Valuable Countryside Ranger Training Receives Award

UHI West Highland was delighted to receive a “Highly Commended Award” in the Employer Connections category at the CDN College Awards last Friday at Radisson Blu in Glasgow for its Countryside Skills with Ranger Training course.

Over 280 guests - the biggest Scottish College Awards ever - celebrated the talent, innovation and success demonstrated by colleges, their staff and their students.

Fiona Grant, Director of Academic Affairs explained

“The college’s entry “Future Ranger” recognised the creative and sustained approach that the college has taken to working with employers on its Countryside Skills with Ranger Training course. We are very proud that this strong partnership with organisations such as the Nevis Landscape Partnership (NLP) has been celebrated in this way and we were delighted that Rory Stewart from NLP was able to join with our lecturer Simon Harry and our Principal Lydia Rohmer to receive the award."

NLP is a community organisation set up to care for the natural and cultural heritage and wild land areas of Ben Nevis and surrounding landscape. NLP work with Woodland Trust Scotland, Arkaig Community Forest; John Muir Trust; Jahama Highland Estates and National Trust for Scotland (Glencoe) drive the evolution of the course and provide direct contact and linkage with the partner-organisations, who are involved in course delivery, student engagement and work placements.

Rory Stewart, Participation Officer at the Nevis Landscape Partnership commented

“Over the three years of the course running, we have benefitted by employing skilled and knowledgeable students as Seasonal Rangers. Not only have they brought their newly found skills to the job, but they have added their own creativity, enriching and broadening the scope of what our Ranger teams do.”