Gamekeepers’ conference: bringing together the custodians of fieldsports
BASC’s inaugural Southern Gamekeepers’ Conference took place at the EJ Churchill shooting grounds last week.
BASC-sponsored awards presented to top class students
The prestigious awards seek to honour outstanding students on both further and higher education courses in the UK.
Held at the National Conference Centre in Solihull last night, the Land-based and Environment Learner Awards (LBEL) ceremony, organised by Lantra and Landex set out to recognise some of the brightest emerging talent in the land-based sector.
BASC sponsored three categories on the night: Environment, Conservation, Game and Wildlife Management Apprentice of the Year, Further Education Learner of the Year, and Higher Education Learner of the Year categories.
Nominations were open to apprentices, further education and higher education learners, working and studying in land-based and environmental sectors between September 2022 and September 2024.
A celebration of incredible achievement
BASC’s head of education and outreach, Curtis Mossop, presented the winners of the BASC-sponsored categories with their awards. He said: “We are thrilled to have sponsored these three award categories at the LBEL Awards for the second year.
“This is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements of young people on their journey into the land-based sector. Their passion, determination and resolve will be valued qualities in the next steps of their journeys. We wish them all the luck for the future.”
LBEL FE Learner of the Year
Monique Scott won the Further Education Learner of the Year award.
She was a student at Houghall College studying wildlife management. Monique now works on the Orkney Islands for the RSPB.
Monique said: “Don’t be scared to go for your dreams. If you have something in focus and you really want it, just work really hard and you will accomplish anything you dream of – just like me.”
Felicity Anna Blakiston Jones won the Higher Education Learner of the Year award. She grew up on a family farm in Cornwall. Felicity is studying environmental resource management at Newquay University Centre at Cornwall College.
She said: “It’s a complete honour to win this award. In the future, I hope to improve communications between agriculture and the environment sectors. We must have a decent dialogue so we can make significant changes that will lead to both the increase of food production in the UK and look after our environment and natural capital. I believe we have all the solutions, and that this generation can make these changes happen.”
LBEL HE Learner of the Year
LBEL Apprentice of the Year
Apprentice of the Year went to William Roberts, who studied game and wildlife management at Askham Bryan College.
Will said: “I completed my apprenticeship at Askham Bryan College and currently work as a beat keeper on a grouse moor in Northumberland.
“I’m extremely passionate about managing land for ground-nesting birds and red-listed species.”
Judging at LBEL Awards
All nominees were judged by a panel of ten judges, with each judge put in charge of one category. The finalists were then scrupulously reviewed by this year’s head judge John Moverley. He said: “There’s so much opportunity for young people in land-based industries. All the winners tonight, and everyone who was shortlisted, deserves to be congratulated. They are the real credit, and their achievements should be celebrated.
“Tonight has been incredible and it’s so uplifting to see so many passionate and talented young individuals coming into the industry.”
About the LBEL Awards
Lantra and Landex launched the land-based sector awards in 2023. Lantra is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading awarding bodies for training in the land-based industries. Landex is the representative body for land-based colleges and universities.
The LBEL awards celebrate and reward emerging talent in industries including agriculture and horticulture, forestry, and environmental conservation, among others.
Organisers received nearly 200 nominations across ten categories, which were judged by a panel of industry professionals headed by John Moverley.
BASC runs the BASC Legacy Funded Scholarship programme to provide financial assistance to students studying (or about to start) on further and higher education course in the UK. Nominations open in the spring. Find out more here.
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