The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has hosted an education summit at its Marford Mill head office with City & Guilds, aimed at securing the future of further education wildlife management courses.
The meeting marked the first in-person gathering of the City & Guilds Employer Industry Board, bringing together organisations from across the sector to discuss how best to protect and reinvigorate game and wildlife qualifications.
BASC has been lobbying for more than two years to prevent the loss of these courses, which it says are vital for progression routes into the sector, for the colleges that deliver them, and for young people seeking a career in game and wildlife management.
According to BASC, the summit represents an important step toward designing a new curriculum proposal for Skills England to consider. By involving employers, educators and awarding bodies, the aim is to create a framework that reflects the skills needs of the land management sector while ensuring future opportunities remain open for entrants.
Jackie Hough, industry manager (land-based) at City & Guilds, said the collaboration would help safeguard opportunities for the next generation of wildlife managers. She added that City & Guilds would continue to work with sector organisations to develop a robust case for the continuation and expansion of specialist qualifications.
For the UK shooting and land management trade, the outcome of this work will be closely watched. The availability of accredited qualifications directly influences the skills base of future gamekeepers and wildlife managers, with implications for employers, training providers and the wider rural economy.