Calling all Cairngorms training providers

A call for more training providers to come forward is being made by the,Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) to help with two of its most successful programmes.

The Land Based Business Training Project (LBBTP) has ploughed almost £1million into the Cairngorms National Park since it was set up in 2004 and has helped hundreds of land based businesses grow and operate more sustainably in the area. Cairngorms Awareness and Pride courses on the other hand, extends the delivery of public benefit courses to all people living and working in the Park.

Andy Rockall is responsible for the two programmes.  He said: “Training is a vital ingredient that helps make the land based sector in the Cairngorms even more economically productive as well as providing added job satisfaction for those taking part. By raising awareness of the main issues amongst those living and working in the Park through Cairngorms Awareness and Pride, the experience of people visiting the area is also enhanced.

“We are always looking for new trainers and courses that are appropriate to effectively deliver these outcomes and I would encourage anyone involved in the provision of training in or near the National Park to get in touch.”

LBBTP is a multi-funded project designed to help businesses from estates, farms and crofts to those involved in forestry, fishing, horticulture, nurseries and outdoor recreation to contribute effectively to the aims of the National Park.

In the last year alone training on a wide range of subjects has been provided for around 550 people working in around 140 Park-based businesses under the popular LBBT programme. These have helped deliver public benefits to the Park more effectively and have covered a wide range of subjects from organic farming and ethical enterprise to small scale sustainable horticulture.

Other subjects have included health and safety, business and management skills, customer care, IT, machinery use and maintenance, and environmental courses. Separate conferences about the Scottish Wildcat and capercaillie have also been arranged as well as a bluetongue awareness event aimed at farmers in the Park.

Since 2007 the Cairngorms Awareness and Pride courses have provided Park residents with an awareness of the Park Plan, the Park’s biodiversity, and its cultural and natural heritage. In the last year over 400 people have taken part in 24 courses on subjects as diverse as ‘Understanding how the planning system works’ and ‘Sporting estates and deer management in the Park’.

For further information about these training programmes please log on to https://cairngorms.co.uk/learning/landbasedbusinesstraining or www.cairngorms.co.uk/learning/cap
Alternatively call Andy Rockall on tel: 01479 870535 or email: [email protected]