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Financial support opportunity for women and girls working in agriculture through Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund administered by Lantra Scotland


By Niall Harkiss

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Rural affairs secretary Mhari Gougeon
Rural affairs secretary Mhari Gougeon

Women and girls across Ross-shire who are living and working in agriculture can once again apply for funding for courses to help develop their skills.

Eligible courses include support to get tractor and trailer driving certificates or help to train sheepdogs.

The Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund, which was first launched in early 2021 and is administered by Lantra Scotland, has already supported more than 400 women and girls to undertake courses to develop their skillset or change careers.

Women and girls over the age of 13 can apply for up to £500, or more on a case by case basis, for the cost of a practical or technical training course through the fund, with the first batch of successful applicants being notified by the end of January 2022.

It has been supported by another £75,000 of Scottish Government funding, with £20,000 of the funding ring-fenced for applicants living in island communities.

Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “This year, we have committed £300,000 to support women in agriculture, including: the wider roll-out of the personal development training programme ‘Be Your Best Self’; a project to test innovative solutions for childcare in rural areas and the development of SkillSeeder – a skills sharing app which provides an easy to use one-stop shop to find training and skills development opportunities across the country, particularly for those in rural and island areas.

“We want to see more women joining those who are already developing a career in Scottish agriculture – which is why it’s important that women are given these opportunities in what has been a very male-dominated industry.

“We’ve heard from women and girls who have undertaken courses through the Practical Training Fund and said that they have more confidence and are more knowledgeable, which is great to hear. I would encourage more women to visit the Lantra Scotland website and apply.”

Find out more or apply for the fund here.


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