Horticulture student nominated for Lantra Learner of the Year award
A horticulture student from Glasgow Clyde College has been short-listed for Lantra Scotland’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Award.
John Boyd, from Port Glasgow, has completed a Level 2 Horticulture award and is now studying for a Level 3 award in Parks, Gardens and Greenspace at Glasgow Clyde College, a course designed for those employed in the horticulture or landscape industry. John works as a gardener at In-Work Enterprises Ltd, a Social Enterprise based in Greenock. John is involved with carrying out hard and soft landscaping works, ground maintenance contracts, Scotrail adopt a station programme, tree and shrub planting, timber fence construction and taking part in community projects.
The Lantra Learner of the Year Award recognises the achievements of those who work in Scotland’s rural sector and is organised by Lantra Scotland, a sector skills council for land based, aquaculture and environmental industries.
John said: “It is an honour to be recognised in Scotland’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards. I really enjoy my Horticulture course and it has inspired me to broaden my knowledge of the industry to help with future job prospects.”
The SVQ Level 3 Parks, Gardens and Greenspace course at Glasgow Clyde College includes learning about monitoring and maintaining health and safety standards, identifying plants and co-ordinating the control of pests and diseases and to prepare and construct hard landscaped areas.
Derek Carson, Horticulture Lecturer at Glasgow Clyde College, said: “Everyone at the college is proud of John for being nominated for such an important award. To have a student who is so passionate about his studies is great for us to see as the subject of Horticulture is an important one. We hope those who are interested in this course are inspired by John and his achievement to step forward and learn something new and exciting about the horticulture industry.”
Allan Maliska, Project Manager at In-work Enterprises Ltd, said: “This is a great achievement for John and everyone at In-work couldn’t be happier for him. It is evident that John has a good attitude and commitment to his Horticultural duties, which he carries out to a high standard. John enjoys his work and takes great pride in assisting others around him which has enabled him to become a valued member of our team.”
The award ceremony will take place on 2 March at the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel. The ceremony will include a keynote address from TV presenter Adam Henson. The 2017 judges include Ray Jones, former Chairman of Scotland Food and Drink, and Keith Paterson of Forestry Commission Scotland.