Barbour Apprentice of the Season

The Apprentice of the Season shines a spotlight on young people currently participating in an apprenticeship or training programme supported by The Prince’s Countryside Fund.

For the spring season, the two nominated apprentices were Jess Cassidy and Thomas Hutchinson based at the Centre for Stewardship in Falkland. The Centre for Stewardship is located on the outskirts of the beautiful conservation village of Falkland, Fife, Scotland. As well as caring for the A listed House of Falkland with its arts and craft interiors and historic landscape, the team are now developing Falkland Estate as a place where people are learning how to live and work more sustainably.

Jess is studying a Modern Apprenticeship in Horticulture and Thomas has recently graduated from a Modern Apprenticeship in Trees and Timber. Both see their apprenticeships as a privilege, enabling them to learn new skills and make a significant contribution to the work of the Centre for Stewardship. As part of being the Apprentice of the Season, both Jess and Thomas have received Barbour outfits to keep them warm and dry whilst working outdoors.

Jess said “Working with The Prince’s Countryside Fund has given me more stability, a future career in the rural sector and the opportunity to try out new things, which I wouldn’t have done otherwise. Jess has acquired skills such as propagation, seed sewing and garden design as well as a qualification in chainsaw and rope access training.

Thomas said: “My greatest career accomplishment so far is passing all my forestry qualifications and completing my Modern Apprenticeship in Trees & Timber. This has enabled Thomas to gain a job in a sector he is passionate about and in which he is keen to continue developing.

Claire Saunders, Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund said “Encouraging people into agricultural is vitally important, and we’re delighted to help Jess and Thomas learn new skills and further their career by supporting apprenticeships at the Centre for Stewardship. Our partnership with Barbour is a wonderful opportunity to inspire more young people to consider working in the British countryside and contributing to its sustainability.”