This page is a summary of resources from various organisations, businesses and agencies to help with your route into working in a rural-related career. The categories below give a range of information from ideas of different careers to where to search of current job opportunities and funding available for training.
Your Pathway to Rural Work
Follow this link below to access our interactive Padlet resource full of helpful information, support and advice on rural pathways and careers.
Career Information Links
These sites will give you information about a variety of careers linked to rural-related businesses and organisations. They can give guidance and inspiration on the types of roles and jobs that are available along with real life stories of how people accessed these careers. There is also guidance on what university, college, training and volunteering is available to begin your journey into these sectors.
Click on the links below to be taken to their external websites:
LANTRA
Information about land-based sectors including agriculture, conservation, forestry & aquaculture.
Scottish Forestry
Information about land-based sectors including agriculture, conservation, forestry & aquaculture.
My World of Work
Job profiles on this site gives you information on skills needed for the role, salary, and what it is like.
Institute of Horticulture
Information on different roles in horticulture (working with plants) in the UK along with jobs which connect with people who are interested in art, sports, sciences etc.
Green Jobs for Nature
Information and job profiles of the variety of roles working with nature and in the environment from practical careers to media and communicatons roles
Royal Horticulture Society
A range of careers shown with what qualifications or training are required, from agronomists to entomologist and garden writers.
Go Construct
Resources for anyone considering a career in construction and engineering from different careers to how to get started.
Institute of Outdoor Learning
Information for getting started in the outdoor sector with information on employers, what roles are there and routes into them.
Chartered Foresters
Information on the routes into forestry and wide variety of roles which are available. Also links to bursaries, virtual work experience and jobs available.
Renewables
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Training, Qualifications, & Further Information
Use these links to find training providers and other potential qualifications or “tickets” you can do to gain employment
LANTRA
Information about different qualifications that are available across the land-based industries including agriculture, conservation, forestry & aquaculture.
Wildlife ID Training
Various identification courses hosted by Speyside Wildlife to develop and improve your wildlife and ecology skills.
Skills Hub Scotland
Search for funded courses and qualifications across a range of land based careers.
SRUC
A range of courses across the different sites of Scotland’s rural college. From NC qualifications to PhD’s are available.
UHI
University of Highlands & Islands which offers a range of different courses across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. They also host the Scottish School of Forestry in Inverness.
Glenmore Lodge - Instructor Development Scheme
This development course is run by the National Outdoor Training Centre and offers National Governing Body (NGB) awards along with practical experience.
Funding
Opportunites to get free or training at reduced costs
Next Generation Practical Training Fund
Up to £500 available to support training towards agricultural careers. Available to young people wanting to get into the sector and people changing career into the sector.
Peatland Training Fund
Up to £1000 available to support training towards careers in peatland restoration. Available to those over 16 who are already working in peatland restoration and are keen to develop skills or those interested in and working towards a role in peatland restoration.
Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund
Up to £500 available to support training towards agricultural careers. Available to women wanting to get into the sector and women changing career into the sector.
Paddling Qualifications Funding Support
Funding from Paddle Scotland to undertake qualifications like SUP instructor, Paddlesport Instructor, Coach, Performance Coach. In particular people with any of the following characteristic are considered: young, female, with a disability, from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds or remote communities.
Future Foresters Training Fund
Up to £500 available to support training towards forestry careers. Available to young people wanting to get into the sector and people changing career into the sector.
Women in Forestry Practical Training Fund
Up to £500 available to support training towards forestry careers. Available to women wanting to get into the sector and women changing career into the sector.
Apprenticeships
These links give information on where to find apprenticeships, what is involved and how to access them:
Ringlink - Land Based Pre apprenticeship
Pre apprenticeship opportunity in land based industries with full induction, 6 month paid placement and training.
Ringlink - Forestry Pre apprenticeship
Pre apprenticeship opportunity in forestry with full induction, 6 month paid placement and training.
Apprenticeship Scot
Apprenticeship vacancies and information about apprenticeships from Skills Development Scotland
Sector Specific Job Sites
These are links to job sites which specialise in specific industries or sectors to advertise to potential employees. They may also advertise on generally known websites too. These job sites may also give opportunities for additional courses and volunteering:
Countryside Jobs Service
Website specialising in job vacancies in the countryside and in environment across the UK. This website will also give you volunteering opportunities and lists of various training courses which can be a mix of in person, or online, free or paid, short or long.
Environmental Jobs
Website specialising in job vacancies in the countryside and in environment across the UK. This website will also give you volunteering opportunities and lists of various training courses which can be a mix of in person, or online, free or paid, short or long.
Conservation Careers
Website specialising in helping people access jobs in conservation with job vacancies, training courses on applying for jobs and looking at transferable skills. Also have information on student bursaries and scholarships available.
Scottish Gamekeepers Association Jobs Front
Jobs site for positions across Scotland from apprenticeships and trainees to head keepers. Also section to post for positions wanted.