This Rural Skills Course has been designed to provide a broad basis for progression into further education and training in the land-based sector. The land-based sector is very diverse and includes a wide number of disciplines that share a common element of being active, practical and mainly based outdoors. It will allow you to develop some of the basic practical skills necessary to work in most of these disciplines as well as an opportunity to explore the very diverse employment prospects that exist. The major disciplines that are recognised as land-based for the area include the following: agricultural crops; fencing industries; land-based engineering industries; production horticulture industries; tree and timber related industries; environmental conservation industries; landscaping industries; agricultural livestock; animal care industries; aquaculture; equine industries; farriery; fisheries management; game and wildlife management and veterinary industries.
The Skills for Work Course in Rural skills at SCQF level 4 consists of three mandatory Units and two optional Units for the Horticulture route.
This course aims to develop basic practical skills in the land-based sector (including farms, crofts, town parks) and explore the very diverse employment prospects that exist in the land-based industry sector.
You will look at how estates are maintained and you will develop manual dexterity skills by using a range of tools and equipment.
There will be practical tasks in soft landscaping within a horticulture landscape environment and you will learn how to prepare and grow your own plants within the working college gardens and grounds.
The course contains a mix of practical work and theoretical study. Many of the theoretical elements are delivered through the use of practical work outside.
Completion of the course will allow you to progress to Horticulture (Practical): College Certificate (SQCF Level 5).