Dales apprentices start new journey

For 15 years, YDMT has been helping young people build the foundations of a brighter future through rural apprenticeships. With your support, each new cohort starts out on a journey to gain the skills and experiences needed for rewarding and fulfilling work.

September 2025: an exciting time for the eight young people from North Yorkshire, Lancashire and County Durham, who started their apprenticeship. Rosie, one of our latest cohort, explained she was excited, but also nervous. Many of the others felt the same. They were starting college, where they would be studying for a Level 2 Countryside Worker qualification. They were also getting to know their employers. YDMT supports the apprentices at every stage from recruitment onwards and, in October, they come to us for their induction week.

Induction week begins with taking a cutting

One of the highlights of the first day was a walk with Eva, our Community Conservation Officer, on the boardwalk at Malham Cove. The apprentices took willow cuttings and, over the following days, completed their Outdoor First Aid qualification, essential for the work they’re embarking on. They also took part in a two-day Peatland Pathway course that enabled them to learn about the ecosystem around Yorkshire’s peatlands and get hands-on experience surveying a peatland.

During the course of the week, the apprentices also got to know each other – all aware what an incredible opportunity they had ahead to gain new skills, achieve qualifications, develop their confidence, and build the foundations for a career.

Meet Rosie, Ellie and Abi, three of our apprentices

Ellie: Working with Ribble Rivers Trust

“I was excited for the apprenticeship, but a little nervous for college. I’m the oldest in the group and was a bit worried about this. After the induction week, I felt I connected with the other apprentices. They are a really nice group. Everyone has expertise and experience in different areas and it was really nice to share.

“The start of my apprenticeship has been the quickest months of my life. I don’t want it to go too fast and be over.”

Rosie: Working with Ribble Rivers Trust

“Before I started my apprenticeship, I was excited, but a bit nervous because I hadn’t done anything like this before. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it. However, I have learnt so much so quickly.

“During the induction, I learned a lot about the other apprentices. The peatland course was good. The man who came to speak to us talked about careers I didn’t even know about to do with restoring peat.

“I can’t believe this is my job now! Planting trees and being outside.”

Abi: Working with Make it Wild

“I went into my apprenticeship very excited, but also nervous. This was a new chapter and a fresh start. Autumn is a nice time of year to start. Everything in nature is starting again on its cycle.

“The first week was very settling for me. It was really nice to meet the different apprentices. It is clear we are all doing different things. The courses were very useful too.

“I’m enjoying being outside every day. I’m meeting nice people and working on nice projects. Every day is different.”

A commitment to young people

It’s an incredibly tough time for young people who are trying to build a career and a life. During the course of 2025, the number of young people aged 16-24 across the UK who aren’t in education, training or employment continued to rise, reaching 948,000. Here in the Yorkshire Dales, job opportunities can be limited.

An apprenticeship can change the course of someone’s life, enabling them to study and work at the same time. Support from YDMT makes this an even richer and more valuable experience. We provide a training grant that helps apprentices to gain additional certified skills that fit with their ambitions and interests. Popular courses include use of brushcutters and chainsaws, alongside tree health and inspection, 4x4 driving, walling, hedge laying, and coppicing.

Each apprenticeship is 18 months long, so as Rosie, Ellie and Abi get into their stride, the previous cohort are approaching the end of their apprenticeships. The good news is, three of them have already secured employment with the RSPB, Moors for the Future, and PBA Ecology. Others are applying for opportunities here in Yorkshire and other parts of the country having found a career they want to pursue.

 

More about apprenticeships & work with young people

---