Training and education – Lantra
Best of the best Aquaculture trainee wins prestigious prize at land
based learner of the year awards T
rainee fish farmer Andrew Moore, 28, from Taynuilt in Argyll and Bute, has won the Aquaculture Learner of the Year Award and Overall Runner-up for Land based Learner of the Year at Lantra Scotland’s annual awards ceremony. Ryan Paxton, 20, from Selkirk in the Scottish
Borders, took the runner-up spot for the aqua- culture award. Moore has recently completed his Modern
Apprenticeship Level 3 in aquaculture while working at Dawnfresh Farming. He is currently involved with all aspects of fish farm man- agement, from husbandry and fish welfare management to business management and compliance work. He has always kept his studies a top priority, successfully completing an MA in aquaculture and a Farming for the Future course at Cran- field School of Management. He was delighted to pick up his two awards, which were presented by celebrity chef Nick Nairn at a star-studded ceremony and gala dinner on March 5 at the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel near Stirling. Moore said: ‘When I started out I hadn’t thought about aquaculture as a career, so to be here now winning these awards is fantastic. ‘I first became interested in aquaculture
because Nidderdale trout farm was close to my home town, and I managed to get my first job there in 2006. ‘It was a land-based, raceway site, but I also had the opportunity to spend time working at other farms run by the company, including a site at Loch Etive. While there I really knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my
hadn’t thought about this as a career, so to be here
“When I started out I
now winning these awards is fantastic
”
www.fishfarmer-magazine.com
career.’ Lyndsey Gaja, Moore’s employer at Dawnfresh Farming, said: ‘Quite simply, Andy has become the best assistant manager I’ve ever worked with in 10 years of farm man- agement. Coming from a raceway site, Andy faced the challenge of learning how to be a loch farmer and a manager simultaneously. He met this challenge incredibly well and he has played a huge part in getting the farm to where it is today.’ Lantra Scotland’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards 2015, sponsored by leading independent salmon producer, the Scottish Salmon Company, were attended by 220 people from across the sector. Guests celebrated the achievements of 29 talented winners and runners-up across 16 award cate- gories—the highest numbers since the awards began in 2003.
One of the high points of the evening was a
keynote speech by Nick Nairn, who reminded the audience of the importance of fostering young talent and investing in skills to ensure a lasting future for Scotland’s food and drink sector. ‘Celebrating the achievements of learners
is key in any industry,’ he said. ‘Good training is crucial to developing a well-run agricultural and food and drink sector across the country. And here in Scotland we have so much to be proud of right across the industry, from farmers to restaurant owners, and land managers to fishmongers. ‘I’m particularly delighted to see that sec- ondary schools and higher education students are being recognised in these awards. I’ve long been a campaigner for better food education in schools, and this is part of that. Learning to
Above: Winner Andrew Moore with Nick Nairn
grow food and look after land well and respon- sibly is an essential factor in making Scotland a great food and drink nation.’ The independent panel of judges for the
awards was chaired by Ray Jones, former chairman of Scotland Food and Drink, and comprised: Erika Hay, agriculture and rural affairs journalist; Keith Paterson, learning and development manager at the Forestry Com- mission Scotland; Keith Redpath, of Redpath Farms; Lisa Connell, training and development manager with the Scottish Salmon Company and Rebecca Dawes, communication and rural affairs manager with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs. Ray Jones said: ‘Winning a prize at the Land- based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards puts a person in the best of the best category, and is an achievement they can be proud of for the rest of their life.’ Craig Anderson, managing director of the
Scottish Salmon Company, said: ‘As the main sponsor of the awards we are pleased to see such strong talent and promise among all of the finalists. Congratulations to all involved for their hard work and, of course, well done to our overall winner [of the Land based Learner of the Year award] Callum Low.’ FF
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