SRUC sweeps Lantra Scotland ALBAS awards with record-breaking 15 gongs

_{From left: Game and Wildlife Group, Victoria Pendry, Fenna Whittaker, Emma Stanford and Murray Henderson.}

Students from SRUC scooped a record-breaking 15 trophies at this year’s Lantra Scotland Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills (ALBAS).

With a presence across 11 categories, every SRUC nominee went on to win their respective prize at the ceremony last Thursday, continuing a recent tradition of big wins at the awards.

Max Campbell, studying SVQ Greenkeeping at Elmwood achieved particular success, claiming Horticulture Learner of the Year, as well as Modern Apprentice of the Year and Overall Runner-up.

He said: “I can’t believe it, I’m so happy to get an award for something I absolutely love doing.

“I’m really grateful to SRUC and to Chris Dickson for the opportunity.”

Veterinary Nursing Learner of the Year went to Caitlin Gilhooly, HE HNC Learner of the Year was taken by Charlotte Mason, and Equine Learner of the Year was clinched by Zoe Barclay, among other awards won on the night.

The Tam Todd trophy for outstanding young learner went to Murray Henderson of Elmwood, who also received the Game and Wildlife Learner of the Year.

Mary Thomson, Vice Principal at SRUC, said: “It was a wonderful night, and inspiring to see the success achieved by our students.

“A win in the Lantra Scotland ALBAS awards is no mean feat, and a nomination alone is an achievement. This level of success isn’t just a tribute to our consistently brilliant students however, but to the wonderful staff who have helped develop them to this point.”

Other ‘Learner of the Year’ winners include Hannah Walsh in Agriculture, Findley Reid in Land-based Engineering, Eilidh Simmons for HE HND, and James Douglass for HE BSc.

For James, this comes as part of a wider pattern of success, having last year taken second in the Young Horticulturalist of the Year award.

Taking place at Crieff Hydro and attended by more than 200 people, including finalists, employers, training providers, and Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie, the Lantra Scotland ALBAS awards celebrate achievement in land-based professions and aquaculture.

SRUC was also highly commended for its partnership with Borders College, supported by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE).

SRUC runners-up in Learner of the Year categories include Emily Slater in Agriculture, Callum Adams in Land-based Engineering, Patricia Berkelova in Horticulture, and Fenna Whittaker in Game & Wildlife.

Find out more about Modern Apprenticeships at SRUC.

Posted by SRUC on 12/03/2025