Scots women offered funding for agriculture training

Women in Scotland can access two new £100,000 funds to help pay for a range of training courses in the rural and agriculture sectors.

The recently announced Women in the Rural Economy Training Fund, provided by the Scottish government, is designed for women working in or interested in joining a range of industries, including aquaculture, conservation, fisheries, forestry, horticulture, land-based engineering and wildlife management.

It follows the Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund (also worth £100,000), which opened in January to women working in or studying agriculture.

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Eligible training courses include: business skills; the environment and sustainability; health and safety; vehicles, machinery and equipment; finance; and plants and animals.

Both funds aim to address the gender imbalance within these industries and provide greater opportunities for women.

Administered by Lantra Scotland, the funds offer grants of up to £500 a course. Support for courses above this value will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by a review panel.

Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said: “There is a clear need for providing women in our rural communities with more access to training and reskilling opportunities. We know that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women’s jobs and incomes.

“We’re investing in their futures and ensuring that there is no gap in provision when it comes to upskilling women with technical knowledge and practical training experience.”

Lantra Scotland director Dr Liz Barron-Majerik said: “Businesses with a diverse workforce are more resilient, able to appeal to a wider market, and better placed to solve problems in innovative ways. This is great news for rural Scotland.”

For more information, visit Lantra Scotland’s website.