Gigha man lands aquaculture award

Industry awards were made for agriculture, aquaculture, equine, game and wildlife, horticulture, land-based engineering, trees and timber and veterinary nursing.

The winners and runners up for ALBAS 2025 were chosen by an independent judging panel made up of influential figures from across the land-based and aquaculture sector, chaired by Rebecca Dawes, agri and rural communicator at JCM&Co and trustee of The Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth.

Other Argyll award-winners were Aquaculture Learner of the Year Derek Dunning, Trees and Timber award runner up Kirsty Gibson and Mentor award runner up Marc Pickering, all from Lochgilphead, and Robaidh Halliday from Portree who was runner up in Higher Education Award BSc category. 

Dr Liz Barron-Majerik MBE MICFor, Scotland director at Lantra, the sector skills council for the land-based, aquaculture and environmental conservation industries, said: “It is a privilege to be part of the ALBAS and to help put the spotlight on some of the incredible people in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sector, while also encouraging employers to look ahead at their future workforce.

“Everyone who was nominated for our awards should be proud of that achievement, but with the standard of entries continuing to get better each year, it means that our winners tonight are quite simply the best of the best from our sector. 

“As well as being important to Scotland’s rural economy, they also play a vital role in their local communities and in caring for the environment. 

“We were delighted to be joined at the Crieff Hydro by leading figures from industry and skills organisations, including the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, and to have as hosts for the evening Dr Jenna Ross OBE and Mike Duxbury of Inclusive Farm. 

“Our independent judges under chair Rebecca Dawes contribute a huge amount of their own time and expertise reviewing the nominations and interviewing short-listed candidates, and the event could not take place without them.

“I’d also like to thank all the generous supporters who have helped make our event possible: SRUC, Confor, Salmon Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, Tarff Valley, Borders Machinery Ring, Horticultural Trades Association, NatureScot Peatland ACTION, Ringlink, SAOS, SQA, BAGMA, Equido Horsemanship, Bakkafrost Scotland and Andy Murray.”