Celebrating 16 years of rural apprenticeships
It was with the support of People’s Postcode Lottery players that YDMT launched the Rural Apprenticeship Scheme back in 2009. Sixteen
years on, players support is still giving young people in the Yorkshire Dales and wider area the opportunity to build exciting careers in the countryside.
Celebrating the impact and legacy of the Rural Apprenticeship scheme
To date, 70 young people have benefitted from the Rural Apprenticeship Scheme, gaining experience with respected organisations such as the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA), Conservefor, PBA Ecology, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Ernest Cook Trust and Swinton Estate. 80% of apprentices gain full-time roles in the environment sector either with their apprenticeship employer or in related fields, or choose to go on to higher education. Some have even started their own businesses!
To mark this milestone, YDMT hosted an Apprentice Showcase in June. The event brought together past and present apprentices and employers along with Craven College who provide the scheme’s educational content, for a celebration of the programme’s impact and legacy.
During the event, two of YDMT’s longest-standing apprenticeship employers, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and Conservefor, spoke about their experiences hosting apprentices over the years and praised the positive attitudes, skills, and dedication that apprentices consistently bring to their teams.
Developing real-world skills and experiences
Both organisations expressed a strong commitment to supporting the next generation of environmental professionals. Gareth Evans, Managing Director of Conservefor, said: ‘’The scheme offers the opportunity for the apprentices to work in real conditions, not the ones you get in training manuals - wind, rain, knee deep in peat, you name it, they do it! But that’s where the best learning happens - with support from our team, Craven College tutors, and Jo and the YDMT gang. It’s a great scheme and one I’m proud to support.’’
The afternoon continued with a panel discussion featuring eight current and former apprentices, who each offered a unique insight into their
journey through the apprenticeship scheme, highlighting their challenges and achievements. When asked about their biggest takeaways
from their apprentice experience, many emphasised the life skills they had developed, from organisation and confidence to resilience and
independence. Amelie, a current apprentice said: “It’s hard to pick just one skill that’s been the most valuable. But more broadly, it’s the soft skills — confidence, resilience, teamwork, and professionalism. Those are what have really helped me move forward into my next role.”
The event concluded with the apprentices sharing their valuable feedback on the scheme, which will help to inform and shape future YDMT
apprenticeship programmes.
Since 2009, YDMT has received £4.8m in funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery awarded by Postcode Earth Trust. This has supported the delivery of longstanding programmes like the Rural Apprenticeship scheme as well as many other YDMT projects. YDMT’s Jo Boulter, who manages the scheme, said: “Our Rural Apprenticeship Scheme is there to help young people find employment, to enable them to stay in the area where they grew up while gaining the skills to enhance, conserve and protect that area. The Apprentice Showcase was a perfect way to celebrate the real, lasting impact these apprenticeships have had across the Dales. We’re very grateful for the ongoing support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, without which this scheme would not be possible.’’
Find out more about our rural apprenticeships: www.ydmt.org/apprenticeships
