Conventional classrooms are giving way to the great outdoors in an innovative scheme to give people living in or around the Quantocks the chance to acquire valuable rural skills.

The Quantocks and Vale Landscape Skills Flexible Support Grant has been developed by West Somerset Council in collaboration with Bridgwater College, through its Cannington Centre, to help those interested in working in rural activities.

It provides financial aid to help people to undertake training in a range of rural skills and gain certification to operate without supervision in the workplace.

The funds have been made available through Hinkley Point C planning agreement funds (Section 106 money) in recognition of the need to retain landscape expertise within the area to maintain the outstanding environment of the Quantocks.

The funding is a welcome addition to the other training facilities provided by the College to train students in specialised countryside management skills and will help to secure the workforce in the Quantocks and Vale area.

Applications are invited for the grant which is issued subject to certain criteria, but in many cases (subject to an upper limit) applicants will be able to request up to 50% of the cost of taking part in training courses provided at the Cannington land-based centre.

Cllr Karen Mills, Lead Member for Economic Regeneration at West Somerset Council said,

“This fund is particularly aimed at ensuring that those studying landscape based subjects are given assistance to attain certification or 'tickets' to enable them to operate without supervision. This increases chances of gaining employment upon leaving college.”

Nigel Cox, Curriculum Manager for Land and Environmental Management at Bridgwater College added,

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students and others in this area to take advantage of getting training in specialised skills. The funding provided is essential to supplement those coming from Government for basic study programmes and ensures students improve their employability in a very demanding workplace.”

This project forms part of a programme of activity which is taking place this year under The Land Management and Skills Scheme. Projects are aimed at various target groups including young people, young farmers and community groups as well as those already working in the field. Further details of the overall scheme and the contact details for each project can be found at www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk.

Anyone specifically interested in the Flexible Support Grant should contact Nigel Cox at Bridgwater College on 01278 655091 or email coxn@bridgwater.ac.uk.