Despite challenges posed by COVID-19, Lantra Scotland is again running its ALBAS (Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills) to find and celebrate Scotland’s top rural learners and their achievements.

The ALBAS will be online for the first time, with the virtual ceremony taking place on Thursday 4th March 2021.

Now in their 19th year, the awards cover a range of rural industry categories, including agriculture, animal care, aquaculture, environmental conservation, equine, fisheries management, game and wildlife, horticulture, land-based engineering and trees and timber.

As well as prizes for Overall Winner, Runner-up and Modern Apprentice of the Year, there will also be the Anna Murray Award for Partnership Working, awards for Higher Education, School Pupil and Secondary Schools, CARAS (Council for Awards of Agricultural Societies), Jean’s Jam for inspirational tutor and the Tam Tod Trophy for outstanding young learner.

Liz Barron-Majerik, Director of Lantra Scotland said: “Our ALBAS celebrate the hard work and achievements of the most talented students, trainees, mentors, training providers and secondary schools in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sector.

We want the awards to be as successful as they’ve been in previous years, so to avoid any risks from COVID-19 we’re going to go virtual for 2021.

Our event will be streamed live on the evening of Thursday 4th March, so instead of our finalists going to Dunblane, they’ll be able to stay at home and watch it online.

Although the ALBAS may have a different format this time around, we relish a challenge, and we’ll make sure that the show goes on.”

Nominations close on Thursday 17th December for individuals, schools and partnership working.