar, Fife;
  • Liam Clive from Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway has been doing an SVQ in Land Based Engineering for Forestry through SRUC Oatridge while working as an Apprentice Mechanic for Forestry and Land Scotland;
  • Luke Barclay from Keith, Moray has been doing a Land-Based Pre-apprenticeship through Ringlink and SRUC;
  • Lydia Emmerson from the Isle of Lewis was studying a Professional Diploma in Equine Facilitated Learning & Development through Equi-Scotia CIC;
  • Maya Lowe from Kelso in the Scottish Borders has been doing an SVQ Level 6 Horticulture through Borders College while working as a Garden Centre Retail Assistant at Mayfield Garden Centre;
  • Nigel Gibb is a lecturer in Horticulture at Borders College;
  • Reuben Salomons from Lanark, South Lanarkshire, has been doing an SVQ Agriculture through Tarff Valley while employed as a General Farm Worker at Byretown Farm, Lanark;
  • Rochelle Kennedy from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, did a PhD on impacts of mixed farming systems on nocturnal invertebrates and bats through SRUC;
  • Sarah Forbes from Stirling has been doing an SVQ in Horticulture through SRUC Oatridge while working as a Gardener with Historic Environment Scotland;
  • Sparrow George-Buck from Livingston, West Lothian, is studying for an HNC Equine Studies at SRUC;
  • Summer Edmond from Corstorphine in Edinburgh has been studying for a BSc in Equine Science at SRUC Oatridge while working for Cavalier Clipping;
  • Tony Marshall from Dunkeld, Perthshire, has been doing an SVQ in Environmental Conservation through Rural Skills Scotland while working as a Rural Skills Apprentice with Highland Perthshire Communities Land Trust.

 

Dr Liz Barron-Majerik MBE, Director of Lantra Scotland, commented:

“Lantra Scotland’s ALBAS are a long-established and important part of the land‑based and aquaculture sector, shining a spotlight on the outstanding achievements of skilled and dedicated people at every stage of their careers, from new entrants to those embarking on fresh pathways. They also demonstrate to employers, businesses and partner organisations the real value of skills development and collaborative working.

I’m delighted that we have once again received a record number of entries, so warmest congratulations go to everyone nominated, and very best wishes to all our finalists ahead of the ceremony in March.

My thanks also go to our independent industry judges, to the training providers and employers who put forward nominations, and to our generous supporters whose commitment makes this event possible.”

Tickets for the awards ceremony are available at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/lantra

Lantra’s work in Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government.