Senior Phase student and High School pupil Ailie MacLeod wins Lantra Award

Kingussie High School pupil and UHI North, West and Hebrides Senior Phase student Ailie MacLeod has won the School Pupil Award at the 2025 Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills (ALBAS), run by Lantra Scotland.

The ALBAS celebrate outstanding achievements in the land-based, aquaculture, and environmental conservation sectors. Ailie was recognised for her dedication and leadership on the Skills for Work – Rural Skills course, where she has developed practical skills in estate maintenance, animal care, and business enterprise.

The awards ceremony took place at Crieff Hydro Hotel on Thursday 6 March, where winners were selected by an independent panel of industry experts. Ailie said:

“I am delighted to have won the School Pupil Award at the ALBAS. The Rural Skills course has been a great experience, and I’ve learned so much along the way. The awards ceremony was a lot of fun and I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received.”

Her lecturer, David Olds, praised her achievement and said:

“I’m thrilled for Ailie – she has worked incredibly hard throughout the course and thoroughly deserves this recognition. Ailie and the other award winners highlight the incredible talent emerging in Scotland’s land-based industries. It’s inspiring to see so many young people making their mark in the sector.”

Ailie MacLeod with UHI North, West and Hebrides Lecturer, David Olds.

The Rural Skills course at UHI North, West and Hebrides is open to Senior Phase pupils across multiple locations and offers a practical introduction to key areas of the land-based sector. For information on our land-based courses, including wildlife, marine, and veterinary, visit our subjects page.